Expert Shares the Amount of Screen Time Within 'Healthy' Limits
Screen time is a big concern for parents. How much is too much? Is it harming our kids? Is it harming us? Because as we all know, parents are just as guilty of spending too much time online. Is it destroying the family dynamic and our relationships?
Neuroscientist and author of The DOSE Effect (which is all about balancing your brain chemistry), TJ Power spoke to HuffPost about the concern over screen time. He shared that "screens overload the brain with dopamine and over time, that dulls our motivation, attention, and even our sense of joy.'
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We know this. How often do we as adults spend what we think is 10 minutes scrolling cat videos on social media only to realize that it's been over an hour and past the time we were supposed to start cooking dinner. It's a time suck. A mindless, sometimes needed, yet oftentimes not, activity so many of us are guilty in partaking in.
And we worry about our kids, too. We wonder what they are being exposed to and how long they've been aimlessly scrolling TikTok. With this in mind, it's fascinating to learn the max screen time neuroscientist Power felt was okay for the human brain. How much time does he spend online?
Power said, "I personally aim for a maximum of three hours a day, and I stick to it pretty religiously."
Three hours.
I think a lot of us feel shame right now. But he shares more. 'The key isn't just how much screen time you have,' he adds. 'It's when and why you are using it. If the screen is draining your energy, stealing your attention, or replacing real connection, something needs to shift.'
Okay. So some of the screen time isn't all terrible. There are learning apps, news articles, and yes, the cat videos aren't all garbage — some are fun and give you a chuckle and you send them to friends who send a laugh emoji back and maybe that counts for connectivity.
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We still should monitor ourselves and we need to be aware about how much screen time our kids get. Overuse can affect their focus and social skills, and do a number on their self esteem.
For all of us, no matter our age, too much time online can make you lose interest in things in the real world and make you lonely.
"We are more connected than ever, but less socially fulfilled,' Power shared. 'Screens can create the illusion of connection without the chemistry of it.'
The key is not only to pay attention to how many hours you or your kids are online, but to look at overall activity (or inactivity) in the real world. Healthy sleep patterns, being well rested, socializing, and being able to feel relaxed and present are important things to look at for yourself and your kids.
If there are issues in those areas, too much screen time may be the culprit.
Up Next:Expert Shares the Amount of Screen Time Within 'Healthy' Limits first appeared on WeHaveKids on May 26, 2025
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