Too much screen time can have a negative impact on teens and tweens. According to a study from State Farm Insurance, 4 hours of daily screen time is linked to a full grade level drop in average GPA. Blue light emitted from electronic screens causes sleep deprivation (which makes us all feel sleepy the next day).
Types of screen time activities
- Watching T.V.
- Browsing on a computer
- Using smartphones and tablets
- Playing video games
Activities which might strengthen your skills (and help you focus)
- Reading a real book
- Playing sports
- Setting goals/tasks in a journal at the beginning of the day
- Putting your phone down for at least an hour
- Journaling
Why do colleges care?
Colleges want to ensure that students are productive with their time. Having negative screen time habits can reflect poorly on your productivity if a college reviews your digital footprint.
Negative screen time activities
- Complaining/venting online
- Posting content with the intention of deleting it later
- Taking screenshots and sharing private content from others
- Posting questionable photos
- Creating fake accounts of other people
What could go wrong?
According to an interview in TIME with a professor of psychology at San Diego State University, “today’s super-connected teens may be less happy and less prepared for adulthood than past generations”.
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The professor shows that, after 2010, teens who spent more time online were more likely to report mental health issues than those who spent time on non-screen activities.
How to develop positive screen time habits
- Remind yourself that having a cell phone, tablet, or computer is something to use in moderation
- Find offline activities that you would be proud to share on your college resume. Spending time on those activities will give you positive content you can post online
- Prioritize positive offline hobbies, school, social activities, sports, and family time above screen time
- Get in the habit of following your screen time guidelines and self-regulating your screen time
- Find activities you can do digitally while still being productive, like:
- Learning how to program
- Building an online resume
- Monitoring your digital footprint
- Have an open and ongoing discussion with your parents about screen time and new apps you’re using
- If you experience anything uncomfortable during screen time, tell a trusted adult right away
- Find an offline hobby that colleges will find interesting, such as:
- Building model airplanes
- Playing music
- Volunteering
- etc.
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