By Dr Kate Parker
Whether it’s catching up on social media, streaming our favourite shows or getting lost in the latest video game, screens have become part of everyday life. Technology brings many benefits, but when screen time starts replacing movement, sleep and face to face social connections, it can begin to affect our health and wellbeing.
The 2025 Active Living Census (ALC) found that recreational screen time remains a significant challenge across the Loddon Campaspe region. Less than half (45.7%) of respondents met the age-specific recreational screen time recommendations of no more than 2 hours per day for children and adolescents and 3 hours per day for adults, with adolescents the least likely to meet the recommendations. This is particularly concerning because behaviours established during adolescence often persist into adulthood, making these years a critical opportunity to establish healthy screen habits.
The ALC also identified groups who may need additional support to reduce recreational screen time, including LGBTQIA+ residents, neurodivergent people, those with lower education levels, people experiencing financial hardship, and those requiring assistance with daily activities.
While it’s easy to think screen time is simply about sitting still, it’s often what screen time replaces that matters most. Time spent scrolling social media, binge-watching television or playing video games is time that could otherwise be spent walking the dog, preparing a healthy meal, playing with the kids, catching up with friends or getting an extra half hour of sleep.
The ALC findings reinforce this. People who spent more of their recreation time on screens were more likely to report poorer health and wellbeing, including fair or poor health, overweight or obesity, lower life satisfaction, poorer mental wellbeing and feeling less valued by society. They were also less likely to meet recommendations for fruit and vegetable intake, aerobic physical activity, muscle strengthening exercise and sleep, and more likely to drink sugar-sweetened beverages every day.
These findings align with the broader evidence, showing that recreational screen time is closely linked to a person’s overall movement behaviours. Research consistently demonstrates that people who spend more time on recreational screen-based activities are less likely to achieve physical activity recommendations, are more sedentary, experience poorer sleep, and face a greater risk of poor health outcomes over time. Social media use has also been associated with anxiety, depression, loneliness and lower self-esteem, particularly among adolescents. Meanwhile, gaming and endless scrolling may encourage mindless snacking and make it easy to lose track of time.
The good news is that improving screen habits doesn’t require giving up technology altogether. Small, realistic changes can make a meaningful difference.
Simple screen swaps include:
- Charging phones outside the bedroom to reduce late night scrolling
- Replacing 30 minutes of social media with a walk, bike ride or time outdoors
- Making mealtimes screen-free so families can connect
- Swapping one episode of television for an activity that builds skills, like studying a new language, learning an instrument, or practicing yoga or Pilates
- Using app timers or “Do Not Disturb” settings to reduce mindless checking
- Avoiding eating in front of screens to help reduce unconscious snacking
For families, the goal isn’t to eliminate screens because they are an important part of work, education and everyday life. Instead, it’s about finding a healthier balance so that screens complement, rather than replace, the activities that help us thrive.
The ALC highlights an important opportunity for the Loddon Campaspe community. Small reductions in recreational screen time can create more opportunities to be active, sleep well, connect with others and enjoy the many parks, trails, sporting facilities and outdoor spaces our region has to offer. Often the greatest improvements to our health don’t come from doing something extraordinary. They come from the simple choice to look up from our screens and make time for the things that matter most.
