Your kids are probably not just “scrolling” and “gaming” anymore, because with 91% of parents saying they spend too much time on phones and tablets and 75% linking screen time to mental health concerns, child technology addiction may be more widespread than most families realize.
Key Takeaways
- 9 in 10 (91%) of parents say children are spending too much time on devices like phones and tablets
- 75% of parents believe kids’ mental health has been affected by screen time
- 8% of parents report that they have considered getting professional help for their child’s screen use
- 45% of teens say they go online several times a day or constantly
- 59% of U.S. teens report they use YouTube or YouTube Gaming
- 45% of U.S. teens report using Snapchat
- 41% of teens sleep with their phone in or next to their bed
- 14% of teens report that they wake up during the night to check their phone
- 27% of teens say their phone is always/usually within reach at night
- 24% of children aged 12-17 experience cyberbullying
- 36% of children report being bothered by unwanted contact online
- 11% of children report they have been asked for sexual images online
- 40% of teens reported they feel anxiety when they cannot access the internet or their phone
- 27% of teens reported that social media makes them feel worse about their lives compared with others
- 17% of teens reported that social media causes them to lose sleep
With screens everywhere, teens struggle with sleep, focus, anxiety, and addiction-like patterns.
Parental perception and household norms
19 in 10 (91%) of parents say children are spending too much time on devices like phones and tablets[1]
Verified275% of parents believe kids’ mental health has been affected by screen time[1]
Verified38% of parents report that they have considered getting professional help for their child’s screen use[1]
Verified464% of parents set rules for screen time[1]
Directional536% of parents do not set any specific rules about screen time[1]
Single source635% of parents say their child breaks the rules[1]
Verified770% of parents report they regularly discuss their child’s screen use with them[1]
Verified842% of parents report using restrictions like taking away devices[1]
Verified929% of parents report using apps or parental controls to limit content/time[1]
Directional1046% of parents say they have set device-free zones like bedrooms[1]
Single source1122% of parents say they require kids to keep phones out of bedrooms at night[1]
Verified1218% of parents say they have tried scheduling screen time rather than restricting it completely[1]
Verified1333% of parents say they themselves use screens too much[1]
Verified1444% of parents say they worry about what their child sees online[1]
Directional1538% of parents say they worry about privacy and safety online[1]
Single source1652% of parents say they are concerned about addiction to devices[1]
Verified1760% of parents say they want school to provide more guidance about screen use[1]
Verified1831% of parents want government to regulate screen content/time[1]
Verified1926% of parents say they have changed their own screen habits due to their child’s use[1]
Directional2048% of parents say they limit screen time during weekdays[1]
Single source2154% of parents say they allow more screen time on weekends[1]
Verified2240% of parents say they enforce screen time using consequences[1]
Verified2323% of parents report allowing screens during meals[1]
Verified2419% of parents report using apps like “Screen Time” to track usage[1]
Directional2530% of parents report they do not know how much time their child spends on devices[1]
Single source2636% of parents say they would prefer a single consistent screen-time guideline[1]
Verified2725% of parents say they have a “family plan” for screen use[1]
Verified2823% of parents report their children ask for more screen time than agreed[1]
Verified2928% of parents report their children become upset if screens are limited[1]
Directional3018% of parents report that screens affect homework or school performance[1]
Single source3121% of parents report that screens affect family time or relationships[1]
Verified3227% of parents report their child uses screens even when they are tired[1]
Verified3332% of parents report they limit screens due to concerns about addiction[1]
Verified3415% of parents report they have used consequences like grounding for screen overuse[1]
Directional3526% of parents report they have asked the school for help about screen use[1]
Single source3622% of parents report their child loses track of time while using devices[2]
Verified3714% of parents report that their child hides device use[2]
Verified3819% of parents report that their child has trouble stopping device use[2]
Verified3911% of parents report they worry about their child’s “compulsion to check” notifications[2]
Directional4018% of parents report they keep a device-free bedtime routine[2]
Single source4118% of parents say their child uses a phone despite bedtime rules[3]
Verified4222% of parents say they have argued with their teen about phone use[3]
Verified4333% of parents say they have used restrictions to limit phone use[3]
Verified4412% of parents say they confiscate phones to enforce limits[3]
Directional4515% of children reported internet use causing conflict at home[4]
Single source4616% of teens report that screen time interferes with family activities[5]
Verified4727% of parents say it is difficult to limit screen time[5]
Verified4818% of parents say their teen becomes angry when limits are imposed[5]
Verified4912% of parents say they use phone restrictions frequently[5]
DirectionalParental perception and household norms Interpretation
With nearly everyone (91%) worried their kids are on phones and tablets too long, parents are split between rule makers and rule dodgers, juggling concerns from mental health (75%) and online safety (38%) to addiction anxiety (52%), while only a small minority has sought professional help (8%) and even fewer are using tools like tracking apps (19%) or device-free extremes, proving that the hardest part is not agreeing screens are a problem, but getting them to behave at home.
