screen time

American  

[skreen tahym] / ˈskrin ˈtaɪm /

Or screentime

noun

1. the amount of time devoted to a particular actor, topic, plot line, etc., in a film or TV show.

   The female characters got less screen time than the male characters in all the film festival nominations.

2. Digital Technology. the amount of time a person spends watching or interacting with content on the screen of a computer, phone, TV, gaming console, etc..

   What's the maximum amount of screen time recommended for children under two?

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Etymology

Origin of screen time

First recorded in 1915–20, and in 1990–95 screen time for def. 2

Example Sentences

In a submission to the government consultation, they argue that it ranks with smoking as a threat - and say doctors should routinely check on screen time and social media use when seeing younger patients.

From BBC • May 25, 2026

But Katherine LaNasa’s Nurse Dana still reigns supreme and has enough screen time this season where she could have gone lead and possibly won.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026

Experts have linked excessive screen time to academic, physical and emotional harm, with the research focusing mainly on screen time outside of schoolwork, such as gaming and scrolling through videos and social media.

From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026

Social media has created the conditions for this “doomer mindset” to flourish: Constant exposure to information, algorithm-driven echo chambers, and excessive screen time distort perception and isolate teens, making it harder to discern what’s true.

From Slate • May 12, 2026

But in 2011, the group liberalized its policy, urging parents to limit and monitor toddler screen time but not calling for such a rigid ban.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel