The concept of screen time has always been controversial, with studies and experts often providing contradictory advice about the ideal amount of time we should spend in front of screens. The traditional approach to understanding screen time often considers it a single, unified entity – as if all screen time was created equal. However, this perspective is fundamentally flawed.
Just as we have begun to understand the concept of time-shifting in TV viewing – the practice of recording programming to a storage medium to be viewed or listened to at a time more convenient to the consumer – we must also consider ‘screen shifting’ in our analysis and understanding of screen usage.
Screen shifting refers to the process of moving between different types of screens – from a television screen, for example, to a smartphone or tablet. This practice is increasingly common in today’s digital age, where many people use multiple devices simultaneously or switch between them throughout the day.
We cannot simply label all screen time as ‘bad’ or ‘unhealthy’ without considering what that screen time actually entails. Watching an educational documentary on a TV screen may have very different effects compared to mindlessly scrolling through social media feeds on a smartphone. Similarly, using a tablet for creative pursuits such as digital painting or music composition can’t be equated with passively watching video content.
Screen shifting is about switching between devices and changing the nature and purpose of our interaction with these screens. By recognizing this complexity, we can move towards more nuanced discussions about our digital habits and their impact on our health and well-being.
In conclusion, as TV’s understanding has evolved through consideration of practices like time-shifting, so should our understanding of screen time evolve by considering practices like screen-shifting. Our technology-driven world demands not blanket judgments but nuanced insights that recognize diverse patterns and purposes in our interactions with screens.
Photo by Coline Haslé on Unsplash
