The Future Of Learning: Balancing Good And Bad Screen Time

Not all screen time is the same.

Ask any parent about the challenges of raising kids in the digital age, and they’re likely to bring up screen time.

Data from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry shows children between the ages of 8 and 12 spend an average of four to six hours a day on their screens, while teenagers spend up to nine hours a day. The recent release of Jonathan Haidt’s explosive bestseller, The Anxious Generation, has sent shockwaves through parenting communities worldwide. Haidt's work doesn't just raise concerns; it sounds a deafening alarm about the devastating impact of ubiquitous devices and social media on adolescent mental health. Parents are now grappling with what Haidt describes as a "mental health crisis" among youth, directly linked to excessive screen time and social media use. His findings have ignited a firestorm of worry and debate, leaving many parents feeling overwhelmed and desperate for solutions to protect their children's well-being in the digital age.

As a parent and educator, I often grapple with questions about the role of technology in our children’s lives. Spending hours mindlessly scrolling or consuming content with harmful messages can clearly have a negative impact on mental health. But not all screen time is the same.

Technology offers young people unprecedented opportunities for learning, engagement, and connection. This generation has grown up with new tech developing at record speed. It’s an integral part of their lives, and it will continue to be as they get older. Instead of fighting against or ignoring tech advancements that will only hinder our children’s ability to grow, we should look for ways to lean into what they have to offer. If kids already want to spend time on apps, how can we use that time to help them build critical thinking and leadership skills, or foster their curiosity and imagination through creation over consumption?

The Two Sides Of Screen Time

Not all screen time is wasted time. Edtech tools that enhance learning by incorporating elements such as storytelling, progressive levels, points, challenges and rewards are particularly effective in engaging learners of all ages. If you’ve felt motivated to complete language levels on Duolingo or meditate on Headspace to earn badges, you’ve experienced how powerful these apps can be.

On the flip side, excessive exposure to social media or unfiltered content can harm mental health. Studies, including Haidt’s research, link prolonged, unregulated screen time to increased anxiety, depression, and isolation among youth. The key is balance — minimizing the bad while maximizing the good.

A meta-analysis of 41 studies found that educational technology, specifically gamification, when used intentionally, significantly boosts learning outcomes. The results suggested that the most effective gamified experiences combine three building blocks: mechanics (measurable components, such as points and rankings), dynamics (factors that create a personalized experience for each player, such as feedback, tasks, and competition) and aesthetics (emotional responses to the game, including elements of companionship, storytelling, or entertainment).

A three-year longitudinal study concluded that gamification improved students’ learning outcomes and academic performance, as well as their intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, engagement, productivity, and retention over time, proving that purposeful tech use can yield lasting benefits.

My team and I recently opened a new school in our tech-driven school system designed to channel screen time into developing critical life skills. Students spend dedicated hours engaging with digital platforms — not just for fun, but to strengthen offline abilities like teamwork, communication and problem-solving through hands-on workshops.

A 2022 study found that gaming, often associated with behavioral or mental health problems, may actually have positive effects on children’s cognitive abilities, working memory, and visual processing skills when used thoughtfully.

The Far-Reaching Impact Of Productive Screen Time

The benefits of productive screen time I see in our schools today will empower tomorrow’s creators, thinkers, and leaders.

Sparking Passion And Imagination

Apps and platforms designed for productive screen time let students explore their interests in immersive, interactive ways. One of our students, obsessed with comic books, uses digital tools to learn storytelling, public speaking, and design — working toward creating a digital comic-inspired project. Others tap into tech to explore sales, advertising, and marketing, laying the groundwork for their own ventures. These kids aren’t just glued to screens — they’re active creators, turning passions into purpose.

Personalized Learning

Traditional classrooms often cater to the average, leaving some students bored and others struggling to keep up.

Productive screen time tools adapt to each child’s needs, offering a clear view of what they know and tailoring lessons to fill gaps or push them further. They motivate kids to keep going by celebrating progress. Imagine mastering U.S. history by crafting Taylor Swift-inspired songs, a modern twist on Schoolhouse Rock.

Building From The Ground Up

In typical classrooms, students start with a perfect score and lose points for errors. But real learning doesn’t work that way — we build skills step-by-step. Productive screen time mirrors this, letting students gain expertise at their own pace, free from the pressure of perfection.

Technology is reshaping how educators teach and students learn, with impacts reaching far beyond school walls. As AI and automation reshape the job market, kids who can navigate and leverage tech effectively will thrive in any career. Data from the National Bureau of Economic Research suggests that “U.S. adoption of generative AI has been faster than adoption of the personal computer and the internet.” As of August 2024, 39% of the 18- to 64-year-olds in the U.S. used generative AI. Nearly a quarter of workers used it at least once the previous week, and close to 11% used it every workday.

Technology isn’t going anywhere. Instead of letting fear steer us, we should embrace its potential — curtailing the bad screen time that harms our kids while amplifying the good that prepares them for the future.

This essay was first published in Forbes. Thanks for reading!