A new poll, conducted by Common Sense Media, reveals that 50
percent of teens in America think they’re addicted to their phones. The poll
included 1,240 interviews with parents and children ages 12 to 18. 59 percent
of the parents involved in the poll thought their teen was addicted to their
phone.
Holland Haiis, an expert in digital addiction, says that
technology is the addiction of the 21st century. While it’s common
for most children, teens, and adults to spend time on technological devices
like phones or computers, Haiis says that if your child prefers playing on
these devices to being outside or hanging out with friends, then the technology
becomes a problem.
A previous study performed in 2011 reviewed 18 studies and
discovered that internet addiction could be affecting up to 26 percent of teens
in the U.S. In many other countries around the world, internet addiction is
considered a threat to public health, but in the United States, it is not
recognized as a disorder. Common Sense Media stated that more research is
needed to determine the scope of internet addiction in the U.S.
According the poll, 66 percent of parents feel that their
child spends too much time on tech devices. 52 percent of teens agree that they
spend too much time on phones, computers, and tablets.
About 80 percent of the teens in the survey said they
checked their phone at least every hour, and 72 percent reported feeling a need
to respond immediately to text messages or social media notifications. 36
percent of parents reported arguing with their child on a daily basis about
their phone use, and 77 percent of parents feel that their child is regularly
distracted by their devices and doesn’t pay attention during in-person
conversations and interactions.
Terry Greenwald, a custodian at a high school in Alaska,
referred to students as “zombies.” Greenwald says the students are usually late
to class because they spend so much time shuffling through the hallways without
looking up from their phones.
Janis Elspas, who founded a family-oriented advice blog
called Mommy Blog Expert, says she’s had success instituting boundaries in her
children’s phone usage. She suggests setting up rules when teens get their
first phone, so they get used to following these rules as they get older.
Elspas also had her teens get part-time jobs so they could be responsible for
paying part of the phone costs. As silly as it sounds, Elspas says having
no-phone rules at family dinners and other occasions help remind teens that
they can survive without their devices.
Despite these disheartening results, the Common Sense Media
poll also reported that 37 percent of teens said they are aware that excessive
phone use is a problem, and they actively try to restrict the time they spend
on their phones.
The addiction to technology wasn’t just a problem for teens.
27 percent of parents included in the poll said they feel addicted to their
phones. 69 percent of parents admitted checking their phones at least hourly,
compared to 80 percent of teens who reported the same behavior. 48 percent of
parents said they often respond immediately to text messages or social media
notifications.
56 percent of parents said they routinely check their phones
while driving, but 52 percent said they actively try to limit their phone use.
Digital detox expert Holland Haiis recommended setting
limits on phone use and time spent surfing the internet. She also suggested
limiting the number of social media posts to five per week. This limitation
often leads to less time scrolling through social media sites.
Haiis said that social media and texting can stimulate
dopamine in our brains, which makes the activity feel more exciting and
addicting. Instead of reaching for your phone for this fix, Haiis suggests
going for a walk or getting some exercise. Physical activity releases
endorphins, which create the same feelings of stimulation and happiness.