When we returned from the snowstorm, I asked a student what they did over the long weekend. They jokingly replied, “Mostly doomscrolled.” While they were kidding, there’s a lot of truth in that response—many teens (and adults!) spend a large portion of their downtime on screens.

In fact, the CDC reports that about 50% of teens ages 12–17 spend four or more hours a day on screens, not including time spent on schoolwork-related devices. While “doomscrolling” may not be every teen’s preferred activity, many are spending hours each day gaming, streaming videos, or scrolling through social media.

I often remind my Health classes that screens aren’t “bad”—they’re part of everyday life. However, how much time we spend on them and what we consume can impact how we feel both physically and emotionally. Research shows that teens who spend four or more hours a day on screens are about twice as likely to report symptoms of anxiety and depression compared to teens with less screen time.