What’s On Your Screen?
Why Content Matters More Than Time…
As a mental health professional who works with adolescents and young adults, I’ve been asked this question multiple times: “How much screen time is too much?”According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, it’s not just the amount of screen time that matters. It’s the quality of what you are engaging with online that has the bigger impact on your mental health.
There’s this common narrative floating around that all screen time is harmful. But that’s not entirely fair. We live in a digital world, and screens are a part of it - education, social connection, creativity, and even emotional support often come through screens now. A lot of young people are also talking to Chat Gpt as their therapist friend. Social media platforms have become spaces of self-expression and creativity. And people also networking online to build their careers.
Hence, what does matter is how are using you these platforms, and whether your time online is contributing to your wellbeing or silently chipping away at it.
Let’s take an example.
You spends an hour scrolling through body-perfect influencers on Instagram, feeling more and more insecure about their appearance. On another day, you spend an hour on a video call with cousins or collaborating on a school project with friends. In the same amount of time spent on screen, the outcomes are widely different.
A lot of content online, especially on social media, is curated, filtered, and algorithmically designed to keep you hooked. Research shows that what you see on platforms like Instagram and Snapchat can shape how you feel about your bodies, friendships, and even sense of worth.
Ironically, many of the minds behind the tech we use every day, like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, are famously cautious about their own children’s screen use. This article shows how they place boundaries not just on screen time, but also on how, when, and where screens are used. Even those who build the tech know that healthy screen habits aren’t just about time but its intentional use.
What can you do?
Just like its recommended to eat a balanced diet (not too many sweets, plenty of fruits and veggies, and the occasional treat) to maintain our physical health and immunity, we can build a balanced media diet too. Think of screen content like food: some digital experiences (like family video calls, music, or creative apps) are nourishing and can be used freely. Others, like social media, YouTube, and violent games, are best in moderation- occasional treats, not daily meals. And just like late-night snacks aren’t ideal, screens before bed or during family time should be limited. A healthy media diet doesn’t mean cutting everything out; it means choosing wisely, with balance and intention.
As important as it is to monitor our screen time, it’s a good time to start having conversations about what’s on them.
References and Further reading:
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/articles/how-to-help-girls-have-healthier-social-media-experiences
