“Shocking Time Thief: How Your Phone Is Secretly Stealing 17 Years of Your Life (And How to Get Them Back!)”

By Familyguide Contributor

Did you know the typical individual spends nearly two decades of their life in the digital realm?

A recent report from Data Reportal revealed that the “average” social media user now dedicates 2 hours and 23 minutes daily to social media platforms.

“Based on these latest figures, humanity is projected to collectively spend 500 million years using social media in 2024,” the report stated.

When you crunch the numbers, this translates to the average person spending over 17 years of their life online between the ages of 18 and 80.

“In today’s world, a significant portion of our screen time is unavoidable,” Alex Turvy, a researcher at Tulane University, explained to Fortune. “Essential aspects of our work and social lives necessarily occur on or via screens, and there are valid reasons to preserve some of our leisure time on screens without feeling guilty.”

However, the situation isn’t without hope. Turvy offered some advice for those looking to reduce their screen time, including setting achievable goals.

“It’s important to recognize that the line between screen time and non-screen time is becoming increasingly blurred,” he noted. “Incorporating meaningful screen-free activities into daily routines, rather than strictly separating the two, can be beneficial.”

This could involve using your smartphone to listen to a podcast or audiobook while taking a walk.

Turvy also suggested engaging with content that is “enriching and purposeful, which can lead to more satisfying and less wasteful screen time usage.”

“Focus on using technology to support your values rather than detract from them,” he advised. “This approach encourages intentional use of screens, ensuring that digital engagement enhances rather than overshadows real-life experiences.”

Other research has examined how parents’ screen time can influence their children’s interactions with screens.

“We’ve observed that when screens are in use – either by a parent or a child – there is less talking, teaching, and reading in households, which may contribute to lower grammar skills and vocabulary,” Dr. Jenny Radesky, co-medical director of the American Academy of Pediatrics Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health, shared with CNN.

Familyguide previously reported on the importance of parents reducing their screen time:

A recent study has discovered that parental screen use impacts child screen time.

The study, conducted by Pediatric Research, examined the effects of screen time use of 10,048 adolescents over a three-year period. The results indicated that “Parent screen use, family mealtime screen use, and bedroom screen use were associated with greater adolescent screen time and problematic social media, video game, and mobile phone use. Parental use of screens to control behavior (e.g., as a reward or punishment) was associated with higher screen time and greater problematic video game use.”

A similar study emphasized “When a parent uses a digital device in the presence of a child, the nature and quality of the parent-child interaction are impacted. In fact, interactions are frequently interrupted when parents use screen technology.”

“One of the strongest predictors of adolescents’ screen use is their parents’ screen use,” Dr. Jason Nagata, a pediatrician at the University of California San Francisco, told the Washington Post. “It’s particularly crucial that parents follow their own rules and practice what they preach, because even if they think their kids aren’t watching them, they really are.”