HEADS UP REAL NEWS ABOUT DRUGS AND YOUR BODY

Can Too Much

Screen Time Harm You?
P
hones, tablets, even
watches—screens
are everywhere you
Learn how spending excessive turn. According to a
recent survey from Common Sense
time on electronic devices can Media, teens spend an average of
affect your brain and body. seven hours and 22 minutes on
screens every day—not including
computer time for schoolwork!
And yet studies show that too
much screen time can affect you
in many ways. Teens may be
especially at risk, since adolescence
is a critical time in the development
of the brain. So as much as you
might enjoy watching funny videos
or texting with your best friend,
it’s crucial to create habits that will
give you a break from screen time.
Here’s why—and how.

Trouble Sleeping
Excessive screen time can disrupt
the amount and quality of sleep
you’re getting. You may stay up
later because you’re so involved
with what’s happening on your
device. The light from screens
can also reduce the amount of
melatonin your body produces.
This chemical helps your body fall
asleep, and stay asleep.
Normally, your body releases
melatonin at night in response to
A message from Scholastic and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
darkness. Lights reduce melatonin
 Some studies suggest Tips for
a link between “Turning Off”
higher levels of screen
time and symptoms
1
of depression. Use an app to track
your screen time and set
a limit for it.
Altering Your Brain 2
Too many hours on your phone Turn off all screens
may even cause physical changes to 30 to 60 minutes before
your brain. The cortex—the outer you go to sleep. You’ll
layer of the brain that processes fall asleep more easily
production, keeping you awake. information—undergoes critical and feel better-rested
Sleep is especially important development during adolescence, in the morning.
From Scholastic and the scientists of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

for teens. Getting too little of it and research shows that screen
can weaken your immune system, time may affect its growth. In 3
a study called Adolescent Brain Schedule time to do
making you more likely to get sick.
things with your screens
Sleep deprivation can also affect Cognitive Development (ABCD),
turned off: Go outside,
your ability to learn. You probably scientists discovered that some
try a new hobby, hang
know that it’s hard to concentrate if kids who use screens more than
out with friends without
you didn’t get enough sleep the night seven hours a day had a thinner
your phones.
before. But it can also affect your cortex than those who use screens
memory. Sleep is the time when your less. More studies are necessary 4
brain stores what it’s learned during to learn how this will affect kids’ Exercise—you’ll feel
the day—making it possible for you to brains over time. a natural boost of
recall the information come test time. your brain’s feel-good
Tune Out chemicals.
Mood Changes What scientists already know
5
There is some evidence that too for sure is that everything you Keep a journal of how
much scrolling and texting may experience as a teen can affect screen time makes
also affect your emotional health. your brain development. During you feel. Anxious or
Some studies suggest a link between your teens, the brain undergoes stressed? Talk to your
higher levels of screen time and an major changes. It’s essential to parents, a school
increase in symptoms of depression. challenge your brain in a variety counselor, or your
Many other factors also play a role of ways, so that it can make doctor for help.
in depression, and scientists are connections to help you process
still investigating the relationship information and solve problems
between screen time and mood. in the future. That’s why it’s
Other studies have revealed that important to take time away from
some kids who engage in excessive screens. The more you try new
screen time experience changes things, like sports, music, and
in their mood and behavior: They cooking, the more skilled your
neglect responsibilities, turn to screens brain will become. Screens may
to deal with stress, and feel anxious always be a part of your life—but
when cut off from their devices. they don’t have to be the main part.

For additional facts about science and your health, visit scholastic.com/headsup and teens.drugabuse.gov.
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HEADS UP REAL NEWS ABOUT DRUGS AND YOUR BODY TEACHER’S GUIDE

Can Too Much Screen Time

Harm You?

Supplement to Scholastic magazines. Scholastic and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc. All rights reserved. © 2020. 696207. NIDA 19-20; Insert 3—Upf, Sco, Cho, JS, SW.
It’s no secret that teens spend a lot of time viewing screens. In fact, the average
teen spends over seven hours a day on screens for entertainment alone. But
science increasingly shows that too much screen time can negatively affect teens’
health. By sharing the article “Can Too Much Screen Time Harm You?” and the
activity “Screen Time and Sleep Survey,” you can help students understand how
screen time may impact their physical and emotional well-being.

