Cited by 304Child Development and Digital TechnologyImpact of Technology on AdolescentsPhysical Activity and Health

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 53 of the 54 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 44 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

The Conceptual and Methodological Mayhem of “Screen Time”

Open access
K. Kaye, Linda, Orben, Amy, A. Ellis, David, C. Hunter, Simon, Houghton, Stephen·2020·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Published version of a preprint

Abstract

Debates concerning the impacts of screen time are widespread. Existing research presents mixed findings, and lacks longitudinal evidence for any causal or long-term effects. We present a critical account of the current shortcomings of the screen time literature. These include poor conceptualisation, the use of non-standardised measures that are predominantly self-report, and issues with measuring screen time over time and context. Based on these issues, we make a series of recommendations as a basis for furthering academic and public debate. These include drawing on a user-focused approach in order to seek the various affordances gained from “screen use”. Within this, we can better understand the way in which these vary across time and context, and make distinction between objective measures of “screen time” compared to those more subjective experiences of uses or affordances, and the differential impacts these may bring.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This critical review argues that “screen time” research suffers from poor conceptualization, non-standardized self-report measures, and context/time measurement problems, producing mixed and weak evidence. It recommends retiring “screen time” and adopting user-focused, affordance-based “screen use” measures, including objective data and control groups where feasible.

Key findings

  • Definitions of screen time vary widely; the WHO definition focuses on sedentary screen time and excludes active screen-based games such as exergaming, while the field often treats screen time as a unidimensional construct.
  • Self-report estimates are inaccurate: Ernala et al. found participants were most accurate—only 34%—when reporting number of Facebook visits per day, but very inaccurate for “time,” “minutes,” or “hours” spent on Facebook; smartphone users tend to underestimate use, and Facebook users overreport time but underreport visits.
  • Evidence for causal or long-term effects is weak: reviews and meta-analyses report mixed findings, and longitudinal studies observe either no or very small effects of screen time on depressive symptoms, video games, social media, and passive screen use.
  • The authors recommend retiring the term “screen time,” differentiating numerical screen time from goal-directed “screen use,” and using user-focused, affordance-based measures, objective data, taxonomies, and control groups.

Methods

  • Design: conceptual/critical review and commentary; no primary data, sample, or empirical study are reported.
  • Evidence base: cites existing reviews, meta-analyses, longitudinal studies, and measurement studies; no systematic search strategy or inclusion criteria are described.
  • Main analysis: narrative critique organized around four issues—conceptual chaos, poor estimates, variation across contexts, and change over time—followed by recommendations.

Limitations

  • The paper does not state formal limitations of its own approach.
  • Evident from the text: it is a critical/conceptual account rather than a systematic review, with no reported systematic search, data extraction, or quality appraisal.
  • Evident from the text: the recommendations—such as retiring “screen time,” adopting affordance-based measures, and using control groups—are proposals not empirically tested in this paper.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.3390/ijerph17103661

Cites

53 of 53 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

0 of 44 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

Show all 21 claims

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 10
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 8
17 of 17
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Concerns that screen time negatively impacts psychosocial functioning, health and behaviours are widespread.

    “concerns that screen time negatively impacts psychosocial functioning, health and behaviours remain widespread, and are routinely voiced in academic, policy and media circles.”
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Citations

Cites

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Show all 54 references

1 of the 54 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Oxford University Press (2020). Oxford English Dictionary (2020), Oxford University Press.

Cited by

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Items 201–289 of 289

Metadata

Authors
K. Kaye, L., Orben, A., A. Ellis, D., C. Hunter, S., & Houghton, S.
Affiliations
  • Department of Psychology, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk L39 4QP, UK
  • MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit (GB)
  • School of Management, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
  • Department of Psychology, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow G4 0BA, UK
  • The University of Western Australia (AU)
Venue
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2020-05-22
Volume
17
Issue
10
Pages
3661
ISSN
1660-4601 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3026494741
Cited by
304
References
54
Citations by year
2026: 49 · 2025: 54 · 2024: 55 · 2023: 49 · 2022: 54 · 2021: 32 · 2020: 10
FWCI
56.47
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • UWA Profiles and Research Repository (UWA) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • ResearchOnline (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
  • Edge Hill University Research Information Repository (Edge Hill University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion)
  • Apollo (University of Cambridge) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Apollo (cc-by)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Education › Child Development and Digital Technology
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Physical Activity and Health
Keywords
screen time, screen use, self-report measures, objective measures, longitudinal effects
MeSH terms
Screen Time, Humans

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