Health Message (September 19, 2026)

A Look at Screen Life

Many Americans spend more time on screens than they do sleeping, and the mental, social, and physical impact is significant. 95% of adults regularly use screens. 88% rely on technology for essential tasks and approximately 50% of adults would like to reduce their daily screen time. Screen time reaches all ages, for this piece we will start with age 2 and up to over age 29, 7+ hours are spent on it.

On average, people will check their phones 186 times per day about once every 5 minutes. Excessive time on screens is connected to depression, stress, burnout, anxiety, and overall lower well-being.

5 signs of screen addiction:

1.     You feel an almost constant need to check your device.

2.     It’s hard to stop using a screen, even when you know you need to.

3.     You become irritable, anxious, or angry when you can’t check your phone.

4.     You use screens to escape reality or make yourself feel better.

5.     You neglect people in social situations and look at your phone instead.

Overuse of screens can cause eye strain, thumb tendonitis, “tech neck” from tilting your head down to view your phone, and health risks from being more sedentary. Children with high screen exposure experience an increase in depression, anxiety, and social anxiety.

College students who report cell phone addiction have poor sleep quality, which decreases attention and memory ability. Studies show that girls are more likely to get addicted to social media while boys are more likely to get addicted to video games.

Philippians 4:8 (NIV): “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Blessings,

Sandra Jackson

From Vibrant Life