Focus on the Family with Jim Daly Screen Time: Less is More
Mar 27, 2026
Jonathan McKee, social researcher and author who studies media’s impact on families. He explores how screens crowd out real connection. He discusses pressure from posting and the tiny odds of influencer fame. Research links rising teen depression to screen use. Practical tips include media fasts and trimming distractions to refocus on relationships and faith.
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Screens Disconnect People Inside The Room
- Screens connect people outside the room but often interfere with relationships inside the room.
- Jonathan McKee says even parents, kids, and toddlers are on devices simultaneously, showing this is a universal family problem.
Posting Creates A Likes Waiting Cycle
- Social posting creates a waiting cycle where likes and follower counts drive emotional spikes.
- McKee notes eight out of ten young people want to be influencers, fueling constant comparison and anxiety about likes.
Screen Use Correlates With Teen Mental Health Spikes
- Rising screen use correlates with pre-COVID increases in teen depression and suicide, especially among girls.
- McKee cites research showing mental-health spikes preceded COVID and links them to increased screen time and comparison.
