How much is okay?
A 30-second check for your teen's age.
It's not the hours — it's what they crowd out.
Judging screen use by balance, not the clock — and spotting which anchor to protect first.
Why it matters
A quick check that helps you judge whether your teen's screen time is reasonable for their age — based on balance, not a single magic number. It asks whether the important parts of life are still getting their share: sleep, school, movement, in-person friends, and family time. Rather than fearing a specific hourly limit, it shifts the question to whether screens are crowding out what matters. You walk away with a calmer, clearer sense of where your teen actually stands and what, if anything, to adjust.
The tool
A balance-based read on whether your teen's screen time is reasonable for their age.
Free with a free account
Sign up free to use this tool — it stays yours for good.
Key points
- Watch what screens displace, not just total hours.
- Protect sleep, school, movement, and in-person friends first.
- Active or social use differs from passive scrolling.
The science
Researchers increasingly agree that for teenagers, the total hour count matters less than what the screen time displaces and what the teen is actually doing on the device. Sleep, physical activity, and face-to-face connection are strongly tied to teen wellbeing, so the useful question is whether screens are pushing those aside. Content and context matter too: creating, learning, or staying close with friends is different from endless passive scrolling. A balance-based view tends to be more honest and less anxiety-driven than chasing one universal number.
Watch
Take it with you
A one-page summary for the fridge — the takeaway, the skill you're building, and the key points.
My Teen's World · Screen TimeHow much is okay?
It's not the hours — it's what they crowd out.
The skill you're building
Judging screen use by balance, not the clock — and spotting which anchor to protect first.
Key points
- Watch what screens displace, not just total hours.
- Protect sleep, school, movement, and in-person friends first.
- Active or social use differs from passive scrolling.
A balance-based read on whether your teen's screen time is reasonable for their age.
Keep exploring the toolkit
Unlock the whole toolkit
Membership opens every tool plus the full libraries — 200+ trends, 200 scripts, the science, and your Friday Reading.