What the scientists are saying...

Parents worry about their children being glued to screens for hours a day – but now scientists have found evidence that in moderation, it can be good for teenagers’ emotional well-being.

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Screen time “good” for teens

Researchers from Oxford University’s Internet Institute analysed self-reported data from 120,000 15-year-olds across the UK, and found that using smartphones and computers, and playing video games, was associated with higher levels of well-being – at least, up to a point. With computers, well-being “peaked” at four hours and 17 minutes a day on weekdays, before starting to dip again; when it came to watching TV, this “Goldilocks” moment (not too much, not too little) came at three hours and 41 minutes; for video games, it was one hour and 40 minutes; while for smartphone use, it was one hour and 57 minutes. When it came to weekend use, even longer periods were associated with increased well-being. “Our research suggests that some connectivity is probably better than none, and there are moderate levels that as in the story of Goldilocks are ‘just right’,” said lead author Dr Andrew Przybylski. However, the study didn’t consider the implications for other aspects of teenage development; nor did it calculate the cumulative effect of using multiple devices.

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