Screens Are Not the Enemy: Recommendations for Developing Healthy Digital Habits in Youth

With the rapid and ever-evolving growth of both digital media platforms and mental health concerns in youth, parents and practitioners are faced with the challenge of critically evaluating the effects of digital media use on youth development.1 Despite popular culture's narrow focus on the risks, research has established both positive and negative effects of youth digital media use.2,3 In contrast to interventions primarily focused on screen time limits, the goal of this article is to propose a framework for healthy digital habits rooted in a social-ecological model, called the Multisystemic Model of Digital Habits. This framework considers the intersection of the digital environment, family environment, and individual factors when examining digital media use by youth. Using this framework, practical recommendations are offered, including strategies to evaluate media use and guidance on encouraging healthy digital habits with consideration for unique family and individual needs.