From emotional regulation, memory and attention span, vital cognitive and emotional functions may get impacted due to the wrong kind of screentime. Screen time takes up a sizeable portion of daily routine. It also receives its fair share of backlash for mental fatigue, memory lapses, and poor focus, which is valid, as enough evidence connects excessive screen time with dwindling attention spans. However, sweeping antagonisation of screen time is not realistic, especially when digital devices have become so deeply integrated into work, learning and everyday communication.ALSO READ: Neurologist explains difference between normal forgetfulness and dementia memory loss: ‘If it gets worse over time…’Screentime influences your mental wellbeing in more ways than one. (Picture credit: Freepik)Screen time is not of one kind. Broadly, it can be divided into: active and passive screen use. Let's identify each, what you may be doing and which one adversely affects memory, attention and emotional regulation the most.To break down both types of screen time, Neha Sinha, dementia specialist and clinical psychologist, co-founder and CEO of Epoch Elder Care, offered her expert insights to HT Lifestyle on how active and passive screen use affect memory, attention and emotional regulation.What is passive screen time?Passive screen time is not exactly rocket science to understand, as most people are already familiar with it, and ironically quite ‘active’ with it.“Passive screen time, characterised by mindless scrolling, autoplay content, or background media consumption, places minimal cognitive demand,” the psychologist defined what passive screen time means.Passive screen time typically includes habits like watching a movie while scrolling through social media, lying in bed and mindlessly doomscrolling. Nowadays, even features like auto-scroll have made digital consumption even more low-effort, making it easier to keep watching or scrolling without any conscious engagement.We asked the psychologist how many hours she usually would estimate adults spend on screen passively and which cognitive functions are teh first to get impacted.The psychologist answered, “Adults now spend an average of 6–7 hours per day on screens, much of it passively, which has been associated with diminished working memory and increased distractibility.”The next doubt that arises is why people develop such an affinity for passive consumption. According to the psychologist, low-effort, immediate rewards play a major role.For example, watching a reel till the end to be rewarded with good humour and laugh about it, waiting for the mystery hook in a video to pay off till the end and so on. Instant gratification is what makes users gravitate towards passive consumption, better if the content is short-form. At present, the feature of watching reels at 2x speed is present, which further impacts the attention span.All these end up causing these problems which teh psychologist warned about again: frustration tolerance, poor task persistence, and cognitive fatigue.Instead of consuming, make the best use of your screentime to 'create' more, from building skills to strategies. (Picture credit: AI generated)When can screen time be good?Screen time can also be productive and beneficial for mental wellbeing. This may sound counterintuitive, as screen time is associated with poor mental health. However, when used the right way, digital engagement can actually sharpen the brain.“Active screen use, in which individuals intentionally engage in learning, creating, or problem-solving, stimulates higher-order cognitive functions. Such engagement supports attention, cognitive flexibility, and overall mental agility. Structured cognitive activities, even in digital formats, have shown benefits in improving executive functioning across age groups.”And if you look at the last point, she mentioned, ‘all age groups’, which is very important. Screen time can be fulfilling in a meaningful way if you consume teh right way.It can be used for many things, like skill building, learning a new language, journaling, reading, online courses, fitness sessions, puzzles and so on.More than you consume, create something and use your devices as a tool to create and build, not only to consume passively.Can excessive screen time cause cognitive decline later in life?Neurodegenerative conditions like dementia are progressive in nature, meaning there is no cure and the symptoms worsen over time. While dementia is associated with ageing, cases are steadily on the rise, making conversations around screen time and brain health even more important.“Cognitive decline is often accelerated when the brain is under-stimulated. Passive routines can contribute to this ‘underuse,’ potentially worsening symptoms like memory loss, reduced attention, and slower processing,” the psychologist helped to explain, which may slow or hasten cognitive decline. “In contrast, active mental engagement helps build and maintain cognitive reserve, the brain’s ability to adapt and compensate, thereby playing a role in slowing functional decline.”Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.Adrija Dey’s proclivity for observation fuels her storytelling instinct. As a lifestyle journalist, she crafts compelling, relatable narratives across diverse touchpoints of the human experience, including wellness, mental health, relationships, interior design, home decor, food, travel, and fashion that gently nudge readers toward living a little better. For her, stories exist in flesh and bones, carried by human vessels and shaped through everyday endeavours. It is the small stories we live and share that make us human. After all, humans and their lores are the most natural and raw repositories of stories, and uncovering them, for her, is akin to peeling an orange under a winter afternoon sun. Always up for a chat, she believes the best stories come from unfiltered yapping, where "too much information" is kind of the point. A graduate of Indraprastha College for Women, University of Delhi, and an alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Delhi, Adrija spends her idle hours cocooned with herbal tea and a gripping thriller, scribbling inner monologues she loosely calls poetic pieces, often with her succulents in attendance. On lazier days, she can be found binge-watching, for the nth time, one from her comfort-show holy trinity: The Office (US), Brooklyn Nine-Nine, or Modern Family. Dancing by herself to her peppy playlists, however, is an everyday ritual she swears by religiously.Read MoreMental HealthDementiaCatch every big hit, every wicket with Crick-it, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Quizzes, Polls & much more. Explore now!.Catch your daily dose of Fashion, Taylor Swift, Health, Festivals, Travel, Relationship, Recipe and all the other Latest Lifestyle News on Hindustan Times Website and APPs.See Less