If you’re parenting a teen today, it can feel like screens are everywhere—at the dinner table, late at night, during homework, even during conversations that used to feel face-to-face.
Many parents worry that phones, social media, or video games are harming their teen’s mental health. Others feel torn, knowing screens can also be creative, social, and even educational.
Both can be true.
The reality pediatricians see is more nuanced than “screens are bad.” Screens don’t affect teens in a vacuum. Their impact is shaped by brain development, sleep, social pressure, and how—and why—teens are using them.
“Understanding that context can help you worry less about rules and focus more on what truly matters for your teen’s well-being,” says board-certified pediatrician Dr. Deandrea Ellis, who sees patients at Zarminali Pediatrics & Immediate Care - Buckhead. Here’s what Dr. Ellis has to say about teens, screens, and mental health.
Adolescence is a period of rapid brain development, especially in areas related to identity, emotional regulation, and social belonging. At this stage, teens are biologically wired to seek approval from peers more than guidance from parents or other adults. That shift is normal and important for independence.
What’s changed is the scale.
Today’s teens aren’t just comparing themselves to classmates they see at school. Through social media, they’re exposed to thousands of peers, influencers, and public figures—often curated, filtered, and selectively presented.
“Likes, comments, and follower counts can start to feel like measures of worth or popularity, even though they rarely reflect real-life connection or success,” says Dr. Ellis.
Many teens don’t yet have the developmental capacity to fully separate online performance from reality. That mismatch can contribute to insecurity, anxiety, low mood, or a distorted self-image, especially for teens already prone to self-doubt.
Comparison has always been part of adolescence. What’s different now is how constant and inescapable it can feel.
Teens can compare their appearance, achievements, friendships, and lifestyles in real time—often without seeing the full picture behind what’s posted. Over time, this can quietly shape how they view themselves, even when nothing specific has gone “wrong.”
Sleep is one of the clearest—and most overlooked—connections between screen use and teen mental health.
Forty-five percent of teens say social media platforms hurt the amount of sleep they get, and 40% say it affects their productivity.
“Doomscrolling or using a phone for social media or watching videos before bed can affect sleep hygiene,” says Dr. Ellis. The stimulation itself can make it harder to wind down, while late-night scrolling or gaming often pushes bedtimes later without teens fully realizing it. Poor sleep quality or inconsistent sleep schedules can then worsen mood, increase anxiety, and make emotional regulation more difficult during the day.
Dr. Ellis recommends screen-free time before bed, especially for teens who are already struggling with sleep, mood, or stress. This isn’t about punishment or perfection. It’s about protecting rest during a phase of life when sleep plays a major role in mental and emotional health.
Instead of asking, “How much screen time is too much?” better questions are, “How are screens being used? And how are they affecting my teen’s behavior and mood?”
In pediatric practice, screens are rarely the main issue families are actually dealing with. Instead, screen use often acts as a signal—pointing to something deeper that deserves attention.
“When it gets to the point where it's affecting grades, nutrition, exercise, and mental health, then it’s time to have a conversation,” says Dr. Ellis. About one-in-five teens say social media hurt their mental health (19%) or grades (22%).
Parents most commonly raise concerns about
Screen use becomes concerning when it starts crowding out essentials like sleep, movement, nutrition, school engagement, or real-world connection. Sometimes there’s a clear trigger, such as cyberbullying or social conflict. Other times, mood changes happen without a single identifiable event—just the cumulative effect of constant comparison and pressure.
Seen this way, screens aren’t the villain. They’re information.
Not all screen time affects teens in the same way. How screens are used matters as much as how often.
Some screen use can support mental health and development:
These outlets are why a majority of teens (74%) say social media has helped them form connections and express their creativity.
Rather than monitoring every app or minute, pediatricians like Dr. Ellis encourage parents to watch for patterns and changes over time.
Signs that screen use may be connected to something deeper include
Teachers can be valuable partners in noticing these shifts, since teens spend so much of their day at school.
Conversations about screens tend to go better when they focus on health and goals rather than control.
Consistency matters, but so does autonomy. Teens respond best when they’re treated like young adults who are learning to make long-term decisions. Explaining the “why” behind boundaries, especially around sleep and well-being, builds trust.
Modeling behavior is also powerful. It’s difficult to enforce phone-free dinners or wind-down time if adults are always scrolling, too. Shared expectations—like no phones during meals or family activities—help reinforce presence without singling teens out.
Screens aren’t inherently harmful—and they aren’t going away. Adolescence, however, is a sensitive window for identity, sleep, and emotional development.
If you’re noticing changes in sleep, mood, behavior, or school performance, it’s appropriate to talk with your pediatrician—even if you’re unsure whether screens are the cause.
Pediatric offices are meant to be safe spaces where teens can talk openly and parents can get guidance without jumping to conclusions. Early conversations help distinguish typical adolescent changes from emerging mental health concerns and can prevent issues from escalating.
When screens start interfering with those foundations, they’re worth paying attention to. Not as something to fear, but as a signal pointing toward support, conversation, and care.
And parents don’t have to navigate that alone.