Americans spend an average of six hours and 40 minutes a day staring at the screens of their computers, phones, and other electronic devices.
If that sounds like a lot, it is, but it’s only two minutes above the global average, according to a worldwide screen time study released Wednesday by Comparitech, a reviews, advice, and information website for consumer security products.
While staring at screens for more than six hours a day may sound excessive, experts appear conflicted on the subject. “It is hard to define what is excessive when it comes to screen time, especially as many of us rely on the use of screens for work,” said Comparitech Head of Data Research Rebecca Moody.
“However, where things perhaps do become excessive is in their mobile screen time — which isn’t likely to come from work-related activities for the majority of people,” she told TechNewsWorld.
According to the study, Americans spend three hours and 22 minutes daily staring at mobile screens, slightly below the global average of three hours and 46 minutes.
Titania Jordan, chief parent officer at Bark — a parental control and monitoring solutions company in Atlanta — and author of “Parental Control: A Guide to Raising Balanced Kids in the Digital Era,” explained that every person is different and depending on their work type, the amount of screen time will vary dramatically.
“One thing to keep in mind when gauging whether you’re spending too much time on screens is if it’s interfering with other aspects of your life and how old you are,” she told TechNewsWorld.
“Are you foregoing real-life hangouts?” she asked. “Is your work or school suffering? Are you getting enough quality sleep? Do you feel more anxious or depressed after doom-scrolling? All these factors come into play when figuring out your personal screen-time sweet spot.”
Is 6 Hours of Screen Time Too Much?
“To determine if an amount is too much or too little, we need to know what the damages and benefits to the individual are,” added Rob Enderle, president and principal analyst at the Enderle Group, an advisory services firm.
“If this is making them less healthy, which I expect it likely is by causing eyesight degradation, issues resulting from the lack of exercise, socialization issues, and creating excessive political polarization then, yes, it is way too much time,” he told TechNewsWorld.
“But there could be offsetting benefits, especially when facing multiple potential pandemics, as the isolation keeps them safer, and some may be more productive that way,” he continued.
“In the end, though, for most, I expect this is extremely unhealthy,” he added.
Six hours of screen time is absolutely excessive for most people, argued Mark N. Vena, president and principal analyst with SmartTech Research in Las Vegas. “Six and a half hours is nearly a third of the day, excluding sleep and work, much of it spent passively consuming content,” he told TechNewsWorld.
“While some screen use is productive or relaxing, large daily totals suggest a displacement of healthier habits like exercise, in-person interaction, and sleep,” he added. “The concern isn’t just the time — but what that time replaces, which is something parents should focus on with their kids.”
Larry D. Rosen, professor emeritus at California State University, Dominguez Hills, who has written extensively on the psychology of technology and screen time, agreed that six-plus hours of screen time is excessive. “It takes away from time spent interacting with people face to face, as well as limiting time spent doing non-screen activities, such as exercise or just allowing our brain to wander,” he told TechNewsWorld.
He added that the data he’s gathered on mobile phone usage shows far more screen time than the average in the survey, with the majority spent connecting to others 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.
It noted that the social media platforms that Americans are most fond of include YouTube, which is used by 85% of U.S. adults, Facebook (70%), Instagram (50%), Pinterest (36%), TikTok (33%) and LinkedIn (32%).
Screen Time Higher in Developing Regions
Overall, according to the study, South Africans were the biggest screen consumers, spending nine hours and 27 minutes a day on screens. The biggest desktop screen consumers were the Russians, spending four hours and 31 minutes a day on screens, while Filipinos were the largest mobile screen consumers, spending five hours and 21 minutes a day on screens.
On the whole, the study noted the biggest screen-time consumers were in Africa, Asia, and South America. “[Screens have] become the primary source of news in the non-first-world countries since the Arab Spring,” Rosen said.
“In many of these regions, it’s important to note that smartphones are the primary gateway to the internet, making screen use a central part of daily life,” Vena explained.