Feasibility of Automated Cameras to Measure Screen Use in Adolescents

The influence of screens and technology on adolescent well-being is controversial and there is a need to improve methods to measure these behaviors. This study examines the feasibility and acceptability of using automated wearable cameras to measure evening screen use in adolescents.

A convenience sample of adolescents (aged 13-17 years, n=15) wore an automated camera for 3 evenings from 5:00pm to bedtime. The camera (Brinno TLC120) captured an image every 15 seconds. Fieldwork was completed between October and December 2017, and data analyzed in 2018. Feasibility was examined by quality of the captured images, wear time, and whether images could be coded in relation to contextual factors (e.g., type of screen and where screen use occurred). Acceptability was examined by participant compliance to the protocol and from an exit interview.

Data from 39 evenings were analyzed (41,734 images), with a median of 268 minutes per evening. The camera was worn for 78% of the evening on Day 1, declining to 51% on Day 3. Nearly half of the images contained a screen in active use (46%), most commonly phones (13.7%), TV (12.6%), and laptops (8.2%). Multiple screen use was evident in 5% of images. Within the exit interview, participants raised no major concerns about wearing the camera, and data loss because of deletions or privacy concerns was minimal (mean, 14 minutes, 6%).

Automated cameras offer a feasible, acceptable method of measuring prebedtime screen behavior, including environmental context and aspects of media multitasking in adolescents.