UMVA has learned that a staggering 5.2 hours a day is the average screen time for Canadian tweens and teens, according to a recent study. This raises serious concerns about the impact on their mental health and well-being.
The study found that nine in 10 Canadian teens are exceeding the recommended two-hour daily screen time limit set by the Canadian Pediatric Society. This excessive screen time can lead to anxiety and depression, as it fosters a culture of comparison and competition.
“A preoccupation with screen time can actually influence anxiety and depression,” warns Toronto performance psychologist Dr. Dana Sinclair. “If you’re always on your screen and you’re thinking about what everybody else is doing, and what you should be doing, then yes, it becomes a mental health issue.”
In response to these findings, Rogers launched The 5.2 Project on May 2, a documentary-style video that captures the daily screen time habits of three Greater Toronto Area teens. The raw footage, packaged into 5.2 hours of screen time for each teen, was shared with their parents, providing an eye-opening look at the reality of excessive screen use.
One parent, Jeff Gauthier from Oshawa, was shocked to learn that his 15-year-old son Kaiden averaged 8.22 hours of screen time a day. Gauthier, a youth psychotherapist, admits that he was concerned about his son’s screen time before, but this experience has heightened his concern.
Gauthier and Dr. Sinclair agree that finding a balance between screen time and other activities is crucial. They suggest that parents should have a strategy to encourage healthy habits, such as setting up board games or engaging in outdoor activities together.
The screen time phenomenon is a problem, according to Dr. Sinclair, as it replaces real social relationships and outdoor experiences. Ontario is considering a ban on social media and cellphones in schools, with many ministers of education agreeing that it has not been beneficial to allow students to have access to their devices during class.
Both Gauthier and Dr. Sinclair think that phones should be kept out of classrooms, but still available before and after school. They recommend taking breaks from screens, exercising, and engaging in green spaces to promote mental well-being.
Ultimately, finding a balance between screen time and other activities is key to maintaining good mental health. As parents, Gauthier and Dr. Sinclair stress the importance of having a strategy to encourage healthy habits and setting limits on screen time.
