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MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- An individual born in 2025 is projected to spend 21 years of their life—equivalent to over 181,000 hours—looking at a screen, according to a landmark new report from Eyesafe, "21 Years on Screens: How a Lifetime of Screens is Redefining Human Experience and Health". This comprehensive analysis reveals that this staggering figure amounts to over a quarter of a person's life and more than 40% of their waking hours, marking a profound and unprecedented shift in human behavior and health.
An unprecedented shift in human behavior and health: today's generation is projected to spend 21 years of life on screens — redefining how we live, work, and rest.
The report, which synthesizes data from leading sources like Common Sense Media, Nielsen, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, highlights a massive generational shift. A person born in 1980 will spend an estimated 8 years on screens, while for the 1960 generation, the figure was a mere 4 years, primarily from household television.
"The acceleration of digital immersion is not just linear; it is exponential, creating a new paradigm of human development and interaction," the report states. "This lifelong 'dose' of screen time is not benign".
A Looming Public Health Crisis
"21 Years on Screens" details the significant cumulative health burden linked to this massive increase in screen exposure, citing a comprehensive analysis of peer-reviewed medical literature. The findings represent a critical public health alert, pointing to a triad of interconnected health crises:
• Physical Decline: The report establishes a clear link between high screen time and a 63% increased risk of metabolic syndrome1—a cluster of conditions that raise the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. It also highlights the prevalence of Digital Eye Strain (DES), affecting an estimated 50% to 90% of screen users2, and a surge in chronic musculoskeletal pain, or "text neck". One study found that using a phone for more than ten hours per week resulted in a 2.48 times higher probability of developing neck pain.3
• Neurological Impact on Children: Most alarmingly, the report cites landmark data from the NIH's Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, which found that children with more than seven hours of daily screen time showed evidence of premature thinning of the brain's cortex.4 The cortex is the area responsible for higher-order functions like reasoning and sensory processing.
• Mental Health Distress: The analysis points to a significant correlation between problematic social media use and a higher incidence of depression, anxiety, and loneliness.5 The report describes a "vicious cycle" where individuals may turn to screens to cope with negative feelings, but the nature of the engagement can exacerbate the underlying issues.
A Stark Generational Transformation
The report emphasizes that the nature of screen time has fundamentally changed. For a person born in 1960, screen time was a passive, communal activity centered around a single television. Today, it is an active, individual, and omnipresent experience driven by personal, portable devices that deliver an endless stream of interactive and algorithmically curated content.
The data reveals a "double-peak" of exposure: the first and most intense peak hits in early adolescence (ages 11-14) at an astonishing 9 hours per day, fueled by social media and video streaming. A second, sustained peak emerges after age 65, driven by a rise in television viewing.
A Call to Action: Reclaiming Our Time
While the findings are stark, the report emphasizes that the trajectory is not inevitable and offers an evidence-based framework for managing technology safely.
"The solution is not a futile rejection of technology... but a conscious and evidence-based strategy to manage it," the report urges.
Key recommendations include:
• Protecting Developmental Windows: Enforcing strict limits for young children, with no screen time for those under 18-24 months (except for video-chatting) and less than one hour of high-quality, co-viewed content for ages 2-5, in line with WHO and American Academy of Pediatrics guidance.
• Implementing Ergonomic Best Practices: Adopting the "20-20-20 rule"—taking a 20-second break every 20 minutes to look at something 20 feet away—to directly counter Digital Eye Strain.
• Adopting Healthier Technology: Choosing devices with integrated, low-blue-light solutions, like those certified by Eyesafe, to filter the most intense bands of high-energy visible (HEV) blue light without distorting color, mitigating the risk of Digital Eye Strain and sleep disruption.
• Creating Tech-Free Zones: Designating bedrooms and mealtimes as screen-free to protect sleep and foster in-person social connection.
• Prioritizing Content and Context: Shifting focus from "how much" to "how," prioritizing active, creative, and connective uses of technology over passive consumption.
"The 21 'lost years' are a warning sign of the cost of unmanaged immersion," the report concludes. "By understanding this true lifetime cost, we can begin to make informed choices... that prioritize our health, reclaim our time, and ensure that technology serves human well-being, rather than undermining it".
You can download the full report at eyesafe.com/lifetimeofscreentime.
References
1. Wilmot, E.G., et al. (2012). Sedentary time in adults and the association with diabetes,
cardiovascular disease and death: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Diabetologia, 55(11), 2895–
2905. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-012-2677-z
2. American Optometric Association (AOA). Computer Vision Syndrome.
https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-and-vision-conditions/computer-vision-syndrome
3. Xie, Y., Szeto, G.P.Y., Dai, J. (2016). Prevalence and risk factors associated with musculoskeletal
complaints among users of mobile handheld devices: A systematic review. Applied Ergonomics, 59,
132–142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2016.08.020
4. Chaarani, B., Ortigara, J., Yuan, D., Loso, H., Potter, A., Banaschewski, T., ... & Garavan, H. (2023).
Association of digital media use with brain development in children. JAMA Pediatrics, 177(3), 282–290.
https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.5356
5. Twenge, J.M., et al. (2017). Associations between screen time and lower psychological well-being among
children and adolescents: Evidence from a population-based study. Preventive Medicine Reports, 12, 271–
283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2018.10.003
About Eyesafe
Eyesafe Inc. is the world leader in blue light management, including display technology, standards, certification, and eyewear solutions. With an expansive portfolio of intellectual property, the company employs a world-class team of eye doctors, engineers, and scientists with expertise in electronics, display materials, light management, optometry, and ophthalmology. The Eyesafe brand is trusted by millions of consumers and integrated into digital devices from Dell, HP, Lenovo, LG, ZAGG, and more. Recognized by Inc. 5000 as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America, and by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal as the #1 Fastest Growing Company in Minnesota in 2022, Eyesafe is redefining digital wellness. For more information, visit www.eyesafe.com.
