Editorial: Benign Versus Problematic Media Use Profiles in Youth: Correlates, Concerns, and Future Directions

The potential impact of screen media activity (SMA) on youth development is a topic of heated debate, with inconsistent findings and concerns about SMA measurement.1 There is a growing call for more precise measurement and analyses of SMA, focusing more on how (in what way youth are using screens) and less on how much (aggregate screen time). There is also a need to distinguish normative vs problematic SMA (eg, addiction-like behaviors)2,3 in youth. In the current issue, Song et al.4 advance this field by using a sophisticated assessment of SMA, considering problematic vs benign SMA profiles, and exploring associations between SMA and measures of brain and behavior.