{"id":517,"date":"2023-07-18T15:15:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-18T15:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bluekcstg.wpengine.com\/resource-center\/?p=517"},"modified":"2025-04-21T22:01:01","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T03:01:01","slug":"teens-and-screens-an-emerging-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blueprint\/healthier-living\/teens-and-screens-an-emerging-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"Teens and Screens: An Emerging Crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

School is out and summer is officially here for much of America\u2019s youth. And while the stress of classes and coursework has ended, the anxiety and damage caused by excessive screen time only increases. Longer days, coupled with higher temperatures and an influx of free time, lead many kids to spend a large portion of their day indoors and online, which can be extremely harmful to their mental health and well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, early data from a landmark National Institutes of Health (NIH) study<\/strong><\/a> indicates that children who spent more than two hours a day on screen-time activities scored lower on language and thinking tests, and those with more than seven hours of daily screen time even experienced a thinning of the brain\u2019s cortex, the area related to critical thinking and reasoning. This is a sobering finding, especially with a recent Pew Research Center survey<\/strong><\/a> reporting almost half of U.S. teenagers say they are online \u201calmost constantly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In recent years \u2013 coinciding with the explosion of social media \u2013 depression, anxiety, and loneliness among teenagers have risen at alarming rates, with nearly half of U.S. teens reporting to have been bullied or harassed online. And while bullying from classmates is certainly not a new phenomenon, previous generations could take refuge once the school day ended. Not so for today\u2019s teens. Through social media and text messaging, these harmful taunts can continue unabated, 24\/7, greatly heightening the abuse, humiliation, depression, and isolation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The simple solution would be to just unplug. The truth is that it\u2019s not quite that easy. Much of our kids\u2019 coursework is now completed online. They communicate with friends via text, apps, and video, and consume their entertainment via YouTube, TikTok, Twitch, Instagram, and other platforms. Screens are ubiquitous in today\u2019s world. From cell phones to televisions to computers and tablets, almost all our daily tasks and entertainment outlets lead back to a digital device or interface. For many, our first and last inclination before we go to bed and upon waking up is to grab the phone and \u201ccatch up,\u201d harming our circadian rhythm and disrupting sleep patterns critical to mental health. If you\u2019re not careful, \u201cdoom scrolling\u201d can quickly turn a habit into a destructive norm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a parent in this increasingly online world, you may be unsure of how to best protect your child while giving them the space and freedom to grow and learn with independence. The situation can be overwhelming. Thankfully, there are organizations like Screen Sanity<\/strong><\/a>, which offer a helping hand to parents by providing actionable steps and resources that promote positive mental health for teens and children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Screen Sanity, a local nonprofit organization based in Overland Park, Kansas, understands that managing a child\u2019s screen time can be extremely challenging. With that in mind, they suggest implementing a screen-time plan for your family using the following guidelines:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Limit Screen Use When Possible<\/h2>\n\n\n\n