A new survey is showing just how much screen time children have been exposed to lately, and it may be concerning. Screen time is something that seems inevitable to parents, especially during the global pandemic. Families had to work from home, and they relied on TV and screens to help occupy their children while they got some work done. It seemed like an unavoidable issue, and even though experts have come with reassurance to parents to not worry too much about screen time, parents continue to have concerns in the back of their heads about the relationship their children have with screens.
A new study was completed by Uswitch on screen time and how much is being consumed, and the full report can be read here. When it comes to general information, the study found that Americans spend an average of 325 hours every year on Facebook, and they are often guilty of watching TV and scrolling through social media at the same time.
When it comes to our youth, the study found that generation Z spends an average of 9 hours every day looking at a screen. Screens are not just TV, but this can include video games, smartphones, and tablets.
To be specific, the study found that children between the ages of 5 and 16 years old are spending an average of 9 hours every single day in front of technology. It also revealed that tweens and teens are spending less time watching TV the traditional way, they are watching it on their phones. It also discovered that social media apps like TikTok and Instagram are becoming more popular among youth, and they are slowly starting to navigate away from Facebook. The reason is that Facebook is the place “you’ll find your parents.”
This may be a concern to parents out there, and despite reassurance, they may want to know some tips to help reduce that time even by just a fraction. According to Mayo Clinic Health System, there are some tips that mom can try to keep her child away from the screens for just a little bit. One of them can be setting clear boundaries on times when a child is allowed to use their screens. Another tip is to be more engaged with your child. When you are not working or needing to get things done, put your own devices away and spend time talking to your child and engaging in activities that do not involve a screen, in a room that you have declared a “phone-free” zone.
Sources: Uswitch, Mayo Clinic Health System