Sophia Rohrs

English 1101.505

Prof. Cook

23 November 2021

Should Parents Limit Their Kids’ Screen Time?

Technology is becoming more prevalent in the world we live in today. Every day we use our

phones, tablets, or laptops for many different purposes. Children are now becoming reliant on

their technology. It’s okay for children to use technology, however, there comes to a point where

they are on it too much. For children, it is hard to know when you are at the limit where they are

on it too much. With the help of parents limiting their kid's screen time, children can become less

reliant on technology and they will become mentally and physically healthier.

Teens spend a lot of time on their phones, which can lead to poor mental health. This poor

mental health can lead to suicide-related thoughts and actions. According to “Excessive Screen

Time Contributes to Suicide-Related Outcomes in Teens”, “...Teens who spend five or more

hours per day on electronic devices (versus one hour) run a 66 percent higher risk of having at

least one suicide-related outcome.’” (Grandstaff). By allowing teens to have free range on their

screen time can cause an overuse of technology which can lead to poor mental health. The teens

who had a significantly lower screen time average had a lower chance of depression and/or

suicide (Grandstaff).
 The overuse of technology has become a mentally unhealthy situation. The depression and

suicide rates have gone up a significant amount and we are in a huge mental health crisis

(Tribune Content Agency). People are becoming more unhappy and are having a feeling of

loneliness when they are excessively on their phones. Steve Jobs, one of the creators of the

smartphone, limits his own kids’ screen time to protect them, and other parents should follow

that lead as well (Tribune Content Agency). Limiting screen time could lead to a decrease in

suicide and depression rates, and lower the likelihood of being unhappy or feeling lonely.

Some may say that screen time does not affect the physiological well-being of a person.

According to the article “Screen time: Conclusions about the effects of digital media are often

incomplete, irrelevant or wrong”, “over 200 studies about social media concluded there was

almost no effect of greater screen time on psychological well-being” (Reeves, Ram, and

Robinson). There is said to be no correlation between media usage and the cognitive well-being

of a person. However, other studies show that the more time people spend on technology, the

unhappier they are compared to those who get more face-to-face interaction versus technology

interaction. According to “Screen time: Mental health menace or scapegoat?”, “13% of eighth-

and tenth-graders who spent 1 to 2 hours a week on social media said they were ‘not happy’”

(CNN Wire). The increasing usage of screen time leads to unhappiness.

Another reason that people think that kids' screen time should not be limited is because

they think that their children know when too much is too much. Giving kids the leeway to choose

when they have had enough time on technology, will help them in the future so they learn self

regulation (Freya Dawson). Although this point makes sense, at a young age it can be very

difficult to understand the limit of how much is reasonable and healthy. Parents should have at

least some controls of their kids’ screen time limits and then as the kid begins to grow up then
can be more lenient with it and then the kid will understand how much is a good amount for

them.

Using technology too much can lead to poor outcomes. According to “Screen time and early

adolescent mental health, academic, and social outcomes in 9- and 10- year old children:

Utilizing the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development â (ABCD) Study”, “We find that more

screen time is moderately associated with worse mental health, increased behavioral problems,

decreased academic performance, and poorer sleep, but the heightened quality of peer

relationships” (Paulich, Lessem, and Hewitt). There are lots of bad things that can come out of

the overuse of technology. So, if the parents do their part and limit their kid's screen time then

they will have a less likely chance of having the poor outcomes listed above.

Overall the use of technology leads to a skyrocketing increase in depression and suicide rates.

It also leads to poor mental health and unhappiness. If parents limit their kid's screen time, they

can be happier and healthier and learn good habits young.

 Works Cited

Grandstaff, Jacob. "Excessive Screen Time Contributes to Suicide-Related Outcomes in Teens."

Gale Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2021. Gale In Context: Opposing

Viewpoints,

link.gale.com/apps/doc/AVMCWT471532885/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=bookmark-OVI

C&xid=705b7706. Accessed 4 Nov. 2021. Originally published as "iGeneration teens

facing deadly consequences for overuse of electronic media," Washington Examiner, 8

Dec. 2017.

"EDITORIAL: Screen time & teens' mental health: Follow Jobs' lead ..." Pittsburgh

Tribune-Review [Pittsburgh, PA], 23 Aug. 2017. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints,

link.gale.com/apps/doc/A501484128/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=2

230948f. Accessed 4 Nov. 2021.

Paulich, Katie N., et al. "Screen time and early adolescent mental health, academic, and social

outcomes in 9- and 10- year old children: Utilizing the Adolescent Brain Cognitive

Development â (ABCD) Study." PLoS ONE, vol. 16, no. 9, 8 Sept. 2021, p. e0256591.

Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints,

link.gale.com/apps/doc/A674722838/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=b

c32805d. Accessed 2 Nov. 2021.

Reeves, Byron, et al. "Screen time: Conclusions about the effects of digital

media are often incomplete, irrelevant or wrong." Gale Opposing Viewpoints Online

Collection, Gale, 2021. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints,

link.gale.com/apps/doc/IOOZTZ277663275/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=bookmark-OVIC

&xid=7adce6e2. Accessed 2 Nov. 2021. Originally published as "Screen time:

 Conclusions about the effects of digital media are often incomplete, irrelevant or wrong,"

The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2020.\

"Screen time: Mental health menace or scapegoat?" CNN Wire, 22 Jan. 2018. Gale In Context:

Opposing Viewpoints,

link.gale.com/apps/doc/A524200095/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=0

2d46232. Accessed 4 Nov. 2021.

says:, Angel, et al. “10 Reasons Not to Limit Screens or Gaming.” Freya Dawson, 22 Sept. 2020,

www.freyadawson.com.au/10-reasons-not-to-limit-screens-or-gaming/.