Chapter 15. Screen Time: Trends for U.S. Teenagers

15.1 Synopsis

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You must read each slide, and complete any questions on the slide, in sequence.

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Welcome

Screen Time: Trends for U.S. Teenagers

Using recent U.S. data from the Centers for Disease Control’s Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance and Common Sense Media, this activity explores the different patterns of media use in adolescence. It also examines how knowledgeable parents are when It comes to the duration and exposure of their teens to various types of screen media.

Click the 'Get Started' button below to start this activity

Color image of two female teens and one male teen sitting on park bench, staring at their smartphones.

Vlad Teodor / Shutterstock

15.2 Screen Time: Trends for U.S. Teenagers

Screen Time: Trends for U.S. Teenagers

Common Sense Media (2015) estimates that U.S. teenagers average approximately nine hours of screen time per day, NOT including that which is related to school or homework. Data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance show significant increases in screen time over the last decade.

Click on each year to see how many teens spent three or more hours each day using computers or playing video games.

Data from MMWR, June 9, 2006, and June 10, 2016.

15.3 Screen Time: Trends for U.S. Teenagers

The Five Types of Media Users Among Teenagers

Aside from watching TV and listening to music, teens’ media habits vary widely from one another. In a recent study, Common Sense Media (2015) identified several distinct patterns of media use among teenagers.

Use the arrow buttons to view the different categories of media use.

Data from Common Sense Media, 2015.

15.4 Screen Time: Trends for U.S. Teenagers

Parental Awareness of Teenagers’ Media Use

While most teens report that their parents have talked with them about online safety and responsibility, only about one-half of them say they have discussed how much time they are allowed to spend using media. Demographic differences are evident: Low-SES teens are more likely to say their parents know “a lot” about what they do and see online, the songs they listen to, the social media they use, and the apps they use. They are also more likely to say their parents know “a lot” about the video and computer games they play (Common Sense Media, 2015).

Click on each demographic at the bottom of the graph.

Data from Common Sense Media, 2015.

15.5 Screen Time: Trends for U.S. Teenagers

Screen Time: Trends for U.S. Teenagers

Vlad Teodor / Shutterstock

Question 15.1 Screen Time: Trends for U.S. Teenagers

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Answers should distinguish types, including which forms promote social interaction and which are cognitive challenges. Ideally, answers show nuance and consider alternate uses of time—e.g., interacting with family, doing homework, helping around the house, etc.

15.6 Activity completed!

Congratulations! You have completed this activity. You have received a provisional score for your essay answer, which has been submitted to your instructor.

REFERENCES

Common Sense Media. (2015). The Common Sense census: Media use by tweens and teens. San Francisco, CA: Common Sense.

MMWR. (2006, June 9). Youth risk behavior surveillance—United States, 2005. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 55, 1—110.

MMWR. (2016, June 10). Youth risk behavior surveillance—United States, 2015. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 65, 1—174.