SunStar Stock photo May 23, 2021 THE pandemic and consequent lockdowns have put greater weight on the ways and degree to which we use our smartphones daily. We have been separated from most of our friends and family members due to social distancing measures. Many of us now have to rely on platforms such as Zoom and Google Meet to keep in touch with our relatives and friends. Activities like virtual classes, video chats, and constant scrolling through social media have increased the time spent by each person on their phones. Unfortunately, however, this remains overlooked. Given that many people are using their media to interact with others during these uncertain times to stay well-informed on the news and seek out distractions, how should we manage our screen time?