Experts say context, not a single minute count, should guide school screen-time rules

David Bickham, director of research at the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital, told the College, Career and Life Readiness Committee roundtable that “there’s really no specific amount of time that’s correct for every child.” He said the effects of media use depend on context — who the student is interacting with, the content, and platform design — and on individual factors such as sleep and mental health. "Not all screen time is the same," Bickham said, adding that high-quality, intentionally designed educational content can support learning both in and out of school.