They are ubiquitous, but exasperating. Screens, pandemic companions par excellence, “tan” many teenagers. This is confirmed by a study by the Regional Department of Public Health (DRSP) in Montreal.
The observation is obvious. In the spring of 2021, while a curfew grips the daily life of Quebecers, more and more teenagers spend their time on the Internet. The survey of the DRSP of the metropolis, conducted among 725 young people between April and May of last year, poses figures on this evidence, but suggests that this habit could fade.
Because of the pandemic, 70% of Montreal teenagers have therefore “significantly increased” their screen consumption, either through video games, watching videos or communicating on social media. A quarter of them saw their screen time increase for at least three types of uses.
Even excluding screen time spent on remote school and schoolwork, 27% of respondents say they spend at least five hours a day in front of the computer, television or their phone. This proportion climbs to 44% during weekends.
Looking at so many pixels for so long isn’t to everyone’s taste, though. Nearly 40% of young people surveyed admit to being “tanned” by screens. It is not the teenagers who watch the most screens who are the most tired of it, but those whose use of the Internet has increased the most during confinement.
Life habits
“Some of the young people used the screens because they had nothing else to do,” explains the study’s principal researcher, Jean-François Biron. Thus, the end of confinement should result in a drop in screen consumption, he suggests, without being able to confirm it.
For good reason, the excessive use of screens leads to sleep problems (for 45% of respondents) or even harms school results (for 37% of respondents). Respondents whose use exceeds five hours a day suffer from particularly low morale.
For parents worried about seeing their child glued to their screen, Mr. Biron advises taking an interest in the “Pose your screen” campaign, which offers tips for better managing notifications, screen time or simply learning about the question. He points out that there is no “miracle solution” to ingrained habits in a teenager.
“It compares to food. We are in the habits of life, we are not always dependent. You can’t look at it like alcohol. We are more in something where there are benefits and which will not go back. We are always looking for a balance there. »
Because beyond the negative consequences, screens are good. Many have taken the opportunity to maintain relationships or learn new things.
These results were obtained by questionnaire from 725 respondents aged 13 to 17, between April and May 2021.