We have tried to limit screen time for my teenagers. We have tried to directly limit app time and categories of apps. We have tried to get them involved in sports and other activities to consume some idle time. We demand "best effort" for school and good manners. My teenagers are, by all accounts of my research, "addicted" to reels, tiktok and youtube shorts. Given the lack of understanding, guidance and real researc…
Sadly, I don't think most of the teens being discussed would fit into the performance categories your children are achieving.
Would your own children even have those "real life" activities if you hadn't insisted they do so, and facilitated the activity?
Sadly, many parents use a screen to distract the child so that they themselves can participate in vacuous internet prattle.
I think you're right in your conclusion: it's not a matter of to have it, or not to have it. It's a matter of how much, and to what effect.
With your children's reported life performance, it doesn't seem like they're being unnecessarily harmed, but many others are. This is also in line with your statement that these are not conclusions that can be applied universally. Each child, each person, has to look at how the behaviour is affecting their lives (this also, for instance, applies to any intoxicating substance use, such as alcohol). A responsible person will limit their use to minimize the negative effects, but this self discipline is also a taught behaviour, and probably why your own children are doing well in this regard.
Once again, Congratulations on your parenting efforts and the payoff!