Streaming services, mobile games, and social media apps have killed the idea of “screen time” being tied to one place. Teens watch the same show in three different rooms of the house—or across three different zip codes in one day. Podcasts and audiobooks turn a walk to school into a comedy club or a mystery novel. Even old-school hobbies like drawing or journaling have gone portable with styluses and note-taking apps.

Noise-canceling earbuds have become a "spatial privacy" tool, allowing teens to create a personal zone in crowded cafes or noisy hallways.