Statistics · Updated November 3, 2026

Screen Time Statistics 2026

Includes Common Sense Media's 2026 teen census, Pew's 2026 phone survey and BLS data for 2025

  • 79statistics
  • 42sources from 17 publishers
  • Checkedevery figure against its original source
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Compiled by the DeskRated research desk from Common Sense Media, Pew Research Center, CDC National Center for Health Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nielsen and World Health Organization data.

A typical U.S. teen ages 13 to 17 spent 8 hours and 15 minutes a day on screen media for entertainment in spring 2026, Common Sense Media found. Children ages 0 to 8 averaged 2 hours 27 minutes. Among adults, 53% say they spend too much time on their smartphone, according to Pew Research Center.

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Key findings

  1. 6h 38m

    Adult internet users worldwide spent an average of 6 hours and 38 minutes online each day, according to GWI survey data published in DataReportal's Digital 2025 Global Overview Report (We Are Social and Meltwater, February 2025), 2 minutes less than a year earlier.

    DataReportal, We Are Social and Meltwater, Digital 2025 Global Overview Report (GWI survey of adult internet users), published February 5, 2025 · 2024 data

    Details
  2. 2h 27m

    U.S. children ages 0 to 8 spent an average of 2 hours 27 minutes (2:27) a day with screen media in 2024, according to parent reports in the 2025 Common Sense Census by Common Sense Media. Screen media here includes TV and video, gaming, video chat, social media and homework on a device.

    Common Sense Media, 'The 2025 Common Sense Census: Media Use by Kids Zero to Eight', Ipsos KnowledgePanel survey of 1,578 U.S. parents of children age 0 to 8, August 5 to 29, 2024 · 2024 data

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  3. 8h 15m

    A typical U.S. teen ages 13 to 17 spent 8 hours and 15 minutes a day on screen media for entertainment in spring 2026 (median, outside school and homework, with multitasking counted for each activity), according to the 2026 Common Sense Media Census.

    Common Sense Media, 'The 2026 Common Sense Media Census: Tech and Media Use by Tweens and Teens', SSRS Opinion Panel survey of 1,211 U.S. youth ages 9 to 17, April 29 to May 11, 2026 · 2026 data

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  4. 50.4%

    50.4% of U.S. teenagers ages 12 to 17 had 4 hours or more of daily screen time on most weekdays, not counting schoolwork, during July 2021 to December 2023, according to CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (National Health Interview Survey-Teen).

    CDC National Center for Health Statistics, NCHS Data Brief No. 513, 'Daily Screen Time Among Teenagers: United States, July 2021 to December 2023' (National Health Interview Survey-Teen) · 2021-2023 data

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  5. 4 in 10

    4 in 10 U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 said in fall 2025 that they are online almost constantly, up from 24% a decade ago, according to Pew Research Center.

    Pew Research Center, 'Teens, Social Media and AI Chatbots 2025', Ipsos KnowledgePanel survey of 1,458 U.S. teens ages 13 to 17, September 25 to October 9, 2025 · 2025 data

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  6. 44%

    44% of U.S. adults said in 2026 that they use the internet almost constantly, and another 41% said several times a day, according to Pew Research Center's National Public Opinion Reference Survey conducted January 30 to June 18, 2026.

    Pew Research Center, 'Frequency of internet use' chart (July 14, 2026), National Public Opinion Reference Survey of U.S. adults, January 30 to June 18, 2026 · 2026 data

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  7. 53%

    53% of U.S. adults said in 2026 that they spend too much time on their smartphone, including 70% of adults ages 18 to 29, according to a Pew Research Center survey of 9,750 adults conducted May 26 to June 1, 2026.

    Pew Research Center, 'About half of Americans say they spend too much time on their smartphone' (September 1, 2026), American Trends Panel survey of 9,750 U.S. adults, May 26 to June 1, 2026 · 2026 data

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  8. 2.6 hours

    Americans age 15 and over spent an average of 2.6 hours a day watching TV in 2025, half of their 5.2 hours of daily leisure time, making it the leisure activity that took up the most time, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey.

