If you’re like most of the country, you spend the majority of your waking hours looking at screens. Between television, smartphones, e-readers, and computers, most Americans spend well over 10 hours per day with their eyes focused into these colorful pixel landscapes. At this point, the vast majority of America has dived headfirst into the golden age of technology. Screens, a technology that 100 years ago did not exist, have become a truly ubiquitous part of our daily existence. They have allowed us to communicate more effectively and have completely reshaped the entertainment industry. While there are many positives that screens have brought, this drastic increase in use has begun to carry concern with it as well.

As screen use in America has steadily risen, mental health has notably declined. Concerned scientists noticing this trend have done extensive analysis to show that these two trends are not only correlated, but may be causal. Three large studies spanning the US and the UK done over the past few years, utilizing upwards of 350,000 participants, have shown that the increased use of screens is strongly correlated with a decrease in mental well-being. These studies have been picked up by the media and many places are going as far as enacting governmental policy changes in an effort to limit screen use. While these changes are well-intentioned, they may be acting too quickly, as the science is not yet well vetted or confirmed.