IT’S no secret that too much screentime can have a negative impact on children, but one teacher has revealed just how bad it can get.
She took to TikTok to share the ways she can tell her pupils spend a lot of time looking at phones and iPads and the impact it’s really having.
Sam Jackson explained in the viral post that her and fellow primary school teachers can instantly spot the kids who spend a lot of time in front of a screen.
In fact, according to Sam the difference between the little ones who spend their time at home looking at devices and those who don’t is stark.
First of all, those with low screentime a generally better with conversation, she noted.
Not only will the instigate conversation with their peers more often, but they also feel confident and comfortable enough to approach teachers and adults too.
SCHOOL’S OUT
All the England school hol dates for 2026 revealed – including Feb half-term
SCHOOL ROW
Mum rages as school orders investigation into kids’ wellbeing due to lateness
“They have a lot to talk about because of their interests, and they’re obviously having lots of conversations at home with their parents. Their vocabulary, their confidence, their conversation skills are just so much better,” Sam explained.
Another way Sam can spot children who aren’t constantly on devices is because they love to read.
Whereas some kids choose just about anything other than reading, those who are encouraged to spend their time at home reading rather than on devices do the same thing at school, even when given other options.
The teacher also noted that kids who aren’t on devices all the time tend not to understand the “brain rot lingo, memes and random noises” and don’t use “weird phrases” that are popular online.
That’s because they simply don’t understand them, Sam said, and instead they use proper sentences.
Like in many primary schools, Sam said she will often ask kids about what they want to be when they’re older and what goals that have.
For kids with high screentime, they’re more likely to aspire to be a YouTuber or a online streamer, whereas the other kids are more likely to want to be doctors, vets and nurses, Sam said.
And when it comes to attention spans, kids with low screentime can generally focus much longer, the teacher added.
Sam explained: “I can set them a task and they can complete it without being distracted our without getting bored or needing a fidget, or some children will tap things quite a lot, or they use their hands quite a lot to bang things, and I think that’s because they’re used to using their hands and scrolling or swiping.”
After sharing her thoughts, many parents chimed in to share their experience – and not everyone agreed with Sam.
“I’m done with teachers thinking their opinion is the only opinion that matters!!” one person fumed.
But others agreed with Sam, as one said: “I know teaching has always been hard but I really can’t imagine the challenges teachers are facing nowadays with the iPad kid epidemic.”
“I have a NO iPad or phone household but I was once one. I didn’t like the behaviour of my child when he did have one,” someone else chimed in.
“My kids only have iPads now when we are travelling long distance and the change in them is insane,” another mum said.
Of course, as Sam also noted, screentime can be a useful tool and things do differ when it comes to SEN children or those with additional needs.
HEALTH RISKS OF SCREEN TIME
THE screens of our phones, TVs and computers improve our lives in many ways, but there can be too much of a good thing. Science now shows Britain’s technology obsession is damaging our health.
Most of the harm is because screen time is sedentary, meaning we barely move our bodies when we are watching or scrolling.
Spending too long sat still eventually leads to weight gain and obesity, which are the driving millions of Brits into health problems including type 2 diabetes, heart diseases, cancer and dementia.
Here are half a dozen studies that show screen time can damage our health at any age: