The messy truth about screen time
As a therapist who works with teens and families, I get asked about screen time limits constantly. Parents want a number — two hours, one hour, thirty minutes. And I understand the appeal of a simple rule.
But here's what I've learned: the right amount of screen time depends entirely on the kid, the content, and the context. Two hours of creative coding is fundamentally different from two hours of TikTok scrolling.
What I actually recommend
Instead of time limits, I encourage families to think about technology in terms of:
- Displacement: What isn't happening because of screen time?
- Content quality: Is it creative, social, educational, or passive?
- Emotional impact: How does your teen feel before and after?
- Sleep impact: Is technology interfering with rest?
These questions lead to much more productive conversations than arguing about minutes.
