Even if teens don't have a real addiction to their phones, the technology may alter their childhood.
Colleen Hartz, a mother from Alabama, recently told Healthline that her daughter rarely leaves home without her mobile phone. The mom from Alabama told Healthline that her daughter uses the phone for everything. She uses it for everything. She keeps her calendar there, and she also makes notes. And she loves to listen to music. She communicates mainly with her friends via text and Snapchat. "Some days she doesn't really speak to anyone at all.
Hartz isn’t the only one who's seeing this. A report by Common Sense Media revealed that 72 percent of teens felt the need to respond immediately to notifications on their phones, and 59 percent of parents believe their teens are addicted to mobile devices. These numbers are alarming and steep, but they may also be exaggerated.
According to Dr. David Hill, an AAP pediatrician and chair of the AAP Council on Communications and Media, a true addiction to a phone is based on compulsive behaviors. "Is your child getting enough sleep?" Exercise? Face time with family and friends? Is homework getting done? You need to ask yourself these questions. Gambling or excessive internet usage are both compulsive activities. What is not happening when this happens? It's difficult to prove addiction when the child is doing everything else.``
True addictions to devices and phones do exist. Healthline interviewed him, and he told them there is an official definition for "this disorder". "Problematic Internet Use" (PIU) Internet gaming disorder is another term. Researchers who study these issues believe that the number of people affected is less than 10 percent. "This could reach as high as 8 percent, although that would likely be its upper limit.
Even if teens don't have a real addiction to their phones, the technology they use may alter their childhood.
Arrested development
A study published in the journal Child Development Trusted Source last year found that teens are taking longer to accept adult responsibilities today than they ever have. Researchers concluded that the use of cell phones and tablets was partly to blame. With social connections always a click away, teens are less likely today to leave the house and seek out that connection in "real" life.
Many people still have a hard time separating themselves from their smartphones, even when they're out and about. Melissa Bragg is a Virginia mom who noticed this phenomenon when she was out with her daughter.She told Healthline that some of her friends cannot leave their phones alone even at youth events; they're always distracted by them.
This kind of behavior is what really pushes against real addiction. Sandra Windham is a Texas teacher who has also noticed this behavior in her class. She told Healthline that most children had bad habits rather than real addictions, noting that those with an actual dependency could never follow rules and expectations.
John Mopper, an adolescent psychologist with Blueprint mental health, is located in Somerville, New Jersey. He explained that "our brains are doing what they were made to do." Our brains act like hard drives when we are born. They constantly update and store new experiences. We are hardwired for pleasure, not consequence. Researchers have found that notifications from our phones can trigger a dopamine rush. After a while, our brain starts to associate that sensation with pleasure. For some adults and children, the desire to get a hit of dopamine may become compulsive.
Unfortunately, our phones don't just make us feel better. The immediate dopamine rush may be what drives us and our teens to use our phones again and again. However, research suggests that the long-term effects could be negative.
A 2017 study published in the Clinical Psychological Science Journal found that adolescents in grades 8–12 who spent more time using new media, including social media, smartphones, and other digital devices, experienced an increase in depressive symptoms and suicide-related outcomes.
Jean Twenge, a researcher at the University of California, San Diego, has acknowledged that correlation is not causation. However, she believes these results should be a warning for parents. It's possible to overdo it when it comes to our phones and constant internet connection.
Parental Problems
But it's not only teens who are constantly on their phones. Windham explained that parents are often the cause of this problem.
She told Healthline that parents text their children constantly throughout the day, and they become very anxious when they cannot answer. The texts are almost never about school. Parents call the school to demand that their children get their phones back, even during state tests, when strict rules are in place regarding phone usage. When I call parents and report poor behavior or grades because of phone usage, the phone is seldom taken away as a result.
Bragg is the first to admit that she is addicted to her smartphone more than her children.She told Healthline, "I am addicted to my phone as a homeschooling mother who remains at home. "This isolation makes my days difficult." Social media accounts for about 90 percent of the socializing I do. I have joined too many Facebook groups, and I scroll through them constantly. This can interfere with my ability to take care of household duties." I'll sometimes be so engrossed by a conversation taking place online that I won't move for an hour or two."
She is not alone. Mopper admitted to Healthline, "I am guilty too." "I'm trying to stop using my phone constantly. I am a therapist. I am an adult. It's hard."
Planning a family (phone)
Mopper recommended parents begin early to teach their children a different method. It's about having a relationship with kids that teaches them other things.
He continued, "Young children are sponges, and each experience can have an enormous impact on them." At that stage, screen time should be considered a luxury. Set limits and be concrete from the beginning."
Dr. Hill believes it is also important to involve kids in these conversations. There are many reasons why parents might introduce these devices. The right age can vary depending on the reasons you introduce them. After answering this question, I set up rules. It's easier to do this from the beginning than to take away their access after you've given them full reign."
He continued, "The good thing is that children can be great partners in setting up realistic expectations." You can include them in these conversations, even if they push back. You can ask about the rules that seem fair and what consequences they should face if those rules are broken. He said that the Family Media Plan can be an excellent resource for creating a plan for your family.
Bragg, for her part, has taken measures to make sure her daughter (15 years old) doesn't have the same dependency on her phone as she has. Bragg explained that her daughter has been given specific time limits to use her phone and has daily tasks to complete before she is allowed access.
She took action when her 5-year-old started to exhibit problem behaviors with his tablet. We let him watch Netflix on his tablet to continue watching what we wanted in the living room. Bragg explained that before they knew it, the tablet was on constantly. We tried to limit the time he used it, but he would completely meltdown when it came time to set it up. We decided that he couldn't even use the device.
Hartz's family has taken further steps to reduce the appeal of screens and phones in their home. She told Healthline that it was sad that people didn't live their lives for themselves anymore. "It seems like we're doing what we can to get a good photo for Instagram or Facebook."
She explained that she wanted a different experience to be available for her children. She talked about the limitations she placed on her son’s phone. Restricted use of the phone is limited to one hour per day. The phone will automatically shut off at 9 p.m. every night and during school hours. She told Healthline that on a recent vacation, her children were only allowed 20 minutes to use their phones before going to bed. She said, "We had a great time!"
Experts seem to be in agreement with the Hartz approach for parents who want to help their children balance online life and real-world interactions. The best way to prevent technology from turning into a nightmare is by limiting screen time and establishing real, face-to-face connections.
This is not only true for teenagers. It's time to get out of the house, have lunch with friends, and reconnect to reality if you feel like your phone is taking over.
Credit: The Web Health & Drugs Discussion Forum
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