A major new study confirms what many parents have long suspected: excessive screen time is fueling anxiety among teens. In a study of 580 U.S. and Canadian teens ages 12 to 17, those who spent more than two hours on screens during weekdays were twice as likely to experience clinically elevated anxiety — and four times as likely to face emotional and behavioral issues.
The report found that excessive smartphone use — especially scrolling on social media — is a key driver of teen anxiety.
Significantly, 45 percent of the teens in the study reported “clinically heightened anxiety.” Researchers at Western University in Ontario conducted it.
“Based on past studies, it should be between 8 percent and 15 percent,” neuroscientist Emma Duerden of Western University told Phoenix’s 12 News. “And before the pandemic, it was probably about 6 percent in school-aged children.”
“It really is surprising and really speaks to a call to action.“
The study was titled “Screen time woes: Social media posting, scrolling, externalizing behaviors, and anxiety in adolescents.“
“It’s a snapshot of what’s going on right now with teens,“ Duerden said.
She believes teens should be limited to two hours a day on screens.
“There’s been a large-scale meta-analysis demonstrating that the two-hour rule is a good benchmark,“ she told 12 News. “What we showed in the study is screens are a modifiable risk factor, and maybe just reducing the time on it every day could go a long way in terms of helping children.”
The findings mirror new research by Barna in partnership with Gloo. That research, part of the State of the Church report, revealed that 85 percent of Gen Z believe their generation spends too much time online, and 68 percent wish they spent less. While many prioritize happiness (65 percent), financial stability (53 percent), and mental health (49 percent), they also report high emotional struggles: 39 percent frequently feel anxious or uncertain about the future. Nearly a third say they often feel lonely (29 percent) or isolated (26 percent).
“There’s an opportunity to help young people stay rooted in the real world and engage beyond the screens they’ve grown up with,“ the Barna report said. Church community — with its models of authentic connection through worship, service, discipleship, and fellowship — can offer Gen Z something more: an opportunity to be transformed through the power of being fully present and active participants in their physical communities.”
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/Valua Vitaly
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael’s Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
Originally published May 28, 2025.
