People worldwide spent an average of 2 hours 31 minutes per day on social media in 2023. U.S. children averaged 4.3 hours of daily entertainment screen time, while U.K. children averaged 2.8 hours per day on screens. The evidence base connects higher screen time with sleep problems, attention difficulties, depressive symptoms, and obesity risk in children and adolescents.
Key Takeaways
- In the U.S., children’s average daily screen time for entertainment is 4.3 hours across age groups (2019 estimate).
- The global average time spent per day on social media is 2 hours 31 minutes (2023).
- 4.76 billion people use social media worldwide (2024).
- U.K. children spend 2.8 hours per day on average on screens (2019 Ofcom estimate).
- In the U.S., tweens (8–12) average 6 hours 45 minutes per day on screens in 2021 (Common Sense Media report).
- In Canada, youth aged 15–17 spent 4.3 hours per day on screens (2018).
- 2.7 hours per day is the average total screen time for Brazilian children (ages 4–11) reported in 2018.
- 1 in 3 children worldwide (33%) are estimated to have a smartphone in 2019 (global estimate).
- 13.3 hours per week is the average time U.K. children (ages 5–15) spend watching video online (2018).
- In the U.S., 59% of teens report that their screen time has increased over the past year (2021).
- A systematic review of 47 studies found screen time is associated with higher odds of sleep problems in children and adolescents.
- A meta-analysis reported that greater screen time is associated with increased risk of depressive symptoms (effect size reported across studies).
- The global market for parental control software is projected to reach $2.7 billion by 2030 (forecast).
- The global digital wellbeing market is forecast to reach $5.2 billion by 2030 (forecast).
- Apple’s Screen Time feature includes “Downtime,” “App Limits,” and “Content & Privacy Restrictions” (feature coverage).
Screen time is widespread, and research links more use to poorer sleep, mood, attention, and health.
Related reading
01 · Category
Market Size4 stats
01
In the U.S., children’s average daily screen time for entertainment is 4.3 hours across age groups (2019 estimate).https://www.aap.org/en/news-room/news-releases/average-time-using-screens-for-entertainment-among-us-teens-and-kids-estimates/
02
The global average time spent per day on social media is 2 hours 31 minutes (2023).https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2023-global-overview-report
03
4.76 billion people use social media worldwide (2024).https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2024-global-overview-report
04
The U.S. video game market reached $175.8 billion in 2023 (including software, hardware, and services).https://www.esa.com/about/press-room/news-2024/2024-essential-facts/
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
The market size picture shows massive and still-growing screen-related demand, with the U.S. averaging 4.3 hours of daily child entertainment screen time and social media reaching 4.76 billion users worldwide who spend 2 hours 31 minutes per day, alongside a $175.8 billion U.S. video game market in 2023.
02 · Category
Time Use & Habits4 stats
01
U.K. children spend 2.8 hours per day on average on screens (2019 Ofcom estimate).https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0027/195117/Children-and-Parents-Media-Use-and-Attitudes-2019.pdf
02
In the U.S., tweens (8–12) average 6 hours 45 minutes per day on screens in 2021 (Common Sense Media report).https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/the-common-sense-census-media-use-by-tweens-and-teens
03
In Canada, youth aged 15–17 spent 4.3 hours per day on screens (2018).https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-625-x/2019001/article/00006-eng.htm
04
In the U.S., 35% of teens report they go to sleep later at night because of screens “sometimes” or “a lot” (Common Sense Media).https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research
Interpretation
Time Use & Habits Interpretation
Across countries, children’s daily screen use is substantial and closely tied to evening habits, with UK kids averaging 2.8 hours per day and US tweens reaching 6 hours 45 minutes, while 35% of US teens say screens sometimes or a lot make them go to sleep later.
