How much screen time is too much?

[Tony V.]

I know this debate has gone on for years but what is your take on this subject?

How much screen time is too much? Computer, TV, cellphone and tablet.
It seems everybody has a smartphone and has them glued to their sight all the time when not at the office. I've seen people literally run into street signs, fountains in a mall and other people. Just today downtown a guy probably in his early 30s walked right into traffic at an intersection while starring into his phone when the light was red.
If you have stories of what you have seen share them here...

My kids (age 10, 12 and 14) only get 1hr of screen time a day when the weather is nice and that forces them to go outside and find better things to do including interacting with other kids (the two youngest don't have a cell phone).
I worry what this is doing to do to the ability to communicate and deal with real life situations at work with the younger generation.

 

[tripplej]

Just about every age group watches way too much, whether that is the cell phone's and/or tablets as well as watching TV.

We only allow our kids (age 8 and 12) to use their tablets and/or watch TV on the weekends during school days.

No TV watching, No cell phone viewing, No tablet viewing during the weekday's and if their grades go down, no electronics on the weekends. Priority should be school.

They know the rules and as a result, they bring home As and can watch all they want on the weekends.

During the summer, they can spend half the day watching electronic devices but the other half they need to do something productive (cleaning, reading, playing, etc.).

So, far this has worked for us..

I must also add, that we (wife and I) don't watch TV, cell phone, tablets during school days as well. We have to be models for them and as such we have to show them that we can also stop watching things during the weekdays. We only watch on the weekends when we have free time..

 

[Sonnie]

No doubt it is ridiculous and out of hand. My wife doesn't go anywhere without it. I see people eating out that spend their entire time with their face in their phones... not even sure what they are eating. The one that scares me the most though it driving with the phone in your face... no telling how many I come up on who are on my side of the road and swerve almost wrecking to get back on their side. Kids everywhere with them stuck in their faces... it's just plain crazy.

 

[Sonnie]

And I spend too much time on the computer myself, albeit mostly work, but still it's too much.

 

[Tony V.]

I'll be the first to admit that in the early 80s when I was a teen I spent a lot of time on our Apple IIe or at my friends watching Star Trek on there 21" colour consol TV but also spent hours outside riding my bike in the river valley or playing.
Now it seems all teenage kids I see are engrossed in their phone.

 

[tripplej]

You barely see kids at the parks. Most are online at home watching shows or playing on their ps4.

 

[phillihp23]

Totally agree that technology is the downfall of interpersonal communication. Growing up we didn't have tech. Even in later years we only had a 13 inch tv with what ever came over the bunny ears. On weekends we were allowed to watch a hour or so of cartoons. We did have a Commodore 64 pc for about 3 weeks. The six of us faught to much and didn't want to do anything but play it, so said mom. The pc was thence gone, don't know where just never saw it again. I like tech but I also spend a lot of time on the pc for work.