New statistics have indicated that screens have become a significant part of children’s lives, with one in four spending over 20 hours per week on screen-based devices. The Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed this information after analyzing TV, internet, and gaming hours, as well as portable screen-based devices such as smartphones and tablets. While 90% of children aged between 5-14 years old use screens, the amount of time spent on such devices has significantly increased, and nine in ten children use them for at least an hour per week. Reading has also become less popular with 63% of 12-14-year-olds and 76% of 5-8-year-olds taking up the pastime. Participating in creative activities has fallen to 59%, with arts and crafts being the most popular activity. The Australian Institute of Family Studies created national guidelines for screen time, advising children younger than two years to avoid screens altogether. Although gaming, watching TV, and computer use have increased for boys, social networking has increased for girls between the ages of 10 and 14. Finally, a poll found that in 2020, 46% of Australian children between six and 13 years old owned a phone, and children who have their own smartphone or tablet are a new norm in Australia. Approximately half of pre-schoolers are using screen-based devices without any supervision, resulting in a lack of creativity and a potential for unhealthy outcomes.