    U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, American Time Use Survey 2025 Results (news release USDL-26-1022, June 25, 2026), people age 15 and over · 2025 data

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  9. 59%

    59% of U.S. 11- to 17-year-olds in a 2022 phone-tracking study used their smartphones between midnight and 5 a.m. on school nights, for a median of about 20 minutes a night, according to Common Sense Media's 2023 'Constant Companion' report (203 Android users tracked for about a week).

    Common Sense Media, 'Constant Companion: A Week in the Life of a Young Person's Smartphone Use' (2023), Radesky, Weeks and colleagues, University of Michigan; phone-tracking data from 203 U.S. 11- to 17-year-olds with their own Android smartphones, recruited August to November 2022 · 2022 data

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  10. 27.1%

    27.1% of U.S. teens ages 12 to 17 with 4 or more hours of daily screen time had anxiety symptoms in the past 2 weeks, compared with 12.3% of teens with less than 4 hours, according to the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (National Health Interview Survey-Teen, July 2021 to December 2023; screen time excludes schoolwork).

    CDC National Center for Health Statistics, NCHS Data Brief No. 513, 'Daily Screen Time Among Teenagers: United States, July 2021–December 2023', Zablotsky B, Arockiaraj B, Haile G, Ng AE, October 2024; National Health Interview Survey-Teen, ages 12 to 17 · 2023 data

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  11. 69.0%

    69.0% of participants had computer vision syndrome in a 2024 Journal of Optometry meta-analysis that pooled 103 cross-sectional studies with 66,577 participants from many countries, with individual studies ranging from 12.1% to 97.3%.

    Journal of Optometry, Ccami-Bernal F et al., 'Prevalence of computer vision syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis', January to March 2024; 103 cross-sectional studies, 66,577 participants, literature searched to February 13, 2023 · 2023 data

    Details

How much screen time do adults have per day?

Adults worldwide spend most of a working day online, and a majority of Americans estimate their own daily screen time at five hours or more. Survey measures differ, so each figure below names who was asked and how.

DataReportal's daily internet time is a self-reported GWI survey average for adult internet users across the countries GWI surveys, not a U.S. figure, and the Digital 2026 report (published October 2025) reports weekly media time rather than a daily internet total, so its figures should not be compared with earlier Digital reports as a trend. YouGov's figures are Americans' own estimates of all screen time, including work. The BLS figures in the next section count only TV and leisure computer time as a main activity.

Screen time statistics by age

Daily screen time climbs steeply with age, from about an hour a day for babies to more than eight hours of entertainment screen media for a typical teen. The two Common Sense Media surveys below are the main U.S. sources for each age band, and they measure slightly different things.

Average daily screen media time for U.S. children ages 0 to 8, in minutes per day, by survey year (Common Sense Media Zero to Eight census; 2011 and 2013 shown for historical reference only)
  • 2011 136
  • 2013 115
  • 2017 139
  • 2020 144
  • 2024 147

Source: Common Sense Media, 2025 Common Sense Census: Media Use by Kids Zero to Eight, Key Table A 'Total screen time' (2:16, 1:55, 2:19, 2:24, 2:27), converted from hours:minutes to minutes in a DeskRated calculation. Chart: DeskRated, free to reuse with a link to this page.

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2011136
2013115
2017139
2020144
2024147
Average daily screen time by age group, U.S., newest Common Sense Media data for each age band
Age groupDaily screen timeWhat is measuredData collected
Under 21 hour 3 minutesMean, parent report, all screen media incl. homework on a device2024
2 to 42 hours 8 minutesMean, parent report, all screen media incl. homework on a device2024
5 to 83 hours 28 minutesMean, parent report, all screen media incl. homework on a device2024
All ages 0 to 82 hours 27 minutesMean, parent report, all screen media incl. homework on a device2024
Tweens 9 to 125 hoursMedian, youth report, entertainment only, multitasking counted per activity2026
Teens 13 to 178 hours 15 minutesMedian, youth report, entertainment only, multitasking counted per activity2026
Tweens 8 to 12 (older series)5 hours 33 minutesMean, youth report, entertainment only2021
Teens 13 to 18 (older series)8 hours 39 minutesMean, youth report, entertainment only2021

Source: Common Sense Media: 2025 Census: Media Use by Kids Zero to Eight (2024 data); 2026 Census: Tech and Media Use by Tweens and Teens (2026 data); Census: Media Use by Tweens and Teens, 2021 (link is the 2026 report)

These surveys are not directly comparable. The Zero to Eight census asks parents and reports the mean, and its screen media total includes homework done on a device (2 minutes a day on average). The 2026 tweens and teens census asks youth about the previous day, reports the median, counts entertainment only, adds up simultaneous activities separately, and changed its age bands to 9 to 17. Because of these design changes, Common Sense does not compare its 2026 time estimates with earlier waves, so 8:15 in 2026 is not a drop from 8:39 in 2021.

