[rose-knuckle17]

I'd re-characterize this as being more about seeking entertainment/escapism or an age group rather than casting it as being about a generation and screens.

Screens have had an impact in that they make entertainment more available and accessible on a moment's notice, and types of screen activity do, I believe, impact attention spans. That said, prior to television, humanity was still pretty good at finding ways to escape or entertain themselves, particularly in hard times.