Effects of Screen Time

Screen time and teens

How Much Screen Time is “Average”? How to Limit Social Media Anxiety in Youth

Smartphones and digital media are everywhere now. Along with the good comes the bad. The negative effects of screen time on child development are becoming better known.

As teens and children spend hours on their phones and social media, parents wonder how much is too much. How does this digital world affect children’s mental health?

It’s not just parents or caregivers who wonder about this. More than half of teenagers themselves say they spend too much time on their smartphones. Two-thirds of their parents worry about their teenagers’ screen time.

Dr. Kevin Skinner is the clinical director for ParentGuidance.org. He’s also a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. In this article, we’ll share his insights and tips to help families use screens and social media in a healthy way.

The Effects of Screen Time on Children’s Mental Health

Research is starting to show the negative effects of too much screen time on children. Too much screen time can be bad for children’s mental health, Skinner says.

According to University of California Davis researchers, social media can cause:

  • ansiedad
  • Depresión
  • Loneliness
  • FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)


Teens and young adults feel these effects the most, UC Davis reports show (UC Davis Health, 2024).

When people are between 10 and 19 years old, their brains are highly sensitive. That’s when people’s identities are forming, according to the Yale School of Medicine.

Frequent social media use can cause changes in the developing brain. Those changes can affect emotional learning, behavior, impulse control, and emotional regulation (Yale Medicine, 2024).

The U.S. Surgeon General published a report on the dangers social media can pose for youth. In it, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, talks about the potential harm from content exposure.

Harmful content online is one problem. Extreme and inappropriate content is easily spread by people or algorithms. Another problem is the effect on a teen’s self-esteem. That can include self-image issues, eating disorders, and depressive symptoms. Cyberbullying is a pervasive problem. In extreme cases, it has led to childhood deaths or harm (Murphy, 2023).

This has even led some states to pass laws about children and social media. Utah, for example, passed a law to hold social media companies responsible for harm to children (Utah, 2024).

There are other concerns.

Social Media Anxiety and Solitude Deprivation

Excessive screen time can steal an important part of growth from children. It can take away their solitude, Skinner says. Skinner calls this “solitude deprivation.” He says it’s a growing concern when talking about digital well-being.

What is Solitude Deprivation?

Solitude deprivation is the absence of time alone.

People need alone time to think without external input. When children are on digital devices all the time, they can miss out on that needed solitary time.

Solitude is vital for mental health, Skinner says. Without it, children struggle to manage emotions. Be sure to allow children solitary time when they need it.

How to Help Children Use Social Media Responsibly

Social media use is not all bad, research has shown. Positive connections with others can be good for teenagers, especially for those who find others with common interests or identities.

Relationships in these communities can be positive, Murthy’s report says.

How Much Screen Time is Healthy, and How Much is Too Much for Children and Teenagers?

There’s no one answer to how much screen time is healthy for children and teenagers. And internal family disagreements are common; about 38% of parents and teens say they sometimes argue about screen time (Anderson, Faverio, Park, 2024).

The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry recommended the following general guidelines:

  • Until 18 months of age: limit screen time to video chatting with adults
  • 18–24 months of age: educational programming with a caregiver
  • 2-5 years old: 1 hour per weekday, 3 hours per weekend day
  • 6 years and older: encourage healthy activities that include screens


Keeping it Healthy

Screens and social media are not bad or good on their own. It’s how they’re used, the APA reminds families (American Psychological Association, 2023).

The AACAP also says families should turn off screens during family meals and outings. Parents should also learn about and use parental controls on technology. And even though it can be easy, parents should not use screen time as a pacifier or to stop tantrums.

About 30 minutes to an hour before bedtime, turn off screens and remove devices from bedrooms (American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2024).

You can learn more in our article “10 Ways to Teach Children How to Use Social Media Responsibly.”

What’s most important is the quality of content and how children engage with it. Balance screen time with healthy, age-appropriate activities (Common Sense Media, 2022).

Here are some ways to encourage healthy social media use:

  • Encourage open communication about online experiences
  • Set age-appropriate boundaries
  • Educate about online privacy
  • Lead by example


Together, families can make sure youth can use screen time in a limited and responsible way. Families can make sure screens do not distract from family time and life in the real world.

Works Cited:


Social media can also lead to anxiety in youth. When a child’s exposed to online hate, they can develop anxiety and depression. That’s according to research from the American Psychological Association (American Psychological Association, 2023)

This has even led some states to pass laws about children and social media. Utah passed a law to hold social media companies responsible for harm to children. (Utah 2024).

Another law requires age verification for use. It is temporarily blocked in court, the Associated Press reports. (Hanson, 2024).

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