How much screen time do teenagers have?

Half of U.S. teens report 4 or more hours of daily screen time outside schoolwork, and high screen time goes with higher rates of anxiety and depression symptoms. Federal surveys, Gallup and Pew Research Center each measure a different slice: total screen hours, social media frequency, social media hours and being online almost constantly.

Share of U.S. teens ages 12 to 17 with 4 or more hours of daily screen time on most weekdays (not counting schoolwork), by group, July 2021 to December 2023
  • All teens 50.4%
  • Ages 12-14 45.6%
  • Ages 15-17 55%
  • Boys 48.3%
  • Girls 52.5%
  • Black 60.4%
  • Hispanic 52.8%
  • White 47.9%
  • Asian 43.5%

Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, NCHS Data Brief No. 513, 'Daily Screen Time Among Teenagers: United States, July 2021 to December 2023' (National Health Interview Survey-Teen), data table for Figure 2. Chart: DeskRated, free to reuse with a link to this page.

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All teens50.4%
Ages 12-1445.6%
Ages 15-1755%
Boys48.3%
Girls52.5%
Black60.4%
Hispanic52.8%
White47.9%
Asian43.5%

Keep these measures apart. CDC's NCHS figure is the share of teens reporting 4 or more hours of non-schoolwork screen time on most weekdays (the top answer choice, so it is not an average). The YRBS measures how often high school students use social media, not hours. Gallup's 4.8 hours adds up teens' estimates across seven separate apps. Pew measures how often teens are online. Common Sense Media's 8 hours 15 minutes is a median that counts simultaneous activities separately.

Screen time for babies, toddlers and young children: statistics and guidelines

Most U.S. children under 8 use screens daily, many own a tablet before kindergarten, and only a minority of young children worldwide meet the screen time limits that health bodies recommend. The World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics now give different advice.

Share of U.S. children who have their own tablet, by age, 2024 (parent reports)
  • Under 2 6%
  • Ages 2-4 45%
  • Ages 5-8 58%
  • All ages 0-8 47%

Source: Common Sense Media, 'The 2025 Common Sense Census: Media Use by Kids Zero to Eight', Ipsos KnowledgePanel survey of 1,578 U.S. parents of children age 0 to 8, August 5 to 29, 2024, Table 2. Chart: DeskRated, free to reuse with a link to this page.

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Under 26%
Ages 2-445%
Ages 5-858%
All ages 0-847%

The guidelines differ. WHO (2019) does not recommend any screen time for infants under 1 or sedentary screen time for 1-year-olds, and sets a cap of no more than 1 hour a day for ages 2 to 4. The American Academy of Pediatrics replaced its 2016 limits in 2026 with guidance that focuses on content, context and family routines, and gives time limits only as a range. The McArthur meta-analysis pools studies from many countries, so its rates are global, not U.S. figures.

How much time do Americans spend on their phones and social media?

Nearly every U.S. adult owns a smartphone, and a large share say they are online or on their phone almost constantly. About half say they spend too much time on their phone, and many have tried to cut back.

How U.S. adults describe their smartphone use, by age, 2026 (% of U.S. adults)
Age groupSpend too much time on smartphoneUse smartphone almost constantlySay smartphone hurts their sleep
18 to 2970%42%62%
30 to 4964%33%52%
50 to 6449%21%36%
65 and older25%9%14%
All U.S. adults53%26%41%

Source: Pew Research Center, 'About half of Americans say they spend too much time on their smartphone' (September 1, 2026), American Trends Panel survey of 9,750 U.S. adults, May 26 to June 1, 2026

Pew's 'almost constantly online' figure (44%) asks about internet use on any device; its 'almost constantly' smartphone figure (26%) asks only about the phone, in a different survey. YouGov's figures are from opt-in online panels of U.S. adult citizens; Pew's are from probability-based samples of all U.S. adults.

