Guide for parents

Screen time

by Dr. Mélissa Généreux, Public Health Specialist and Professor at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

Hyperconnectivity among youth

There is no doubt that more young people now own a smartphone than ever before. Owning one gives them almost constant access to the Internet, regardless of location, leading to significant time spent online. This is known as hyperconnectivity. Screen time has increased in recent years, with young users often spending more than 4 hours per day on social media.

Positive and negative aspects of screen use

It’s important to note that not everything is black or white. Screens, through Internet and social media access, can have several positive aspects, especially for “marginalized” youth (due to a disability, sexual or gender orientation, etc.). Connectivity can foster a sense of belonging to an online community and connect with people who share similar interests. It also provides a space for expression and seeking support.

Everything is about balance. Excessive screen use (i.e., spending too much time online) can have negative consequences on the well-being of young people, including:

  • Lack of sleep
  • Sedentary behavior and lack of physical activity
  • Isolation and lack of social activities (in the real world)
  • Social comparison and performance pressure
  • Low self-esteem and affected body image
  • Fear of missing out (FOMO)
  • Feeling dependent on screens

Consequences of screen omnipresence

With screens increasingly shaping our lives, we develop fewer social skills, our interpersonal relationships remain superficial, we are flooded with information (true or false), we become more polarized in our ideas, we compare ourselves to others more than ever, we want everything instantly, and we waste a lot of time that could be better invested in the real world.

For all these reasons, young people who spend a lot of time online are more likely to exhibit symptoms of anxiety and depression, sleep disorders, attention disorders, eating disorders, and cyberaddiction.

Identifying problematic social media use

The following questions can help parents identify problematic social media use in their child:

  • Does my child often think about social media?
  • Is my child upset because they want to spend more time on social media, or do they feel bad when they can’t use it?
  • Does my child try to spend less time on social media but without success?
  • Does my child use social media to escape negative feelings?
  • Does my child neglect other activities and interests (e.g., hobbies, sports) because of social media use?
  • Does my child have conflicts, argue with others, or lie about their social media use?

Social media strategies to maximize engagement

Social media platforms are configured to maximize engagement and retention of their young users. They use several methods, such as notifications, autoplay videos, infinite scroll, displaying popularity (e.g., likes), and algorithms suggesting content based on the young user’s interests.

Moreover, it is precisely when we are young that our vulnerability to social media is greatest, due to the developing brain and the multiple other changes that occur from puberty, both physiologically (body) and psychologically (mind). Young social media users are more susceptible than older users to social comparison and peer opinion, and they are more at risk of developing a sense of dependency on these platforms.

Tips for healthy screen use

Instead of focusing on screen time, experts recommend promoting healthy use and prioritizing physical, academic, and social activities in the real world, starting from primary school. Several practical tips for parents are available on the PAUSE website, built by Quebec experts. Here are a few:

  • Develop a personalized family “screen” plan (reflecting the family’s values and realities) that everyone agrees on
  • Open a dialogue with your child, setting common goals related to screen use and openly discussing unacceptable online behaviors
  • Maintain screen-free times and places
  • Avoid screens at least an hour before bedtime
  • Prioritize family, rather than solitary, screen use
  • Encourage screen use in common areas rather than in the bedroom to exercise some control over content
  • Favor educational content
  • Discourage simultaneous online activities
  • Set an example of healthy screen use yourself
  • Encourage older siblings to be “mentors” for social media (e.g., pitfalls to avoid on certain platforms)
  • Encourage and participate in family screen-free activities
  • Participate in the 24-hour PAUSE challenge as a family every May
  • Encourage your child to play freely outside, despite the possibility of physical injury (e.g., climbing, jumping, sliding)

Resources for parents

Tel-jeunes Parents is there for you! To listen, to reflect on your situation, or to make known the services and resources available for your teen.