Screen Time Habits at ACHS

By Emma Jordan and Chloe Moore

To explore student screen habits, several Anderson County High School students were surveyed about their phone usage, including weekly totals, daily averages, and how their time is divided among apps.

Junior Chloe Moore reported a weekly screen time of 47 hours and 9 minutes, with a daily average of 11 hours and 46 minutes. Her most-used app was TikTok at 13 hours and 27 minutes, while her least-used app was Amazon at just 7 minutes. Overall, she spent 32 hours on social media and entertainment, compared to about one hour on other apps.

Senior Kenny Alfonso reported 37 hours and 16 minutes of screen time for the week, averaging 9 hours and 9 minutes per day. His most-used app was Messenger at 11 hours, while Apple Music was among his least-used at 7 minutes. Like Moore, Alfonso spent the majority of his time—20 hours—on social media and entertainment, with about one hour on other apps.

Sophomore Jaelyn Leyser reported 38 hours and 33 minutes of weekly screen time, with a daily average of 7 hours and 42 minutes. TikTok was again the most-used app, with 16 hours of use, while Pinterest was used for just 5 minutes. Leyser spent 32 hours on social media and entertainment, and about 30 minutes on other apps.

These student reports reflect a broader national trend. According to the Pew Research Center, U.S. teens spend an average of about 8 to 9 hours per day on screens for entertainment, not including schoolwork. Additional studies from Common Sense Media have found that total screen time among teens can exceed 7 hours daily, with social media and video platforms accounting for the largest share of that time.

Overall, the data suggests that ACHS students, like many teens across the country, spend a significant portion of their day on their phones – often on social media and entertainment.