How many hours a day do Americans watch TV?

Watching TV is still the biggest single leisure activity in the U.S., though daily TV time has slipped since 2021 and streaming now takes about half of all TV viewing. Older Americans watch far more than younger ones, who spend more of their leisure time on games and computers.

Average hours per day spent watching TV, U.S. population age 15 and over, 2015 to 2025 (2020 not published by BLS)
0 1 2 3 4 2015 2.8 2017 2019 2022 2025 2.6 0 1 2 3 4 2015 2.8 2018 2022 2025 2.6

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, American Time Use Survey, series TUU10101AA01014236 (Watching TV, average hours per day, all days, 15 years and over). 2020 is not shown: BLS publishes no annual estimate for that year (footnote M).. Chart: DeskRated, free to reuse with a link to this page.

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20152.8
20162.7
20172.8
20182.8
20192.8
20212.9
20222.8
20232.7
20242.6
20252.6
Average hours per day spent on TV and leisure computer use by age, U.S., 2025
Age groupWatching TVPlaying games and computer use for leisureAll leisure and sports
15 to 191.481.535.66
20 to 242.071.084.67
25 to 341.890.914.50
35 to 441.760.443.89
45 to 542.260.394.30
55 to 643.060.265.21
65 to 744.200.436.90
75 and over4.430.487.39
All 15 and over2.610.625.16

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, American Time Use Survey, Table 11A: Time spent in leisure and sports activities by selected characteristics, 2025 annual averages, people age 15 and over

The BLS American Time Use Survey records TV as a main activity from a one-day diary, averaged over everyone age 15 and over, including people who watched none that day; it does not count TV on in the background while doing something else. Nielsen's The Gauge measures shares of total TV-set viewing time in U.S. homes, not hours per person. Nielsen says September 2026 onward will use an adjusted method, so later months may not compare directly with August 2026. DataReportal's TV figure is a self-reported GWI survey average for internet users across many countries.

Screen time and sleep statistics

Most of the evidence on screens and sleep is about association: people who use screens at bedtime report worse or shorter sleep, but the studies cannot show which comes first. The figures below come from national polls, a phone-tracking study of teens and peer-reviewed studies of children and adolescents.

Odds of poor sleep outcomes among children and teens aged 6 to 19 with a portable media device at bedtime, versus none (Carter et al., JAMA Pediatrics, 2016 meta-analysis of 20 cross-sectional studies)
Sleep outcomeUsed a device at bedtime: odds ratio (95% CI)Had access but did not use it: odds ratio (95% CI)
Inadequate sleep quantity2.17 (1.42 to 3.32)1.79 (1.39 to 2.31)
Poor sleep quality1.46 (1.14 to 1.88)1.53 (1.11 to 2.10)
Excessive daytime sleepiness2.72 (1.32 to 5.61)2.27 (1.54 to 3.35)

Source: JAMA Pediatrics, Carter et al., 'Association Between Portable Screen-Based Media Device Access or Use and Sleep Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis', December 2016

The measures differ. The National Sleep Foundation polls ask adults (2022) or parents of young children (2026) how often screens are used near bedtime. Common Sense Media measured actual phone use with tracking software, but only on Android phones of 203 young people. Carter and the ABCD studies report odds ratios and risk ratios, which express relative risk, not hours of sleep lost.

Screen time and mental health statistics

Federal surveys and polls find that teens with heavy screen or social media use report anxiety and depression symptoms more often than lighter users. These are associations from surveys, and most of them measure symptoms on short screening scales, not diagnoses.

Share of U.S. teens ages 12 to 17 with anxiety or depression symptoms in the past 2 weeks, by daily screen time (excluding schoolwork), July 2021 to December 2023
  • Anxiety, 4+ hours 27.1%
  • Anxiety, under 4 hours 12.3%
  • Depression, 4+ hours 25.9%
  • Depression, under 4 hours 9.5%

Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, NCHS Data Brief No. 513, October 2024 (National Health Interview Survey–Teen). Chart: DeskRated, free to reuse with a link to this page.

