Teens live in a world dominated by digital devices. From the mesmerizing glow of smartphones to the immersive worlds of video games and social media platforms, screens have woven themselves seamlessly into the fabric of our daily existence. What impact does this screen time have on your teen’s motivation? We are diving into the relationship between screen time and motivation and providing practical strategies for navigating them. 

‍Educators and parents: Guide your students' reflection and discussion with this student worksheet. (Log in to your Google account and select File-->Make a Copy)

Questions to prompt discussion with students:

Parents and Teachers: View the full VIP Facilitation Guide here

‍What is the connection between screen time and motivation?

• Studies have found a connection between excessive screen time (especially entertainment-oriented screen time) and lower motivation in teens (Source: Emerging Investigators)
• The average teen spends 7 hours and 22 minutes a day on screens outside of schoolwork (Source: Gitnux.org). That time may be impacting their motivation for offline activities
• One of our student interns states that in the past, he was losing hours a day to social media. “Whenever I got up, I immediately checked Instagram and spent 3 or 4 hours on it without getting anything done, so it sucked me in.” (See Instagram App Guide 2024 video for more information)

‍What is emotional buffering? 

• Emotional buffering is when we choose to do something in order to avoid negative feelings like stress or anger and one of the most common ways teens buffer is by reaching for their phone and getting on their favorite app
• Buffering can allow students to “pause” their emotions just as they would if they watched an intense movie, felt overwhelmed, and then hit the pause button
• Buffering isn’t always bad, because sometimes our brain needs a break, but too much emotional buffering can prevent us from doing the more important things in our life

How to balance screen time to improve motivation

• Screen time management apps can be used to help teens regulate their own screen time
• Emma Lembke, from the Log Off movement, recommends that teens take a “5-minute power scroll” every month to evaluate who they follow and how it makes them feel (watch the full event replay for details)
• Use the screen time control features within each app to help keep screen time balanced

Replace negative screen time with positive screen time

• Teens can prevent screen time from impacting their motivation by using it more actively, such as learning a new skill like programming, graphic design, cooking, 3D printing, etc.
• One of our student interns recommends, “tailoring your following page so it is full of inspiring things and things that make you happy” (Watch the full event replay for details)
• Consume information that inspires you by listening to positive podcasts, watching YouTube videos that open your mind to something new, and following uplifting social media accounts

More resources for parents, students, & educators 

• Making Screen Time Fun While Reducing the Negative Impact
• ‍Balancing Video Game Screen Time for Teens‍
• 50+ Tips to Limit Screen Time Without Conflict‍
• Using YouTube to Explore Colleges and Careers

Conclusion

Many parents and educators are concerned about screen time's impact on a student’s motivation. We share that concern. Excessive screen time can impact a student’s motivation and cause many negative consequences. However, there are also many positive uses for screen time if students choose to cultivate a healthy relationship with screens and use it to support their personal growth.