An unprecedented shift in human behavior and health: today's generation is projected to spend 21 years of life on screens — redefining how we live, work, and rest.
The report, which synthesizes data from leading sources like Common Sense Media, Nielsen, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, highlights a massive generational shift. A person born in 1980 will spend an estimated 8 years on screens, while for the 1960 generation, the figure was a mere 4 years, primarily from household television.
"The acceleration of digital immersion is not just linear; it is exponential, creating a new paradigm of human development and interaction," the report states. "This lifelong 'dose' of screen time is not benign".
A Looming Public Health Crisis
"21 Years on Screens" details the significant cumulative health burden linked to this massive increase in screen exposure, citing a comprehensive analysis of peer-reviewed medical literature. The findings represent a critical public health alert, pointing to a triad of interconnected health crises:
• Physical Decline: The report establishes a clear link between high screen time and a 63% increased risk of metabolic syndrome1—a cluster of conditions that raise the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. It also highlights the prevalence of Digital Eye Strain (DES), affecting an estimated 50% to 90% of screen users2, and a surge in chronic musculoskeletal pain, or "text neck". One study found that using a phone for more than ten hours per week resulted in a 2.48 times higher probability of developing neck pain.3
• Neurological Impact on Children: Most alarmingly, the report cites landmark data from the NIH's Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, which found that children with more than seven hours of daily screen time showed evidence of premature thinning of the brain's cortex.4 The cortex is the area responsible for higher-order functions like reasoning and sensory processing.
• Mental Health Distress: The analysis points to a significant correlation between problematic social media use and a higher incidence of depression, anxiety, and loneliness.5 The report describes a "vicious cycle" where individuals may turn to screens to cope with negative feelings, but the nature of the engagement can exacerbate the underlying issues.
A Stark Generational Transformation
The report emphasizes that the nature of screen time has fundamentally changed. For a person born in 1960, screen time was a passive, communal activity centered around a single television. Today, it is an active, individual, and omnipresent experience driven by personal, portable devices that deliver an endless stream of interactive and algorithmically curated content.
The data reveals a "double-peak" of exposure: the first and most intense peak hits in early adolescence (ages 11-14) at an astonishing 9 hours per day, fueled by social media and video streaming. A second, sustained peak emerges after age 65, driven by a rise in television viewing.
A Call to Action: Reclaiming Our Time
While the findings are stark, the report emphasizes that the trajectory is not inevitable and offers an evidence-based framework for managing technology safely.
"The solution is not a futile rejection of technology... but a conscious and evidence-based strategy to manage it," the report urges.
Key recommendations include:
• Protecting Developmental Windows: Enforcing strict limits for young children, with no screen time for those under 18-24 months (except for video-chatting) and less than one hour of high-quality, co-viewed content for ages 2-5, in line with WHO and American Academy of Pediatrics guidance.
• Implementing Ergonomic Best Practices: Adopting the "20-20-20 rule"—taking a 20-second break every 20 minutes to look at something 20 feet away—to directly counter Digital Eye Strain.
• Adopting Healthier Technology: Choosing devices with integrated, low-blue-light solutions, like those certified by Eyesafe, to filter the most intense bands of high-energy visible (HEV) blue light without distorting color, mitigating the risk of Digital Eye Strain and sleep disruption.
• Creating Tech-Free Zones: Designating bedrooms and mealtimes as screen-free to protect sleep and foster in-person social connection.
• Prioritizing Content and Context: Shifting focus from "how much" to "how," prioritizing active, creative, and connective uses of technology over passive consumption.
"The 21 'lost years' are a warning sign of the cost of unmanaged immersion," the report concludes. "By understanding this true lifetime cost, we can begin to make informed choices... that prioritize our health, reclaim our time, and ensure that technology serves human well-being, rather than undermining it".
You can download the full report at eyesafe.com/lifetimeofscreentime.
References
1. Wilmot, E.G., et al. (2012). Sedentary time in adults and the association with diabetes,
cardiovascular disease and death: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Diabetologia, 55(11), 2895–
2905. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-012-2677-z
2. American Optometric Association (AOA). Computer Vision Syndrome.
https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-and-vision-conditions/computer-vision-syndrome
3. Xie, Y., Szeto, G.P.Y., Dai, J. (2016). Prevalence and risk factors associated with musculoskeletal
complaints among users of mobile handheld devices: A systematic review. Applied Ergonomics, 59,
132–142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2016.08.020
4. Chaarani, B., Ortigara, J., Yuan, D., Loso, H., Potter, A., Banaschewski, T., ... & Garavan, H. (2023).
Association of digital media use with brain development in children. JAMA Pediatrics, 177(3), 282–290.
https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.5356
5. Twenge, J.M., et al. (2017). Associations between screen time and lower psychological well-being among
children and adolescents: Evidence from a population-based study. Preventive Medicine Reports, 12, 271–
283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2018.10.003
About Eyesafe
Eyesafe Inc. is the world leader in blue light management, including display technology, standards, certification, and eyewear solutions. With an expansive portfolio of intellectual property, the company employs a world-class team of eye doctors, engineers, and scientists with expertise in electronics, display materials, light management, optometry, and ophthalmology. The Eyesafe brand is trusted by millions of consumers and integrated into digital devices from Dell, HP, Lenovo, LG, ZAGG, and more. Recognized by Inc. 5000 as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America, and by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal as the #1 Fastest Growing Company in Minnesota in 2022, Eyesafe is redefining digital wellness. For more information, visit www.eyesafe.com.