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Anxiety, 4+ hours27.1%
Anxiety, under 4 hours12.3%
Depression, 4+ hours25.9%
Depression, under 4 hours9.5%

The CDC brief counts all recreational screen time and uses the GAD-2 and PHQ-2 screening questions. Gallup and Pew ask about social media only, and Gallup's measure is teens' own rating of their mental health. The Surgeon General's 'double the risk' summary comes from Riehm et al. (2019), where the adjusted risk was about 1.6 to 1.8 times for internalizing problems alone and about 2.0 to 2.4 times for internalizing plus externalizing problems. None of these surveys shows that screens cause the symptoms.

Digital eye strain statistics

Digital eye strain, also called computer vision syndrome, is the tired, dry or blurry-eyed feeling after long screen sessions. Pooled estimates from systematic reviews put it at around two-thirds of the people studied, though definitions vary widely between studies.

Pooled prevalence of computer vision syndrome (digital eye strain) in recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses
ReviewStudies pooledParticipantsPopulationsPooled prevalence
Ccami-Bernal et al., Journal of Optometry, 2024103 cross-sectional66,577Any population; highest in university students (76.1%)69.0%
Anbesu and Lema, Scientific Reports, 202345Not reported in abstractStudies from 20 countries66%
León-Figueroa et al., BMC Public Health, 20241810,33712 countries, during COVID-19; students 70%, non-students 82%74%

Source: Journal of Optometry (Ccami-Bernal et al., 2024), Scientific Reports (Anbesu and Lema, 2023) and BMC Public Health (León-Figueroa et al., 2024); link is the Ccami-Bernal abstract

Prevalence depends heavily on how a study defines computer vision syndrome. Most included studies are self-reported symptom surveys of students and office workers outside the U.S., and Ccami-Bernal et al. found that studies using the validated CVS-Q questionnaire report lower prevalence. The Vision Council figure counts any eye fatigue after screen use in three months, which is a looser measure than a clinical syndrome.

Screen time figures that are out of date or misquoted

These numbers appear on many screen time pages. We traced each one to its original source. Some are years old, some measure something else, and some have no source at all, so none of them is used as a current figure on this page.

Commonly repeated screen time claims, and what the original sources actually say
ClaimWhat we found
Teens spend 7 hours 22 minutes a day on screensThat is Common Sense Media's 2019 average for teens ages 13 to 18. Its 2021 survey measured 8 hours 39 minutes, and its 2026 survey reports a median of 8 hours 15 minutes.
Teen screen time fell from 8 hours 39 minutes (2021) to 8 hours 15 minutes (2026)Not a like-for-like change. The 2026 census reports the median instead of the mean and covers ages 13 to 17 instead of 13 to 18. Because of these design changes, Common Sense Media does not compare its 2026 time estimates with earlier waves.
Kids ages 8 to 18 spend 7.5 hours a day in front of a screenFrom the Kaiser Family Foundation's study of 2009 data. Its 7 hours 38 minutes counts all entertainment media, including music and print, not screens alone.
Teens spend nine hours a day on screensCommon Sense Media's 2015 total for all entertainment media, including music. Screen media alone was 6 hours 40 minutes for teens.
Teens spend 4.8 hours a day on screens (Gallup)Gallup's 4.8 hours is time on seven social media apps only. It is not total screen time.
The CDC says the average teen spends more than 4 hours a day on screensThe CDC reports a share, not an average: 50.4% of teens 12 to 17 reported 4 or more hours on most weekdays. 4 or more hours was the top answer choice, so no average can be worked out.
The AAP says no screens before 18 months and 1 hour a day for ages 2 to 5That was the 2016 guidance. The AAP's 2026 policy statement sets no single limit and gives a range instead.
Only 1 in 4 American toddlers meet screen time guidelinesThe 24.7% figure is a global estimate from a 2022 meta-analysis that pooled studies from many countries. It is not a U.S. figure.
Young children's screen time keeps risingCommon Sense Media found total screen time for ages 0 to 8 nearly flat: 2 hours 24 minutes in 2020 and 2 hours 27 minutes in 2024. Short videos and gaming rose while TV and video fell.
Blue light from screens damages your eyesThe American Academy of Ophthalmology says there is no scientific evidence that blue light from digital devices damages the eye. It links screen discomfort to eye strain and less blinking.
65% of Americans have digital eye strainAttributed to a 2016 Vision Council report we could not open. The council's 2026 survey uses a different measure: 78% of adults had eye fatigue after screen use at least once in three months.
Teens on social media more than 3 hours a day have double the risk of depression and anxietyFrom a 2019 study of 12- to 15-year-olds surveyed between 2013 and 2016. It measured internalizing problems on a short screener, not diagnosed depression or anxiety, and found an association.
Using a phone before bed doubles the risk of poor sleepThe 2016 meta-analysis behind it found 2.17 times the odds of inadequate sleep among children and teens aged 6 to 19, from cross-sectional studies. It is an association in young people, not a doubled risk for adults and not a number of hours lost.
Teens get an average of 237 notifications a day237 is the median among 203 young people aged 11 to 17 with Android phones, tracked in 2022. iPhone users were not included.
The CDC found that screen time causes anxiety and depression in teensThe CDC brief reports an association from a survey. It does not say screen time causes the symptoms.
Smartphones raise children's myopia risk by 77%In the 2021 Lancet Digital Health meta-analysis, 1.77 is the odds ratio for smart devices combined with computers. Smart devices alone gave 1.26, and the authors said exposure might be associated with myopia.
The average worker spends 7 hours a day at a computerThe American Optometric Association's eye strain page states this without a source or a year, so we could not trace it.

