Are adults just as addicted to screens as kids? The reality of adult screen time

We’ve heard the terms “iPad babies” and “screenagers” thrown around often in recent years, as concerns around children and screen time continue to grow. In Singapore, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has even rolled out stricter rules barring students from using mobile phones throughout the school day, including during recess.

It’s become increasingly common to see children handed screens during meal times, social gatherings, or even while commuting. For many parents, devices can feel like an easy way to keep children occupied or calm in overwhelming situations.

But children are not the only ones glued to their screens.

Adults too are constantly looking at their phones. It’s not unusual to see people so absorbed that they block walkways or miss what’s happening around them entirely.

If we are so concerned about the effects of excessive screen time on children, should adults also be more mindful of their own habits? Or is screen dependency simply unavoidable in today’s world?

Her World spoke to several people to hear their thoughts

Why are adults struggling to disconnect?

Shobanu, a mother of a four year old, believes screen time is often framed too simply as a “parenting problem”, when the reality is far more complicated.

“It places disproportionate blame on parents without sufficiently examining the broader structural realities that shape everyday family life in Singapore. Long working hours, demanding schedules and limited childcare support mean that caregivers often have to juggle multiple responsibilities at once.”

At the same time, she points out that we are living in a highly digitised society where technology is deeply embedded in the way people work, learn and communicate.

“We as adults are basically expected to communicate, interact and work on digital platforms,” she says.

“What is needed is a more nuanced approach that considers the ecosystem of work culture, availability of reliable caregiving, and the pervasive role of technology in society. Within that framework, screen time becomes less of a moral failing and more of a symptom of structural realities that families are navigating.”

For 27 year old Sya, excessive screen time has become so ingrained in modern life that many people simply accept it as the norm.

“I think in this digital age, people feel like they have to be on their screens all the time and may choose to ignore the long term effects,” she says. “The majority of Singaporeans have also shifted towards digital services and payments, which pushes people to be on their phones and screens even more unnecessarily.”

At the same time, Sya admits that she struggles with it too.

“I know for a fact that my screen time is too much, but I’m still able to work on my priorities and function normally.”

Similarly, 21 year old Marc feels that many adults are aware of how much time they spend on screens, but choose whether or not to address it.

“Yes, we use screens a lot, whether it’s for leisure or while doing work,” he says. “Maybe people do realise it, but at the end of the day it’s their lives. At this point, it’s more about how much they really care about it.”

Marc also admits that he spends a significant amount of time on screens outside of work as well.

“Yes, I do use my screen when I’m not working on anything.”

Adults are expected to regulate themselves

Anne, a middle school teacher, has witnessed firsthand how teenagers spend hours every day on devices outside of school, whether gaming or endlessly scrolling through social media.

“I think everyone, both adults and kids, should have healthy limits on screen time,” she says.

“Self discipline is a skill that needs to be taught, practised and modelled. If parents do not set boundaries around screen time, or more importantly, have open conversations about it and model balanced habits themselves, the younger generation will grow up without ever developing that skill.”

She adds that over time, excessive screen use can lead to poor eyesight, shorter attention spans, reduced social skills and an unhealthy dependence on devices.

“Technology itself is not the problem, but learning how to use it in moderation is an essential life skill.”

Similarly, 26 year old Ziqi believes adults are generally given more freedom because society expects them to regulate themselves responsibly.

“I don’t speak for others, but I think screen time restrictions for kids are more common because they’re the ones most susceptible to addiction, brain rot and cyber abuse,” he says.

“I don’t think there’s anything wrong if, as an adult, your screen time is high as long as you’re still carrying on with your life as usual. Adults are deemed responsible for their own actions by society, which is probably why you don’t hear as much about enforcing restrictions on adult screen time.”

When asked about his screen time, Ziqi admits that it averages 7 hours and 49 minutes a day - a number even he found surprisingly high and unexpected.

“In my defence, I use my phone for watching videos, movies and other things, which is probably why the number is higher than expected,” he says.

Are adults underestimating the effects of screen addiction?

Daniel, a father of one, believes the issue is more nuanced when it comes to adults versus children.

“As adults, we’ve earned the right to choose our vices, screens included, regardless of how harmful they may be,” he says.

“Kids haven’t crossed that threshold yet. Their brains are still forming, their social instincts are still developing, and they don’t have the life experience or reasoning to make informed choices about what they expose themselves to.”

Daniel believes millennials, having grown up before devices became all consuming, had the benefit of learning how to socialise and navigate boredom without screens mediating every experience.

“We learned to resolve conflict at the playground, to knock on a neighbour’s door, to sit with boredom, to exist in the world without a screen mediating every experience. That foundation is something we carry into adulthood.”

When he looks at Gen Z and Gen Alpha, generations that grew up with screens dominating their childhoods, he worries about the long term impact.

“As a parent, it’s paramount to me that in those early formative years, my child learns to explore, learn and connect with others in the real world first.”

Still, he agrees adults should be more mindful of their own habits.

“The addiction is real and the effects aren’t trivial. But equating adult screen time to a child’s is like equating an adult having a glass of beer to a child doing the same. The stakes aren’t the same.”

Is moderation the only realistic solution?

New mother Dora Marsh and her mother Dee Marsh both agree that limiting adults’ screen time is far more complicated than it sounds.

“In this day and age, you can’t expect adults to fully limit screen time because we’ve become heavily reliant on technology to manage work, finances and everyday responsibilities,” says Dora.

Dee adds that while children should still have stricter limits, adults sometimes turn to screens as a form of stress relief after a long day.

At the same time, Dora questions how much parents can realistically reduce children’s screen exposure when schools themselves increasingly rely on iPads and digital learning tools.

Still, she believes parents need to lead by example.

“I think it’s only fair when parents lead by example in front of their kids. For example, whenever seated at the dining table, everyone including adults should put aside their gadgets. Sometimes it’s as simple as being present and engaging in meaningful conversations.”

Ultimately, while children may be at the centre of conversations surrounding screen time, many adults are beginning to realise they may not be as different from the younger generation as they think.