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

Their kids, ages 8 and 12, were too busy playing “Mario Kart” and “Crash Bandicoot” at the lounge’s videogame stations to commandeer their phones for some preflight screen time.

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

It is expected to include practical tips on how much screen time children should have, when they should get their first smart phone, and how technology is used in schools.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

Its latest survey asked some 6,000 people aged 16 and over how they felt about their screen time.

From BBC • Jun. 2, 2026

Her observation came at a time when media use in general was exploding among children, up to an average of around ten hours a day of screen time, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

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