Source: The original reports and studies, linked in the stats above (Common Sense Media, Kaiser Family Foundation, CDC, Gallup, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Ophthalmology, The Vision Council, The Lancet Digital Health); link is Common Sense Media's 2021 census

Methodology

Every figure on this page comes from the publisher's own report, release, table or paper: Common Sense Media's census reports, the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics data brief and Youth Risk Behavior Survey releases, Pew Research Center reports and fact sheets, the Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey tables, Nielsen's The Gauge, DataReportal's Digital reports (GWI survey data), YouGov, Gallup, the National Sleep Foundation, The Vision Council, the World Health Organization and American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines, and peer-reviewed studies on the journal's page or PubMed. We did not take figures from other statistics roundups. Each stat links to the exact page it came from, and every figure was checked against that page.

Screen time surveys measure different things, which is why published figures range so widely. Some report the average (mean) and some the typical value (median). Some count entertainment only and some include homework or work. Some ask parents and some ask young people themselves. The CDC reports the share of teens with 4 or more hours a day, not an average. Gallup and Pew ask about social media only. The BLS counts TV and leisure computer use only when it is the main activity. DataReportal's figures are for internet users across many countries, not the U.S. We give each figure with its own population and measure and do not combine sources in one chart.

Common Sense Media changed its tweens and teens survey in 2026, and because of those changes it does not compare the new time estimates with earlier waves. We show the 2021 figures as an older series, not as a trend. Research on screens and health is mostly cross-sectional: odds ratios and risk ratios describe associations, not causes, and the eye strain meta-analyses pool studies that are mostly outside the U.S. with differing definitions. The Vision Council is an optical industry trade group, and its figure is a self-reported survey result.

This page will be updated as new data is released, including Nielsen's monthly Gauge, the BLS American Time Use Survey results for 2026 (expected June 2027), and new Pew Research Center and Common Sense Media reports.

Spot an error or a newer figure? Tell us and we will correct the page and note the change.

Cite this page

Free to quote, chart or link in articles, reports and coursework. Please credit the original source for each figure and link to this page as the compilation.

DeskRated. (2026, November 3). Screen Time Statistics 2026. https://deskrated.com/screen-time-statistics/

Frequently asked questions

What is the average screen time per day?

It depends on who is measured and what counts. Adult internet users worldwide spent an average of 6 hours and 38 minutes online each day, according to GWI data in DataReportal's Digital 2025 report. In the U.S., 57% of adults estimated in 2025 that they spend at least five hours a day looking at screens (YouGov). TV alone took 2.6 hours a day for Americans age 15 and over in 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

How much screen time do teenagers have?

