Americans are glued to their screens for an average of six hours and 40 minutes each day, encompassing computers, phones, and other electronic devices. According to a recent global study by Comparitech, a consumer security product review website, this figure is marginally above the global average by a mere two minutes.
While the duration might seem alarming, experts hold divergent views on the subject. Rebecca Moody, Head of Data Research at Comparitech, notes the difficulty in defining “excessive” screen time, particularly given its integration into many work routines. However, she suggests that mobile screen time, often unrelated to work, is where usage might become problematic for most individuals.
The study indicates that Americans spend three hours and 22 minutes daily on mobile screens, slightly less than the global average of three hours and 46 minutes.
Is 6 Hours of Screen Time Too Much?
According to Titania Jordan, chief parent officer at Bark and author of “Parental Control: A Guide to Raising Balanced Kids in the Digital Era,” the appropriateness of screen time varies with individual circumstances and work demands.
When assessing whether screen time is excessive, Jordan suggests considering its impact on other life aspects and age. Key questions include whether it replaces real-life interactions, harms school or work performance, disrupts sleep, or increases anxiety and depression after extended periods.
Rob Enderle, president and principal analyst at the Enderle Group, adds that the damages and benefits to the individual must be weighed to determine if the amount is too much or too little. If excessive screen time leads to health issues like eyesight degradation, lack of exercise, socialization problems, or political polarization, it is likely detrimental.
However, Enderle acknowledges potential benefits, such as increased safety during pandemics and enhanced productivity for some individuals through isolation. Despite these potential benefits, he believes that, for most, this is extremely unhealthy.
Mark N. Vena, president and principal analyst with SmartTech Research, says that six hours of screen time is excessive for most people. He argues that nearly a third of the day, excluding sleep and work, is spent passively consuming content. Although some screen use is productive or relaxing, high daily totals may displace healthier habits like exercise, in-person interaction, and sleep. Vena also says that the primary concern is what the time replaces, which parents should emphasize with their children.
Larry D. Rosen, professor emeritus at California State University, Dominguez Hills, agrees that six-plus hours of screen time is excessive, detracting from face-to-face interactions and non-screen activities like exercise or unstructured thinking. His research suggests even higher mobile phone usage, with most of the time spent connecting through social media and messaging.
According to the survey, Americans spend an average of two hours and nine minutes a day on social media, slightly lower than the worldwide average of two hours and 21 minutes.
The social media platforms Americans are most fond of include YouTube (85%), Facebook (70%), Instagram (50%), Pinterest (36%), TikTok (33%) and LinkedIn (32%).
Screen Time Higher in Developing Regions
The study identifies South Africans as the heaviest screen users, spending nine hours and 27 minutes daily on screens. Russians led in desktop screen time with four hours and 31 minutes, while Filipinos top mobile screen consumption at five hours and 21 minutes.
Overall, screen time is higher in Africa, Asia, and South America. Rosen attributes this to screens becoming the primary news source since the Arab Spring. Vena explains that smartphones are often the primary internet gateway in these regions, making screen use central to daily life.
High youth populations and rapidly growing digital economies contribute to greater mobile engagement. Limited offline entertainment or public infrastructure options, coupled with affordable social media and streaming platforms, also play a role.
Jordan highlights the popularity of platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and WhatsApp in these regions for social interaction, business exchanges, and news consumption. Additionally, these countries often skipped slower internet technologies, adopting mobile-connected devices and Wi-Fi first, leading to greater smartphone usage.
Global Screen Time Trends Shift Downward
Comparitech’s research indicates that more than half of the studied countries (27 of 49) reduced their screen time from the previous year. Hong Kong saw the most significant reduction, decreasing by 50 minutes to an average of seven hours and 26 minutes.
The researchers attribute this decrease to a return to normalcy post-pandemic and growing awareness of the negative impacts of excessive screen time on mental health. Advancements in technology, such as improved digital well-being features on smartphones, may also contribute by encouraging users to monitor and limit usage.
Moody suggests that increasing awareness of the negative impacts of spending too much time looking at a screen has led to people consciously unplugging before sleep.
Alex Ambrose, a policy analyst with the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, notes that some nations have attempted to regulate screen time. While time-online policies are sometimes used to lower screen times, they are difficult for policymakers to enforce. China, for example, instituted a three-hour-per-week limit for children playing video games. However, while 77% of children reduced their gaming time under this policy, 29% also reported using their parents’ accounts as a workaround to the time limit.
Some platforms have taken voluntary steps to tackle any potential harms, with measures such as allowing users to limit their screen time and see screen-time reports, or notifying them to take a break whenever they have spent a certain amount of time on an app.
Rather than implementing prescriptive policies that hinder user experience and leave little room for innovation, many technology companies instead adopt customizable user and parental control systems such as screen-time controls and prompts to take breaks after using the apps for extended periods of time.
Conclusion
The study reveals that American screen time is marginally above the global average. There are those who say this is a concern, and there are those who say context matters. As awareness of the implications of too much screen time continues to grow, personal screen usage should be observed and modified as needed for a healthier digital lifestyle.