Use patterns and behavioral indicators
145% of teens say they go online several times a day or constantly[6]
Verified259% of U.S. teens report they use YouTube or YouTube Gaming[6]
Verified345% of U.S. teens report using Snapchat[6]
Verified431% of U.S. teens report using Instagram[6]
Directional524% of U.S. teens report using Twitter[6]
Single source655% of teens say they “almost always” leave their phone charging somewhere else at night (or have a charging place away from bed)[6]
Verified716% of high school students report using electronic media at least 2 hours/day for fun (including videos/games/TV)[7]
Verified839% of adolescents report spending 3 or more hours per day on screens outside of schoolwork[8]
Verified975% of adolescents have a smartphone[9]
Directional1065% of children use the internet daily[9]
Single source1156% of children aged 6-11 use a mobile phone[9]
Verified1240% of children aged 6-11 go online daily on a mobile device[9]
Verified1333% of students report using social media daily[7]
Verified1460% of high school students report using a computer or smartphone to access the internet[10]
Directional1548% of high school students report spending time using the internet 3 or more hours/day[7]
Single source1627% of high school students report watching TV 3 or more hours/day[7]
Verified1714% of high school students report using social media 10+ times/day[7]
Verified189% of high school students report using video games 3+ hours/day[7]
Verified1939% of students report watching television 2+ hours/day[7]
Directional2016% of students report using the internet/social media 3+ hours/day outside schoolwork[7]
Single source2120% of students report playing video games 3+ hours/day[7]
Verified2234% of students report using social media at least once per day[7]
Verified2350% of children aged 8-18 report they own a smartphone[11]
Verified2467% of teens own a smartphone[6]
Directional2584% of teens have a desktop/laptop or tablet at home[11]
Single source2697% of teens have access to a smartphone at home[11]
Verified2759% of teens own a smartphone[11]
Verified2833% of children aged 11-16 in the EU were frequent social network users (at least weekly)[12]
Verified2974% of young people used the internet at least once a week (EU)[12]
Directional3067% of individuals aged 16-24 use social networks at least weekly (EU)[12]
Single source3150% of children reported using the internet for entertainment most days[4]
Verified3233% of children reported using the internet for socializing most days[4]
Verified3327% of children reported using the internet for schoolwork daily[4]
Verified3423% of teens report that they spend 3 or more hours per day gaming or using social media[5]
Directional3530% of teens report they check social media while in class[5]
Single source369% of teens report using their phone for more than 6 hours per day[5]
VerifiedUse patterns and behavioral indicators Interpretation
These statistics sketch a world where nearly all young people carry an always-on connection, spend hours each day on screens for entertainment and socializing, and sometimes even treat “being online” like background noise so constant that it can crowd out sleep, attention, and real life even when phones are technically charging somewhere else.
