Since smartphones first connected us to the Internet, the time we spend on our phones has been increasing.
2020 showed us that our whole life can be on the Internet. It is no longer a tool to work. It is something that gives us a voice, an opportunity to build relationships and connect with people. Some people find this useful. Others are worried about developing Internet addiction—when people use the Internet so much that other areas of their lives are damaged (relationships, work, studies, etc...) The American Academy of Pediatrics even proposed the idea of Facebook Depression. It is when people compare themselves with what they see on mass media platforms, and they feel incomplete, depressed and unhappy.
Most of us have the Internet in our pocket at all times. That means our media consumption and screen time has changed significantly over the last decade.
Please have a look at the graph below about American media consumption.