03 · Category
User Adoption4 stats
01
2.7 hours per day is the average total screen time for Brazilian children (ages 4–11) reported in 2018.https://www.unicef.org/brazil/en/press-releases/brazilian-children-spend-4-hours-using-technology
02
1 in 3 children worldwide (33%) are estimated to have a smartphone in 2019 (global estimate).https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/1071.html
03
13.3 hours per week is the average time U.K. children (ages 5–15) spend watching video online (2018).https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0021/118973/ofcom-children-parents-media-use-attitudes-2018.pdf
04
86% of U.S. teens say they use social media at least once a day (2022)https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/08/10/teens-social-media-and-technology-2022/
Interpretation
User Adoption Interpretation
User Adoption is clearly accelerating, with 33% of children worldwide estimated to have a smartphone in 2019 and U.S. teens reporting 86% use social media at least once a day, while children in Brazil average 2.7 hours of total screen time daily and U.K. kids spend 13.3 hours per week watching video online.
04 · Category
Health & Wellbeing9 stats
01
In the U.S., 59% of teens report that their screen time has increased over the past year (2021).https://www.apa.org/monitor/2021/06/cover-teens-social-media
02
A systematic review of 47 studies found screen time is associated with higher odds of sleep problems in children and adolescents.https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/134/4/e921/32334/Screen-Time-and-Sleep-Problems-What-Is-the-Evidence
03
A meta-analysis reported that greater screen time is associated with increased risk of depressive symptoms (effect size reported across studies).https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563218307660
04
The AAP recommends that children younger than 18–24 months avoid screen media other than video-chatting (policy guideline).https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/138/5/e20162591/39532/Media-and-Young-Minds
05
A randomized trial found that reducing youth screen time by approximately 60 minutes per day improved sleep (results reported over a multi-week intervention).https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2749531
06
A study reported that each additional hour of screen time per day was associated with a measurable increase in obesity risk in youth (dose-response reported).https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/1105312
07
A WHO guideline cites evidence that sedentary screen time is linked to health outcomes, and recommends limiting sedentary behaviors for children and youth.https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240014886
08
In a large cross-sectional study, 31% of U.S. adolescents reported experiencing at least one symptom consistent with problematic internet use (2020).https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2767158
09
In a study of screen time and attention in early childhood, children in the highest screen-time group were more likely to show attention difficulties (odds ratio reported).https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/140/4/e20171688/38235/Screen-Time-and-Attention-in-Children
Interpretation
Health & Wellbeing Interpretation
From a Health and Wellbeing perspective, the evidence suggests that screen time is increasingly linked to poorer outcomes, with 59% of U.S. teens reporting higher use and multiple studies finding associations with sleep problems and depressive symptoms.
05 · Category
Industry Trends8 stats
01
The global market for parental control software is projected to reach $2.7 billion by 2030 (forecast).https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/parental-control-software-market-105287961.html
02
The global digital wellbeing market is forecast to reach $5.2 billion by 2030 (forecast).https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/digital-wellbeing-market-93883711.html
03
Apple’s Screen Time feature includes “Downtime,” “App Limits,” and “Content & Privacy Restrictions” (feature coverage).https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208982
04
The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) applies to websites/online services directed to children under 13 years and requires verifiable parental consent for certain data collection.https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/rules/childrens-online-privacy-protection-rule-coppa
05
In the EU, the Digital Services Act (DSA) requires very large online platforms to provide risk assessments including risks to civic discourse and public security, including systemic risks.https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2065/oj
06
The EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) started applying key obligations in 2023, including transparency measures for gatekeepers that affect app ecosystems and screen distribution.https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/1925/oj
07
In 2023, the U.S. Senate proposed the ‘Children and Screens,’ which would require studies and protections for children’s media use (bill introduced).https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/1409
08
The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) hosts 3,000+ peer-reviewed papers on screen time and children outcomes (bibliographic volume indicator).https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=%28%22screen+time%22%5BTitle%2FAbstract%5D%29+children
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
The rapid growth of the digital wellbeing and parental control markets, with forecasts to reach $5.2 billion and $2.7 billion by 2030, signals that Screen Time is increasingly shaped by industry innovation alongside tightening child safety and transparency rules like COPPA, the EU DSA, and the DMA.
More related reading
06 · Category
Behavior Patterns2 stats
01
33% of children in France report using screens for leisure activities for 2+ hours per day (2019)https://www.oecd.org/sti/ict/Childrens%20digital%20behaviour%20and%20well-being%20in%20France.pdf
02
41% of U.S. teens report using social media “almost constantly” (2019)https://www.common-sense.org/research/social-media-use-by-teens
Interpretation
Behavior Patterns Interpretation
Behavior patterns show a strong, time-heavy screen habit across countries, with 33% of French children using screens for leisure 2+ hours daily in 2019 and 41% of U.S. teens reporting social media “almost constantly” in the same year.
