Screen Time and Learner Well-being

while over 66% of children aged 3-8 years have been reported to use their parents’ mobile
touch-screen devices in five Southeast Asian countries (Unantenne 2014). 1
Figure 1: Percentage of young people (15-24 year olds) who are internet users by region
Source: Adopted from UNICEF (2017), p. 46, Figure 2.2.
Unsurprisingly, the overwhelming majority of young people are internet users across the world,
with a notable exception of the African continent (see Figure 1). There is no denying that the
increasingly mobile and connected digital devices are becoming an integral part of the daily lives
of the younger generation. Just as the book and the printed medium was an integral part of the
20 th century, the digital media is the preferred choice in the 21 st century especially among the
younger generation.
In fact, there is a generational divide when it comes to the use of digital technology. In a recent
study on the use of digital technology during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was found that the
users with the maximum time spent on digital devices were the GEN Z followed by the
Millennials (see Figure 2 below).
1
In these studies, ‘touch-screen technology’ and ‘mobile touch-screen devices’ refer to tablets and smartphones.
2
Screen Time and Learner Well-being:
The Debate, the Evidence and Directions for Future Research and Policy
A Research Brief by UNESCO MGIEP