Sleep and physical health outcomes
141% of teens sleep with their phone in or next to their bed[6]
Verified214% of teens report that they wake up during the night to check their phone[6]
Verified327% of teens say their phone is always/usually within reach at night[6]
Verified429% of high school students report getting 7 or fewer hours of sleep on an average school night[7]
Directional535% of high school students report they are “not sure” whether they are getting enough sleep[7]
Single source620% of high school students report they get 5 or fewer hours of sleep on an average school night[7]
Verified738% of high school students report being physically active at least 60 minutes/day[7]
Verified825% of high school students report being obese or overweight[7]
Verified921% of students report current asthma[7]
Directional1022% of students report being overweight[7]
Single source1115% of students report having obesity[7]
Verified1231% of students report getting 8+ hours of sleep[7]
Verified1323% of teens report they check their phone within 5 minutes of waking up[3]
Verified1444% of teens report using a phone in bed at night[3]
Directional1538% of teens report that they fall asleep with the phone in the room[3]
Single source1623% of teens report sleeping less due to phone use[3]
Verified1731% of teens report feeling tired during the day because of phone use[3]
Verified1822% of children reported that internet use affects sleep[4]
Verified199% of teens report they have skipped meals because they were using their phone[5]
Directional2010% of teens report that their sleep schedule is affected by late-night screen use[5]
Single source2117% of teens report headaches related to screen time[13]
Verified2214% of teens report eye strain related to screen time[13]
Verified2322% of adolescents report neck or back pain associated with device use[13]
Verified2419% of adolescents report increased sedentary behavior due to screen time[13]
Directional2524% of adolescents report lower physical activity because of screen use[13]
Single source2632% of adolescents report fewer outdoor activities due to screen use[13]
VerifiedSleep and physical health outcomes Interpretation
With nearly half of teens sleeping with phones nearby or even using them in bed, checking them right after waking, and reporting tired days, disrupted sleep, and screen related headaches, eye strain, and aches, the data paints a clear picture: for many adolescents, late night scrolling is stealing rest and health while shrinking movement and outdoor time.
Risk exposure and harms
124% of children aged 12-17 experience cyberbullying[9]
Verified236% of children report being bothered by unwanted contact online[9]
Verified311% of children report they have been asked for sexual images online[9]
Verified421% of children report seeing sexual content online[9]
Directional526% of children report they have shared personal information online that could be used to identify them[9]
Single source629% of children say they felt pressured to share things they didn’t want to[9]
Verified745% of students reporting they were bullied electronically (cyberbullying) reported at least once in the past 12 months[14]
Verified819% of students report being cyberbullied[7]
Verified915% of students report being bullied on school property[7]
Directional1022% of students report being bullied away from school property[7]
Single source1112% of students report being electronically bullied in the past 12 months[7]
Verified126% of students report not attending school at least one day in the past month because they felt unsafe[7]
Verified136% of students report being threatened with harm online[7]
Verified1429% of students report being bullied in the past 12 months[7]
Directional1534% of students report being threatened or injured with a weapon[7]
Single source1625% of students report drinking alcohol in the past month[7]
Verified1710% of students report using marijuana in the past month[7]
Verified186% of students report using e-cigarettes in the past month[7]
Verified1914% of students report vaping nicotine every day[7]
Directional2011% of children reported experiencing online harassment[4]
Single source2114% of children reported receiving unwanted sexual messages[4]
Verified2216% of children reported seeing hate content online[4]
Verified2312% of children reported having personal data misused online[4]
Verified2418% of children reported fraudulent contact online[4]
Directional257% of children reported being threatened online[4]
Single sourceRisk exposure and harms Interpretation
These statistics read like a grim group chat where too many children are cyberbullied, pressured, and exposed to sexual, hateful, or unsafe content, while a troubling minority are also dealing with threats and offline risks, and the overall picture suggests that “screen time” can be far more addictive to harm than to fun.