Subject Areas
▼

set limits each day. Turn off screens 30 to

Reading • Science Literacy
60 minutes before bed. Schedule time for
Comprehension • English Language Arts
non-screen-related activities. Keep track • Health/Life Skills
Questions
of emotions and mood related to screen Standards

1 Explain why using your phone before time and ask for support if needed.)
Common Core State
bed might make it hard to sleep. Standards (CCSS)
(You may become more alert because you Critical-Thinking Writing RST.9, GRS. 6–10
are engaged in your phone. The bright Prompts • Compare and contrast the
information gained from
light from the screen can also cause you Grades 6–8 How might spending too experiments with that gained
to feel less sleepy because it reduces the much time on screens affect your school from reading a text on the same
amount of melatonin your body produces. topic.
performance? Use evidence to support
RI.1, GRS. 6–12
Melatonin is a natural chemical that helps your answer. • Cite textual evidence to support
you fall and stay asleep.) analysis of what the text says
Grades 9–10 Explain why it is especially

2
explicitly as well as inferences
What evidence have scientists important for teens to balance screen drawn from the text.
collected that suggests a link time with other activities. Next Generation Science
between screen time and your Standards (NGSS) Practices
Grades 11–12 What are some of the • Obtaining, evaluating, and
psychological health? (Some studies
ways excessive exposure to social communicating information
have shown a link between higher • Analyzing and interpreting data
amounts of screen time and symptoms media might negatively affect a teen’s
emotional well-being? What can teens Crosscutting Concept
of depression; some kids who engage •  Patterns
in excessive screen time have reported do about this?
Core Idea
changes in their mood and behavior such
Paired Reading MS-LS1.D/HS-LS1.D
as anxiety when they are away from their •  Information Processing
phone, neglecting responsibilities, and “Getting Enough Sleep: The
National Council for the
turning to screens to deal with stress.) Impossible Dream?” Social Studies (NCSS)
(teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/post

3
• 8. Science, Technology, and
Why do scientists think too much /getting-enough-sleep-impossible- Society
screen time can affect your brain dream) Additional Lesson Resources
development? (A study showed that the This paired text explains the importance Vocabulary Support
brains of some kids who engaged in more of sleep and why many teens may be • Download terms and definitions
than seven hours a day of screen time missing out. at scholastic.com/headsup
had a thinner cortex [outer layer of the /screentime
Writing Prompt Explain why sleep is
brain] than those of kids who participated More Lessons on
important and the factors that may Science and Health
in less screen time. The cortex is the part
prevent teens from getting enough. •  headsup.scholastic.com
of the brain that processes information /teachers
Use text evidence from “Can Too Much
and is an area that undergoes significant •  teens.drugabuse.gov
Screen Time Harm You?” and “Getting
development during adolescence.)
Enough Sleep: The Impossible Dream?”

4 What are some ways teens can help

reduce the impact of screen time
on their health? (Track screen time and
to support your answer.
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HEADS UP REAL NEWS ABOUT DRUGS AND YOUR BODY ACTIVITY

Screen Time and Sleep Survey

Do you know how much time you really spend
on electronic devices each day? Conduct your
own investigation to find out.
Step 1: Collect Data » For one week, carefully track your habits using the table below.
MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY

SCREEN TIME ACTIVITY » Record the screen time hours spent daily on each activity.
Computer/
Phone/Tablet:
School-Related
Computer/
Phone/Tablet:
Entertainment
Watching TV
Playing Games
Total Hours
of Screen Time

MOOD » Record your mood at least twice a day.

Morning
Evening

SLEEP TIMES » Record your total hours of sleep the night before each day.
Bedtime
(Night Before)
Wake Time
Total Hours
of Sleep

Step 2: Analyze Your Data (separate paper) help yourself sleep better?
Graph your daily screen time and sleep for the 4. Did you observe a link between your mood
week, then answer these questions: and amount of sleep or screen time? Explain.
1. What screen activity had the highest total? Step 3: Set a Challenge (separate paper)
2. Do you observe any relationship between Write down goals to reduce your weekly screen
screen time and sleep totals? time. How much screen time will you allow each
3. The Centers for Disease Control recommends day? What activities will you cut back? Which will
teens get at least eight hours of sleep a night. Did you increase? Track your activities for another
you? What is one specific step you could take to week and compare your results.

For more information, visit scholastic.com/headsup.

From Scholastic and the scientists of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
VOCABULARY LIST

Can Too Much

Screen Time Harm You?
Find the article at:
scholastic.com/headsup/screentime

adolescence (noun): the period of life when factor (noun): something that causes a result
a young person develops into an adult
immune system (noun): the system of organs,
chemical (noun): a substance, such as an tissues, and cells that protect the body against
element or a mix of elements (compound), that substances like bacteria and viruses that can
is made by a chemical process cause disease

cognitive (adjective): related to thinking, investigate (verb): to observe or study by close

reasoning, or remembering examination

cortex (noun): the outer layer of the brain that is melatonin (noun): a chemical released in the
involved in processing sensory information such body in response to darkness that is linked to
as sight and smell, coordination, and memory cycles of sleeping and waking
as well as complex thinking and decision-
making neglect (verb): to give little attention to

crucial (adjective): very important symptom (noun): something that indicates the
presence of a disease
depression (noun): a condition in which a
person feels sad and hopeless and may have
difficulty concentrating and thinking

development (noun): the act or process of

growing or causing something to become larger
or more advanced

disrupt (verb): to prevent something from

continuing in the way it normally would

essential (adjective): necessary; needed

evidence (noun): something that gives proof or

a reason to believe something

excessive (adjective): more than is needed; not

a reasonable amount