Screens as Constant Companions: A Look at Modern Digital Lifestyles

A number of individuals report extensive daily screen time, citing professional obligations, social connection, and entertainment as primary drivers. Their experiences are set against a backdrop of ongoing research into the effects of screen use and societal debate over its potential impacts.

Reported Patterns of Screen Use

Multiple individuals provided details on their daily screen engagement.

Morgan Dreiss, a copy editor in Orlando, reports an average daily screen time of 18 hours and 55 minutes. Dreiss stated they are "reading a book or playing a game pretty much from waking to sleeping," using the library app Libby for reading.

Dreiss also reported keeping their phone's autolock disabled to continuously run a mobile game that pays approximately $35 for every 110 hours of logged playtime, having earned about $16 so far.

Dreiss attributed part of this multitasking behavior to managing severe ADHD.

Corina Diaz, a 45-year-old professional in video game marketing and influencer management, lives in a remote region of Ontario, Canada. Diaz stated her work involves significant screen time. She reported that her screen time increased when she was awake at unusual hours following the birth of her child three years ago.

"I've always felt screens, phone or otherwise, connected me to things I care about... In particular, niche social groups that don't have great mainstream visibility."

Diaz said she has used online platforms like Internet Relay Chat for social connection since the 1990s. She described her screen as "a bit of a connection lifeline" given her remote location.

Daniel Rios, a computer programmer living outside a major city in South America, stated he uses Discord as his primary social outlet to keep in touch with friends who have moved away. Rios said screens fill his days, though he finds it "hard to quantify" the exact total hours.

"When I'm not working at the [desktop] computer, I'm playing at the computer or watching TV. If I'm not at the computer, I'm looking at my phone. If I'm not doing any of the above, and I'm out of the house, I'm still probably listening to something on my phone."

Broader Context and Debate

The accounts from these individuals exist within a wider discussion about screen time.

Research and Health Concerns: Studies over recent years have presented data on potential negative effects of extensive screen time on physical and cognitive health. Concerns specifically regarding the neural development and mental health of young people have led to legislative proposals and legal actions.

For example, a jury recently found the parent companies of Meta and YouTube liable for designing their platforms with features considered addictive.

Defining "Addiction": The clinical classification of behaviors like social media use as an addiction remains a subject of debate among experts.

Advocacy for Reduction: There is a broad consensus among some health professionals and advocates that people would benefit from reduced screen time. Some communities share strategies for reducing smartphone use, and digital detox retreats exist where electronic notifications are restricted.

Alternative Perspectives: Some individuals, sometimes informally referred to as "screenmaxxers," report high screen usage and do not view it as a problem. Separately, journalist Taylor Lorenz has expressed interest in future technology that could integrate screens more directly with the user.