screen time

or screen·time

[ skreen tahym ]

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?

Word History and Origins

Origin of screen time¹

First recorded in 1915–20, and in 1990–95 screen time fordef 2

Example Sentences

Public health experts speak of its benefits to mental and physical well-being, a prescription for screen time, loneliness, and obesity.

From Slate

Some activists worry the city is not investing enough in programming and supervision, while threats to the Sunday tradition are lurking in rising car ownership rates and the increased allure of screen time.

From Slate

The penultimate episode devoted prominent screen time to Sheridan’s return in the role of expert horse trainer Travis Wheatley, who has appeared several times over the years.

From Los Angeles Times

And the new safety features come as it faces legal action in the US over concerns about how it has handled child safety in the past, with one family claiming a chatbot told a 17-year-old that murdering his parents was a "reasonable response" to them limiting his screen time.

From BBC

The legal filing includes a screenshot of one of the interactions between the 17-year old - identified only as J.F. - and a Character.ai bot, where the issue of the restrictions on his screen time were discussed.

From BBC