Screen Time: S.C. residents average 7 hours and 6 minutes daily. 10th most in U.S.

David Hucks

According to a recent study, individuals in South Carolina spend an average of 7 hours and 6 minutes each day engaged in screen time activities, encompassing phone usage, computer usage, and television viewing.

South Carolina has the 10th highest use of screen time in the U.S.A. Screen time overuse leads to eye strain which is rated on a blue light effects scale.

  • South Carolina rounds out the top 10 in the ranking of the states with the most screen time blue light effects in the U.S.
  • A recent research study found that Arizona is the state with the most blue light effects in the U.S., having the longest average daily screen time of 8h 50m. 
  • New Jersey has the highest digital eye strain of 2970 and the highest search volume for blue light glasses.
  • West Virginia has the worst vision problems per capita of screen time over use at 3.9%.

New research by Overnight Glasses analyzed all 50 states to rank the top ten most affected by blue light using five key indicators: search volume for blue light glasses, occurrences of digital eye strain, internet usage percentage, jobs requiring digital work, and average daily screen time. Each factor was equally weighted, and the final index score for each state was calculated to provide a scaled ranking that reflects the relative impact of blue light exposure. For more details on the factors and their weightings, please refer to the Weightings & Sources section in the complete research sheet. 

SCREEN TIME INDEX

Screen Time

Arizona ranks first in the United States as the state most affected by screen time over use blue light, scoring 51.53 on the Blue Light Impact Index. It has the highest average daily screen time of 8 hours and 50 minutes, well above the national average. Additionally, Arizona has a significant online presence, with 81.7% of its population connected to the internet, and a substantial portion of jobs (75.3%) requiring digital work. The state’s residents are clearly impacted by their high screen exposure, as 37% of adults report insufficient sleep and 3.2% experience vision problems per capita, emphasizing the negative effects on eye health.

Washington has a Blue Light Impact Index score of 49.94, closely trailing behind Arizona in screen time overuse. The state records a high daily screen time of 8 hours and 17 minutes, ranking second in the nation. Additionally, Washington boasts an internet usage rate of 83.8%, which is one of the highest in the country. Notably, the state experiences a considerable number of digital eye strain cases, reaching a total of 2,500.

Missouri ranks third on the Blue Light Impact Index, scoring 49.35. Residents of Missouri spend an average of 7 hours and 49 minutes on screens each day, with 82.2% using the internet and 75.5% having jobs that involve digital work. The state has a per capita vision problem rate of 3.2%, which correlates with the high screen exposure and digital job demands.

Kentucky holds the fourth position, achieving a score of 49.34. The average screen time in Kentucky is 8 hours and 3 minutes, slightly higher than the national average. Around 81% of the state’s residents use the internet. Moreover, Kentucky reports a digital eye strain count of 1,220 and a relatively high rate of insufficient sleep at 35%. Additionally, there is a 3.5% occurrence of vision problems per capita, indicating a significant association between screen usage and eye health concerns.

Maryland ranks fifth with a score of 48.40. Despite having a slightly lower average screen time of 7 hours and 14 minutes, the state shows considerable digital engagement, with 82.8% of its population using the internet and 76.6% of jobs involving digital work. Maryland experiences 2,240 cases of digital eye strain and has 2.8% of its residents reporting vision problems per capita, positioning the state moderately in terms of blue light exposure.

New Mexico holds the sixth position on the index, having a score of 47.95. The state distinguishes itself with an average screen time of 7 hours and 20 minutes, while also reporting the highest percentage of adults (38%) with insufficient sleep. With 80.9% of residents using the internet and 75.2% of jobs involving digital tasks, New Mexico experiences 740 cases of digital eye strain and a per capita rate of 3.3% for vision problems, highlighting the impact of blue light on its population.

Colorado ranks seventh in the index with a score of 47.87. It has an average daily screen time of 6 hours and 43 minutes, which is one of the lowest in the ranking. Despite high internet usage at 85.4% and 77.2% of jobs requiring digital work, Colorado experiences fewer occurrences of digital eye strain (1,590) and lower vision problems (2.7% per capita), making it less affected overall compared to other states.

Despite ranking eighth in the Blue Light Impact Index with a score of 47.75, New Jersey has a high digital eye strain count of 2,970 and is the top state in terms of search volume for blue light glasses. The average screen time in New Jersey is relatively lower at 6 hours and 51 minutes, with 85.3% of residents using the internet and 75.2% having jobs that involve digital work. Although only 2.6% of residents experience vision problems, New Jersey still presents significant concerns regarding exposure to blue light.

West Virginia ranks ninth on the index with a score of 47.66, indicating a high prevalence of vision problems at 3.9% per capita. The state has an average daily screen time of 6 hours and 43 minutes, along with 80.2% internet usage, resulting in a recorded 610 cases of digital eye strain. Interestingly, only 75.1% of jobs in the state require digital work, which may somewhat mitigate the impact of blue light exposure.

South Carolina rounds out this group with a screen time Blue Light Impact Index score of 47.31. Its residents average 7 hours and 6 minutes of screen time daily, with 81.3% internet usage and 74.2% of jobs needing digital tasks. The state reports 1,530 cases of digital eye strain and 3.3% vision problems per capita, reflecting a moderate blue light exposure impact compared to other states in the study.

An Overnight Glasses’ representative provided a comment regarding the study. “High rates of digital eye strain in places like New Jersey and significant vision problems in West Virginia indicate that blue light exposure is more than just a minor inconvenience. To reduce these effects, it’s important to promote practices like using blue light glasses, taking regular breaks, and adjusting screen settings to protect eye health.