Teens getting four or more hours of screen time each day are more likely to experience anxiety and depression, according to a new report from the National Center for Health Statistics.

In a brief shared by the agency Wednesday, data showed about half of teenagers aged 12 to 17 had 4 hour or more of daily screen time between July 2021 and December 2023. 22.8% had 3 hours of daily screen time, 17.8% had 2 hours, 6.1% had 1 hour, and only 3% had less than 1 hour.

For the brief, teenagers reported their own screen time use during a typical weekday, excluding time spent doing schoolwork, the authors noted.

During the same time frame, about 1 in 4 teens who reported 4 or more hours of daily screen time experienced anxiety (27.1%) or depression symptoms (25.9%) in the previous two weeks. Anxiety and depression symptoms reduced significantly for teens who had less than 4 hours of daily screen time, 12.3% and 9.5%, respectively.  

“Studies like these show the true extent of how much time our children are spending on screens and the worrying consequences to their mental health and well-being,” Dr. Neha Chaudhary, psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School and Chief Medical Officer at Modern Health, told CBS News. 

Chaudhary, who was not involved in preparing the report, said she’s seen firsthand the effects of technology on stress levels, anxiety and depression in children and parents she’s worked with. 

And while there’s a growing body of research that shows correlation between social media and anxiety and depression, the reasons behind it are a bit more complex, she said. 

“With online bullying, constant social comparison like missing out on things others have or are doing, regularly looking for validation, and effects on body image — it’s no wonder that more time spent on social media can be tied to anxiety and depression,” she said. “At the same time, people who are struggling with their mental health might be more likely to try to turn to social media in order to cope with their symptoms, hoping to find connection, validation or sometimes even a distraction.”

Even organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that teens be mindful of daily screen usage, but note “screen time” can include a range of content, including some that support social connection or creativity. 

That’s why Chaudhary calls technologist the “double-edged sword” of our generation. 

“While some might be able to find support and connection that helps them feel better as they are able to find communities that they otherwise may not have had access to— many end up feeling worse or just as bad,” she said. “The challenge for parents and children is how to balance it so we can reap the benefits without sacrificing our mental health.”

While screen times were mostly equal between boys and girls in the latest report, black teenagers and those living in metropolitan areas were more likely to have 4-plus hours of daily screen time than other groups.

“As technology and screens continue to develop, their influence on the lives of children changes, making it increasingly important to expand our understanding of the patterns of screen time use overall and among selected subgroups,” the authors wrote. 

Airlines are now required to give customers automatic refunds, under a new Department of Transportation rule that went into effect this week. 

While the new regulation won’t make grappling with flight delays and cancellations less hellish, you are at least guaranteed to get your money back when an airline doesn’t transport you from point A to B as promised, without having to file any paperwork. The law is also designed to incentivize airlines to minimize disruptions, Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Wednesday when the rule went into effect.

“When an airline knows that all — instead of just a few of the passengers on a canceled flight — are likely to actually get their money back, it gives them a different set of reasons to put in the investment, and the realistic scheduling that makes those cancellations less likely to happen to begin with,” he said. Flight cancellations this year are already below the traditional average of 2%, indicating the initiative is already having an effect, according to the DOT.

Here’s what airline passengers are entitled to under the new rule.

What’s a “significant” delay?

For the first time, the new rule sets a standard for what constitutes a “significant change” to a flight. Previously, definitions varied from one carrier to another. A significant change to a flight now includes a three-hour or longer delay for domestic flights, and at least a six-hour delay on international flights. If an airline changes a flight’s departure or arrival airport, or adds a connection, that also counts. 

Itinerary changes

Additionally, if a passenger is downgraded to a lower class of service, or to a plane that’s less accommodating of passengers with disabilities, they are entitled to an automatic refund, according to the DOT. 

Baggage delays 

Baggage delays are also covered under the new rule. When passengers’ checked luggage doesn’t arrive within a reasonable amount of time, airlines must refund them any checked bag fees they’ve paid. However, passengers have to first file a mishandled baggage report with an airline. They are entitled to a refund if their luggage is not delivered within 12 hours of a domestic flight arriving at its gate, or within 15-30 hours of an international flight arriving, depending on its length.

Refunds for nonworking Wi-Fi

If you pay to use an airline’s Wi-Fi but it doesn’t work, you’re entitled to a refund to the cost of the service. Same goes if you paid to select a particular seat but were forced to sit elsewhere. These fees are typically far less substantial than the cost of the flight itself, though. 

DOT’s final rule also makes it simple and straightforward for passengers to receive the money they are owed. Without this rule, consumers have to navigate a patchwork of cumbersome processes to request and receive a refund — searching through airline websites to figure out how to make the request, filling out extra “digital paperwork, or at times waiting for hours on the phone,” the DOT states on it website. “In addition, passengers would [previously] receive a travel credit or voucher by default from some airlines instead of getting their money back, so they could not use their refund to rebook on another airline when their flight was changed or canceled without navigating a cumbersome request process.”

Under the new rule, customer refunds must be issued automatically, without making them jump through hoops. They must also be issued promptly, in cash or to the original form of payment, and in the full amount of the ticket purchase price.