Screen time among Norwegian youth rises to alarming levels with 74% using over three hours daily

Screen time among Norwegian youth is on the rise, with a staggering 74% using more than three hours daily outside of school hours in 2022. Additionally, 88% of the population engages with social media. Young people often turn to their phones to watch series, browse YouTube, check Snapchat and Instagram, and communicate with friends.

While many find social media helpful for staying in touch, they also feel the pressure to remain active online. Neuroscientist Ole Petter Hjelle warns that excessive screen time may pose health risks comparable to smoking, contributing to sedentary behavior, sleep deprivation, and reduced social interaction. Despite wanting to cut back, many teens struggle to limit their usage.

Nineteen-year-old Syver Johnsen admits to spending around nine hours on his phone each day, primarily on YouTube and social media. He notes that social media makes it easier to connect with friends, as opposed to physically visiting them. Meanwhile, 17-year-old Filip Finnøy has made attempts to limit his screen time but acknowledges the difficulty in doing so.

A recent study reveals that 37% of young users believe they spend too much time on social media. Hjelle emphasizes that social media design intentionally diverts attention, triggering dopamine release when users receive likes or notifications, creating a cycle of dependency.

Experts encourage motivated efforts to reduce screen time through strategies such as setting limits on usage, designating screen-free zones, scheduling specific times for device use, altering phone display settings to minimize stimulation, and disabling distracting notifications.

Yet, as many teens express the challenge of disconnecting, they also lament that social interactions frequently occur online, often leading to parallel phone use even during in-person gatherings.