News-O-Meter

Screen time ⬇️ = Happiness ⬆️

According to new research, teens who do extracurricular activities (think: art, sports, or music) and limit screen time have better mental health than their screen time-gorging, activity-shunning peers. So put away your phone and pick up a paintbrush (or a basketball, or even a kazoo)!

Your pandemic #mood: worst ever, or NBD?

Dueling studies alert! One new report claims the percentage of teens who are depressed or lonely is actually lower than back in Covid-free 2018 (maybe because you’re getting more sleep and spending quality time with the fam). But a different study claims nearly 50 percent of teens’ mental health has suffered during the pandemic. What do you think?

As if vaping wasn’t gross enough . . .

A new study found that teens who used e-cigarettes were almost seven times as likely to test positive for Covid-19 and almost five times as likely to have symptoms as teens who didn’t smoke. Not to mention nothing looks dumber than trying to vape through a mask.