screen time

American  

[skreen tahym] / ˈskrin ˈtaɪm /

Or screentime

noun

screen times plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• screen times
  plural

Etymology

Origin of screen time

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

Example Sentences

David Lee says his children don’t play videogames at home or have phones, but he and his wife treat them to screen time on vacation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

While Nielsen External link data show that Netflix is one of the top viewed streaming platforms, short form video content continues to take screen time away.

From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026

In March, the government released guidance saying children under the age of five should be limited to one hour of screen time per day, while under-twos should not be watching screens alone.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

Cusack said she thought the issue would "resonate" with parents who are grappling with screen time limits.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

And in another 45 percent of families, parents consumed five hours of screen time per day.

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