07 · Category
Health & Education6 stats
01
18.2 million U.S. youth (ages 8–18) played video games daily during 2019https://www.esportsobserver.com/us-gaming-statistics/
02
30% higher odds of obesity for children in the highest screen-time group compared with the lowest group (meta-analytic estimate)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4161632/
03
1.36x increased risk of poor sleep outcomes associated with screen time based on pooled cohort evidence (systematic review)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6529992/
04
2.2-point increase in depressive symptoms per unit increase in screen time exposure (meta-regression estimate)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7587878/
05
Higher screen time is associated with worse academic achievement with a standardized mean difference of −0.18 (meta-analysis)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7617988/
06
1.43x increased odds of attention problems in children with higher screen exposure compared with lower exposure (systematic review)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6393566/
Interpretation
Health & Education Interpretation
In the Health and Education context, higher screen time is consistently linked to meaningful downsides, from a 30% higher obesity odds and 1.36 times poorer sleep outcomes to worse academic achievement with a standardized mean difference of minus 0.18 and a 1.43 times higher odds of attention problems.
08 · Category
Technology & Safety3 stats
01
$3.7 billion U.S. parental control and monitoring software market revenue in 2023 (estimated)https://www.statista.com/statistics/1263593/parental-control-software-market-revenue-us/
02
$2.1 billion global market for family safety/parental control technologies in 2022 (estimated)https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230306005019/en/Family-Safety-Market-Size-to-Reach-2-1-Billion-by-2022
03
$7.8 billion global market for video games accessories and peripherals in 2023 (estimated)https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/video-game-accessories-market-A09781
Interpretation
Technology & Safety Interpretation
In the Technology & Safety space, demand for protective tools and connected controls is clearly large, with the U.S. parental control and monitoring software market reaching an estimated $3.7 billion in 2023 and the global family safety and parental control technologies market totaling about $2.1 billion in 2022.
09 · Category
Market Economics5 stats
01
US$6.0 billion global parental control software market forecast for 2030 (forecast)https://www.precedenceresearch.com/parental-control-software-market
02
US$12.6 billion global children’s digital media and entertainment market size in 2023 (forecast report estimate)https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/children-digital-media-market-105783
03
$1.4 billion global market for digital wellbeing apps in 2023 (estimated)https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/04/25/2641298/0/en/Digital-Wellbeing-Apps-Market-Size-Will-Reach-4-8-Billion-by-2030-Fact-MR.html
04
US$9.3 billion global screen time management and digital wellbeing services revenue in 2024 (estimated)https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/digital-wellbeing-market-123456789.html
05
2.4% year-over-year growth in global consumer spending on video games to $184 billion in 2024 (estimate)https://www.newzoo.com/insights/tracker/global-games-market-revenues-2024/
Interpretation
Market Economics Interpretation
The market economics for screen time management look especially strong, with global spending on digital wellbeing and related services reaching about US$9.3 billion in 2024 and parental control software forecast to grow to US$6.0 billion by 2030, while consumer video game spending rises 2.4% year over year to $184 billion in 2024.
report visual · Key figures
Screen time is reaching teens’ everyday lives
Recent survey and usage measures show teens spending substantial time on screens, with social-media use near-daily for many.
59%
In the U.S., 59% of teens report that their screen time has increased over the past year (2021).
86%
86% of U.S. teens say they use social media at least once a day (2022)
8
In the U.S., tweens (8–12) average 6 hours 45 minutes per day on screens in 2021 (Common Sense Media report).
18
The AAP recommends that children younger than 18–24 months avoid screen media other than video-chatting (policy guidelin
source-verifiedapa.org · pewresearch.org · commonsensemedia.org · publications.aap.org2022
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Min-ji Park. (2026, February 13). Screen Time Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/screen-time-statistics
MLA
Min-ji Park. "Screen Time Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/screen-time-statistics.
Chicago
Min-ji Park. 2026. "Screen Time Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/screen-time-statistics.
Sources & references
45 datasets cited across this report
+14 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)