23 h. ago A moment that changed me: I resolved to reduce my screen time – and it was a big mistake

I was looking for liberation from the apps, but quitting them only made my life harder and turned me into a man obsessedI unlocked my iPhone screen at the precise moment that my weekly screen time notification appeared – accidentally dismissing it before I could take a screenshot – and promptly erupted into a rage. I had spent an excruciating week resolutely not looking at my phone, part of a month-long effort to whittle my daily screen time down from more than four hours a day to less than an hour, with the hope of improving my mental wellbeing (and possibly carving out a career as an inspirational speaker). But my efforts felt futile without being able to post evidence online about how offline I had become. I frantically Googled how to retrieve notifications (you cannot) and – briefly – considered re-creating my screen time report in Photoshop.Over the past decade or two, my efforts at self-improvement have taken various forms: the year where I read 105 books; the period during wh...

Politics

4 d. ago The Summer I Turned Pretty’s Conrad and why he’s perfect for Belly

Reach Screen Time spoke exclusively to one relationship expert about the brooding older Fisher brother

Politics

4 d. ago The Summer I Turned Pretty's Jeremiah and his biggest red flags after the Belly proposal

Reach Screen Time spoke exclusively to one relationship expert about the divisive character

Politics

5 d. ago Peaky Blinders' boss Steve Knight teases 'deeper insights' into Tommy Shelby in stage show

Reach Screen Time spoke exclusively to Steven Knight about the Peaky Blinders universe

Politics

5 d. ago Peaky Blinders boss lifts lid on ‘incredible’ show revealing unseen side to Tommy Shelby

Reach Screen Time spoke exclusively to Steven Knight about the Peaky Blinders universe

Politics

5 d. ago MasterChef ratings plunge as new series airs following Gregg Wallace and John Torode’s sacking

In a last-minute move, the show was reportedly re-edited to reduce Wallace and Torode’s screen time

Politics

5 d. ago Chris Hughes reveals moment he knew 'feelings had changed' towards JoJo Siwa

Viewers of Celebrity Big Brother were shocked to see the pair form an unlikely friendship

Events

7 d. ago Spending too much time on screens could hurt your teen’s heart health

Just three extra hours of screen time a day can make a huge difference

Politics

7 d. ago ‘Worrying’ levels of screen time means young people losing confidence to socialise in person, minister warns – UK politics live

Culture secretary Lisa Nandy says ‘majority of young people spend all, or almost all, of their free time alone in their bedrooms, online’Rachel Reeves will need to raise taxes to close a government spending gap that is on course to reach more than £40bn after a slowdown in economic growth and higher-than-expected inflation, according to the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR), a thinktank. Phillip Inman has the story.Good morning. Keir Starmer is out on a visit today and he will be doing broadcast interviews. It may be the only time we hear from him this week, and there is no shortage of topics that journalists will want to ask him about. By the end of the day we may get new, or newish, lines on Gaza, the “one in, one out” returns deal with France, tax rises and the black hole in the government’s finances (priced at more than £40bn, according to a report from a well-respected thinktank today), Ukraine, the case for and against disclosing suspects’ immigration ...

Politics

7 d. ago A moment that changed me: on the day of my first book deal, a mysterious hum overcame me

When the noise started, I entered a state of perpetual panic and despair. It was unstoppable. Then, in the snows of Transylvania, I suddenly came to terms with the sound I developed tinnitus the same night I was offered my first book deal at the end of 2014. I’d received the news late-afternoon, then went out for cocktails with two friends to celebrate. I remember the evening well: we’d gone somewhere loud but not too loud; I ordered a fluorescent orange drink that I didn’t enjoy. Before I went to bed, I spoke to my boyfriend on the phone. “This could really change your life,” he said.Sometime in the early hours of the following morning, I woke up with a ringing in my ears that has not gone away since. Continue reading...

Economics

9 d. ago Parents, don’t panic – healthy screen time for children is possible, if you follow these few simple tips | Kaitlyn Regehr

Yes, the huge firms pushing unsuitable content must be regulated. But until they are, adults can model the positive use of techDr Kaitlyn Regehr is the programme director of digital humanities at University College LondonThis summer the technology secretary, Peter Kyle, announced he was considering a two-hour “screen time” cap on children’s use of social media apps – a proposal that is not just insufficient, it’s outdated.Though appropriately placed at the start of the summer holiday – a time when kids’ screen time can increase, along with the onus on parents to ensure the safety of such engagement – Kyle’s announcement is linked to somewhat stale screen time guidance. We should indeed be thinking about moderating time on screens, but the proposed cap addresses only the quantity of consumption, not the quality. Fortunately, as someone who lectures on digital literacy (and is a mother), I can tell you there are some ways to push back and create healthier habits for children this summ...

Society

3 w. ago Prix Pictet 2025 shortlist for the theme ‘storm’ – in pictures

This year’s theme for the Prix Pictet, the photography award that focuses on sustainability, is ‘storm’. The shortlisted images were announced at the international photography festival Les Rencontres d’Arles. The winner will be selected at the Victoria and Albert Museum in September.“In many ways our planet is a more dangerous place to live than ever before. The impacts of the climate catastrophe abound. Fires, floods, heat and drought are killing and injuring people and destroying both infrastructure and precious ecosystems. Already, parts of our planet are unliveable, and all the indications are that more will follow. The economic, social and political impacts of these changes are immense. There could not have been a more timely moment for the Prix Pictet to invite nominations on the theme of ‘storm’.” Sir David King, Prix Pictet jury chair Continue reading...

Sport

3 w. ago Mum plays 90s cartoon to four kids for a week and change leaves her floored

With the rise of tablets, smartphones and streaming services, it can feel tougher than ever to get on top of screen time. So one mum found a way to combat this issue

Politics

3 w. ago 'My four kids only watched 90s cartoons for a week – I couldn't believe huge impact'

Screen time is a huge factor in parenting with many mums and dads doing everything they can to avoid their little ones from being glued to their technology devices

Politics

4 w. ago A moment that changed me: I stopped drinking – and realised what friendship really meant

I always thought hitting the bottle made me the life and soul of the party, but sobriety helped me to be honest with myself – and make genuine connections with other peopleThe conversation began with an apology. I’d rehearsed it many times, trying not to sound too defensive or pitiful. I’d walked through every potential rejection that might come as a result of letting my friend Gillian into a side of my life I’d tried hard to keep hidden. But she had just told me that she wanted to come to visit me in New Haven, so I was cornered. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I’m sober now.” I felt embarrassed. “I have stopped drinking,” I added, to clarify. “If you visit, I can’t drink with you.”In the pause that followed, I imagined her politely trying to work her way out of coming to see me, now that our favourite thing to do together wasn’t an option. Continue reading...

Politics