The 2025 TCF Annual Screen Report
It's been a year!
Last year, near the beginning of this whole adventure, I introduced you to the members of the family TCF through our first annual screen report. One year later, it’s time for round two! And, because we have more than 2,000 new friends with us since this time last year (!), I hope today’s newsletter also serves as a bit of an introduction to the precious people in my home — the guinea pigs for everything I share here and, more importantly, the hearts behind why I do what I do.
If this is your first report, here’s the big idea: I share a snapshot of my family’s relationship with technology, periodically and publicly. I do this primarily for four reasons:
PASSION | My passion for low-screen living and family culture means I welcome the chance to have conversations about all things kids + technology. Opening up about our ups and downs is a way to invite and kickstart conversation.
ACCOUNTABILITY | Sharing numbers, habits, and observations is a way to keep myself accountable to this thing that I say matters to me. Knowing friends are “watching” is extra motivation to make good decisions and to seek continual improvement — even if small!
BENCHMARKING | I love the idea of being able to see change over time in my own habits and behaviors, as well as record snapshots of our family life through the years.
NORMS | For most of us, the way we act is influenced by what we perceive to be the norm for our peers. For example, if no other ninth grader is on social media, you likely wouldn’t give yours an Instagram account. If every other ninth grader is on social media, you’d likely feel a lot of pressure to let yours on, and it would be hard to choose a different path.
If I can help contribute to norms of low-screen living, I want to do that. You might not have in-person like-minded community (yet!) to lean on when making decisions or figuring out whether the way your family does things is “normal”1, but I’m happy to be that friend in whatever way I can.
A quick word of caution here at the start:
When reading something like this, it’s easy to let comparison take over, in both directions:
Your screen time is a little higher than mine? Then I’m all good, nothing to see here. Your screen time is a little lower than mine? Time to scold myself for how terribly I’m doing.
Neither of those reactions is particularly helpful. As you read, I encourage you to do so with an open mind, noticing differences that might be instructive and enjoying moments of commonality. And, of course, doing so with goodwill toward all.
Welcome to the second TCF Annual Screen Report!