’Moderate amounts of screen time might boost teenagers’ wellbeing’

While a lot has been said by scientists and paediatricians about the possible dangers of teenagers spending time on digital devices or computers, a new paper argues there is little robust evidence to back up their claims. The co-authors from Oxford and Cardiff universities say they are the first to systematically test for links between well-being and screen time measured continuously, separately for different digital activities and days of the week. They have proposed the Goldilocks theory: that there is a point between low and high use of technology that is 'just right' for teenagers when their sense of well-being is boosted by having moderate amounts of screen time. The researchers suggest this may be because digital connectivity can enhance creativity, communication skills and development. Their findings also suggests that the relationship between screen time and well-being is weak at best, even when young people overuse their digital devices. The paper is published in the journal, Psychological Science . Our research suggests that some connectivity is probably better than none and there are moderate levels that as in the story of Goldilocks are just right"for young people Dr Andrew Przybylski of the Oxford Internet Institute  - Using a well-established self-report measure of mental well-being, researchers from Oxford and Cardiff universities analysed how 120,000 15 year olds in Britain felt after using digital technology and how much time they spent on different devices.