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

Like lots of other teachers, there are evenings where she needs to do extra work, resulting in her giving her children more screen time than she would like.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

We’re not huge on screen time, so we really encourage the book-buying.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

MacDonald says there are several key factors which hinder parents from restricting their children's screen time adequately, including limited time due to work commitments, as well as the cost and availability of local activities.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

Artificial intelligence has supercharged the platforms to maximize screen time further, harming users even more.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 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