A typical U.S. teen ages 13 to 17 spent 8 hours and 15 minutes a day on screen media for entertainment in spring 2026 (median), and 43% used it for 10 hours or more on the day surveyed, according to Common Sense Media. The CDC found that 50.4% of teens ages 12 to 17 had 4 hours or more of daily screen time on most weekdays, not counting schoolwork, during July 2021 to December 2023. 4 in 10 teens told Pew Research Center in fall 2025 that they are online almost constantly.

What is the average screen time by age?

Common Sense Media's newest surveys put children under 2 at 1 hour 3 minutes a day, ages 2 to 4 at 2 hours 8 minutes and ages 5 to 8 at 3 hours 28 minutes (2024 averages, parent reports). Tweens ages 9 to 12 spent a median of five hours a day on entertainment screen media in 2026, and teens ages 13 to 17 spent 8 hours and 15 minutes. Among adults, TV time rises with age: Americans 75 and over watched 4.43 hours a day in 2025, against 1.76 hours for ages 35 to 44 (BLS).

How much screen time is recommended for children?

The World Health Organization's 2019 guidelines say sedentary screen time is not recommended for 1-year-olds and should be no more than 1 hour a day for children aged 2 to 4. The American Academy of Pediatrics' 2026 policy statement sets no single limit: it says limits might range from under 1 hour a day for toddlers and preschoolers to 1 to 2 hours a day or more of entertainment media for school-aged children and teens. A 2022 meta-analysis found 24.7% of children younger than 2 and 35.6% of children aged 2 to 5 met these kinds of guidelines.

Does screen time affect sleep?

Studies find an association. 58% of U.S. adults said they used a screen often within an hour before bed in the National Sleep Foundation's 2022 poll, and those who very often did reported trouble falling asleep on 2.6 days a week, compared with 1.8 days for those who rarely or never did. A 2016 meta-analysis found children and teens who used a portable device at bedtime had 2.17 times the odds of inadequate sleep. In a 2022 tracking study, 59% of 11- to 17-year-olds used their phones between midnight and 5 a.m. on school nights.

Is screen time linked to anxiety and depression?

In CDC survey data from July 2021 to December 2023, 27.1% of teens ages 12 to 17 with 4 or more hours of daily screen time had anxiety symptoms, compared with 12.3% of teens with less than 4 hours, and 25.9% had depression symptoms, compared with 9.5%. Gallup found 41% of teens using social media for five or more hours a day rated their mental health poor or very poor, against 23% of those under two hours. These are associations; the surveys do not show that screens cause the symptoms.

How common is digital eye strain?

Pooled estimates from systematic reviews put computer vision syndrome at 69.0% of participants across 103 studies (2024) and 66% across 45 studies (2023), mostly of students and office workers outside the U.S. In The Vision Council's 2026 survey, 78% of U.S. adults said they had eye fatigue after screen use at least once in the past three months. The American Academy of Ophthalmology says people blink about 15 times a minute normally but only about 5 to 7 times a minute at a screen.

How many Americans think they spend too much time on their phones?

53% of U.S. adults told Pew Research Center in 2026 that they spend too much time on their smartphone, including 70% of adults ages 18 to 29. 45% said they had tried to cut back in the past 12 months. In YouGov's 2025 polls, 53% of U.S. adults said they want to reduce their screen time.

Sources

  1. DataReportal, We Are Social and Meltwater, Digital 2025 Global Overview Report (GWI survey of adult internet users), published February 5, 2025 datareportal.com
  2. DataReportal, We Are Social and Meltwater, Digital 2026 Global Overview Report (GWI Q2 2025 survey of internet users aged 16 and above), published October 15, 2025 datareportal.com
  3. YouGov, 'For many Americans, their smartphone is the last thing they see at night and the first thing they see in the morning', two online polls of 1,129 and 1,148 U.S. adult citizens, May 23 to 25 and July 15 to 17, 2025 yougov.com
  4. Common Sense Media, 'The 2025 Common Sense Census: Media Use by Kids Zero to Eight', Ipsos KnowledgePanel survey of 1,578 U.S. parents of children age 0 to 8, August 5 to 29, 2024 commonsensemedia.org
  5. Common Sense Media, 'The 2026 Common Sense Media Census: Tech and Media Use by Tweens and Teens', SSRS Opinion Panel survey of 1,211 U.S. youth ages 9 to 17, April 29 to May 11, 2026 commonsensemedia.org
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