Compare prepandemic (2019) and postpandemic (2022) engagement in five screen-based activities (studying, working, watching videos, playing video games, and using social media/chat applications) among independent samples of Brazilian adolescents using a repeated cross-sectional design; and 2) Examine within-individual changes in these same screen-based activities over the same period using a repeated cross-sectional study with a nested cohort.

Data were collected in 2019 and 2022, involving a total of 2008 adolescents who participated in the repeated cross-sectional study, with 333 forming a nested cohort sample. Zero-inflated multilevel gamma regression models and multilevel linear models were used to analyze the data.

In the repeated cross-sectional analysis, adolescents spent more minutes per day in 2022 versus 2019 for studying (+21.3 minutes; 95% CI: 11.0, 31.6), watching videos (+12.8 minutes; 95% CI: 1.1, 24.5), and playing video games (+22.9 minutes; 95% CI: 12.8, 33.1). The longitudinal analysis revealed significant average daily increases from 2019 to 2022 in studying (+53.8 minutes; 95% CI: 34.7, 72.9) and working (+130.2 minutes; 95% CI: 110.4, 149.9). For these same adolescents, significant decreases were observed for watching videos (−26.4 minutes; 95% CI: −48.0, −4.9) and playing video games (−28.6 minutes; 95% CI: −46.2, −11.8). Social media use remained stable.

Screen time (ST) among Brazilian adolescents was higher in 2022 compared to 2019, with increases in studying, working, watching videos, and playing video games. Longitudinal data indicated a shift from recreational ST to educational and work-related ST. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to promote balanced ST and mitigate potential negative health impacts.

adolescent

Brazil

COVID-19 pandemic

longitudinal study

public health

school

screen time

sedentary behavior

social media

youth

© 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier, Inc. on behalf of Academic Pediatric Association.