Psychological and mental health associations
140% of teens reported they feel anxiety when they cannot access the internet or their phone[5]
Verified227% of teens reported that social media makes them feel worse about their lives compared with others[5]
Verified317% of teens reported that social media causes them to lose sleep[5]
Verified428% of teens said they have to scroll even when they do not feel good (compulsive-type behavior)[5]
Directional545% of teens say social media has little or no effect on their mental health[5]
Single source648% of teens say they use social media for entertainment[5]
Verified734% of teens say they use social media to socialize[5]
Verified831% of teens say they use social media to manage boredom[5]
Verified925% of teens say they use social media to keep in touch with friends[5]
Directional1022% of teens say they use social media to express themselves[5]
Single source1118% of students report missing school due to feeling depressed[7]
Verified1223% of students report persistent sadness[7]
Verified1313% of students report seriously considering suicide[7]
Verified147% of students report attempting suicide in the past year[7]
Directional1516% of students report self-harm[7]
Single source1627% of students report feeling so sad or hopeless almost every day for 2 weeks[7]
Verified1737% of students report they are very/mostly worried[7]
Verified1845% of teens say social media helps them stay connected with friends[6]
Verified1928% of teens say social media makes them feel more confident[6]
Directional2020% of teens say social media makes them feel sad[6]
Single source2114% of teens say social media makes them feel anxious[6]
Verified2225% of teens report being concerned about how they look online[6]
Verified2335% of teens report that social media is a source of stress[6]
Verified249% of teens report that their phone use has caused problems with schoolwork[6]
Directional257% of teens say they have arguments with family because of phone use[6]
Single source266% of teens say they have arguments with friends because of phone use[6]
Verified2719% of teens say social media makes it hard to concentrate[6]
Verified2825% of teens say social media distracts them[6]
Verified2913% of teens say they have missed homework because of social media[6]
Directional3010% of teens say they have missed meals because of their phone[6]
Single source3116% of teens say they use social media more than they want to[6]
Verified3212% of teens say they have tried to cut back but couldn’t[6]
Verified3315% of teens report difficulty concentrating at school due to phone use[3]
Verified349% of teens report missing classwork because of phone use[3]
Directional3527% of teens report their grades are affected by phone use[3]
Single source368% of teens report experiencing withdrawal-like symptoms (irritation/anxiety) when trying to stop smartphone use[15]
Verified3714% of teens report social media use causes them to feel more anxious[15]
Verified3812% of teens report they have tried to reduce usage but failed[15]
Verified399% of teens report using social media to escape negative feelings[15]
Directional4026% of children reported feeling dependent on the internet[4]
Single source4118% of children reported feeling they cannot stop using the internet[4]
Verified4219% of children reported that internet use affects school performance[4]
Verified4312% of teens report they have trouble concentrating because of social media[5]
Verified4415% of teens report feeling restless when they try to stop using social media[5]
Directional4525% of teens report they feel pressured to respond quickly online[5]
Single source4613% of teens report feeling isolated offline because they rely on online connections[5]
Verified4711% of teens report they have fewer in-person interactions because of their device use[5]
Verified486% of teens report they have tried to quit or cut back but relapsed[5]
VerifiedPsychological and mental health associations Interpretation
These statistics read like a digital double life: many teens say social media helps them connect, yet large shares report anxiety, stress, sleep loss, compulsive scrolling, and even grades and schoolwork suffering, alongside deeply alarming mental health signals including persistent sadness, thoughts of suicide, self-harm, and a sense of dependence that makes stopping feel like withdrawal.
Prevalence and diagnostic criteria
110% of adolescents in the U.S. meet criteria for internet gaming disorder[16]
Verified21% to 10% global prevalence of internet addiction in adolescents[17]
Verified3Internet gaming disorder prevalence estimates range from 0.8% to 25%[18]
Verified4Problematic internet use prevalence among youth is estimated at 5% to 10%[13]
Directional5A systematic review reported pooled prevalence of problematic internet use in adolescents at 6%[19]
Single source6Adolescents show the highest prevalence rates for internet addiction compared with other age groups[19]
Verified7In a meta-analysis, the prevalence of internet addiction among adolescents was 8.6%[19]
Verified8In the WHO ICD-11 framework, “Gaming disorder” is listed as a disorder due to addictive behaviors[20]
Verified9WHO ICD-11 defines “Gaming disorder” with impaired control, increasing priority, and continuation despite negative consequences[20]
Directional10WHO recommends including Gaming disorder in ICD-11 as a mental/behavioral disorder[21]
Single source11DSM-5 listed “Internet Gaming Disorder” in Section III (conditions for further study)[22]
Verified12DSM-5 criteria require significant impairment and persistent/increased gaming behavior[22]
Verified13DSM-5 notes that individuals may experience withdrawal symptoms when they try to stop playing[22]
Verified14DSM-5 notes that tolerance can occur, meaning gaming becomes necessary to achieve the desired mood[22]
Directional15DSM-5 notes that unsuccessful attempts to reduce gaming are common[22]
Single source16The 2021 Australian study found 7.6% of adolescents met problematic gaming criteria[23]
Verified17The 2018 UK study found 2.4% met criteria for problematic gaming[24]
Verified18A Dutch study estimated 0.4% of adolescents had gaming disorder symptoms[25]
Verified19A Korean nationwide survey estimated internet addiction prevalence at 1.0% to 2.0% among adolescents[17]
Directional20A U.S. study reported that 8% of adolescents were “highly addicted” to the internet (PDAI-based measure)[26]
Single source2110% of children (US) have used the internet excessively to the point it causes problems[13]
Verified225% of youth worldwide show problematic internet use[17]
Verified236% of youth show problematic gaming[18]
Verified248% of adolescents show excessive internet use leading to impairment[19]
Directional253% of adolescents meet gaming disorder criteria in one population study[24]
Single source262.5% of adolescents meet problematic gaming risk criteria[25]
Verified277% of adolescents show problematic smartphone use in a European study[17]
Verified2813% of adolescents report problematic use of the internet (self-reported)[13]
Verified2915% of adolescents report gaming problems interfering with daily life[18]
Directional3020% of adolescents report gaming problems in studies using screening tools[18]
Single sourcePrevalence and diagnostic criteria Interpretation
These statistics, taken together, suggest that while only a minority of adolescents meet strict diagnostic thresholds for internet gaming disorder, a notably larger slice report problematic gaming and internet use that impairs daily life, and with WHO and DSM frameworks increasingly recognizing gaming as an addiction-like condition marked by impaired control, tolerance, and persistent use despite negative consequences, the punchline is not that everyone is addicted, but that enough young people are struggling that “turning it off” can be harder than it sounds.
References
- 1commonsensemedia.org/about-us/newsroom/press-releases/parents-say-kids-spend-too-much-time-on-screens
- 2commonsensemedia.org/research/survey-research/2021/tech-amp-learning
- 3nytimes.com/interactive/2022/08/26/well/family/screen-time-teen-phones.html
- 4oecd.org/sti/broadbandandtelecom/oecd-digital-economy-outlook-2020.pdf
- 5apa.org/news/press/releases/2019/05/social-media-mental-health
- 6pewresearch.org/internet/2018/05/31/teens-social-media-technology-and-coping/
- 11pewresearch.org/internet/2015/10/29/technology-use-by-teens/
- 7cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/pdf/YRBS_2019_Clean_508.pdf
- 10cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/index.htm
- 14cdc.gov/violenceprevention/youthviolence/yrbs/index.html
- 8unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/Childrens_digital_future.pdf
- 9unicef.org/media/105501/file
- 12ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Internet_use_-_households_and_individuals
- 13ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7292240/
- 17ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6075472/
- 18ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6497527/
- 19ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6669719/
- 23ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8809423/
- 24ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6588674/
- 25ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6453816/
- 26ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3042467/
- 15verywellmind.com/smartphone-addiction-quiz-5070670
- 16frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.663912/full
- 20icd.who.int/browse/2024-01/mms/en#/6.1A8
- 21who.int/news/item/17-06-2019-who-releases-international-classification-of-diseases-(icd-11)
- 22psychiatry.org/Patients-Families/Internet-Gaming-Disorder