When I had a phone, my mom always told me to turn it off and that my brain would melt. Now that I don't have access to a telephone (My dad keeps the password from me because he thinks I am going to play games all day in my classes even though I am basically a straight-A student) I feel left out because I don't know the "lingo", I can't see what everyone is up too, and most importantly, I can't communicate with my friends. If I ever get a girlfriend, it would be hard to communicate back and forth not being able to text or call. My point is that phones are the main form of communication and without one, it is hard to keep up with what is going on in the world around you and it would be tough to communicate with friends, family, partners, etc. Thank you for reading this comment and giving me your time. Bryce Shoemaker
Personally this article is very relatable. In the world we live in today our phones are practically connected to us. Before we go anywhere we always make sure to grab our phones. Not water, not a granola bar but our phones. If screen time was more heavily regulated at a younger age it could be beneficial in the future which brings me to my next point.
I feel as though children should not be given electronic devices at such young ages because it takes the real world reality out of a child's life. Children should be present in the moment, playing with their friends rather than behind a screen moving fruits or whatever games they are playing. Interaction while your young helps you develop social skills and set a foundation for how to interact with others. If you're stuck behind a screen and tuning out the real world you may fall into that habit as you get older.
In the article it states that there was a sudden rise of anxiety, depression, and sucicide from teens after 2012 from the spread of smartphones.
Based on personal experience this article describes my thoughts of having regulated screen time as a child because your parents are matured and know more. They know what's best for you even if you don't want to admit it. Children's brains are still developing and shouldn't be spoiled by virtual reality.
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I feel like we have reached a point where our phones is a necessity and I think everyone including parents should understand that. Also, the argument should not be about how much time we spend on our phones but it should be what we do on our phones. Sometimes, I don't feel productive when using my phone but it's because of what I might be doing on it, I can also do productive stuff like reading this article.
I believe phones are like a character and it is like a locker for your stuff someone checking it is an invasion of privacy.
I think phone good :)
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@Elizabeth they are when were bored
Is there anything that is positive about phone in the article?
Yes. To be honest, I’m worried about how much I use my phone. It just seems like such a big part of teenagers’ lives these days, and I constantly feel like I’m missing out on something when I’m not on it. I don’t think that the time I spend on my phone is productive whatsoever, and I know for a fact my parents don't either. They understand why I feel the need to be on it so much and they want me to start being able to make my own decisions, but it has gotten really out of hand. They are constantly telling me that I should spend more time outside, and that when I’m with my friends I should be talking to them and interacting with people instead of us all sitting around on our phones. I feel that screen time really affects my mood. I wish it didn’t, but that’s the truth. FOMO is keeping me on my phone, but knowing that I will be sleep deprived, disrespectful, and unhappy because it’s literally sucking serotonin out of me, makes me want to spend way less time on it. It is a vicious cycle I wish I had the answers to fix.
@Sophie David, Block 1
This article itself is very surprising to me. I thought for sure that screens were a major factor in declining mental health. Maybe it has to do with what we are looking at on our phones, versus the phone itself. Social media is horrible for someone’s mental health, and I think the world in general would be a happier, less hateful place without it. It’s so sad how many children, teenagers, and adults struggle with mental health issues. Like this article says, there are so many reasons why this could be the case, it’s not necessarily phone use. In any case, I believe that it’s important to spend less time on screens and more time living in the moment and interacting with a world outside of a cell phone that doesn’t add a lot to your life.
I spend....an average of 9-10 hours on my phone each day. I dont have anything to do all day, I do my chores and homework. Then what? I cant relly do anything with the pandemic and all. I know its bad but I dont really know what I should do.
I spend generally around 6 hours a day on my phone. A lot of people think that is too much, I personally do not think it is.The reason I say this is because I know when to put it down and it does not keep me up at night. My phone does not cause any harm in my life, I also need it for work and if I did not have my phone I would not be able to work. I think I build positive relationships with my phone. My phone never makes me depressed or sleep deprived because I am responsible about using my phone. Sometimes my phone gets in the way of homework and start procrastinating but I still finish my homework and get good marks so it is not a huge problem. My parents never say anything about my phone, and that says something because they are pretty strict parents.
When I look back at elementary and middle school, I see pure bliss. Every day I would get out at 3 pm and play basketball on the courts outside till 5 or 6 or at least the start of sunset, and then walk a half-mile home to my house. The pure bliss that I feel when I look back on it could just be nostalgia. However, that would require me to be somewhat sad about it. When I go pick up my little brothers at their middle school, one 5th grader and one 7th grader, they don't seem to be playing basketball, tackle football, home run derby or 4 square and fighting me to let them stay for another hour like I did when my older brother would have to make sure I was ok when I wasn't home by 5. They instead come right through the door at 3:15 and fight over who gets to play Xbox first. They don't even hang out with their friends every day after school, walk to each other's houses and beg parents to let them stay longer, they get an unlimited time "playdate" with a microphone and a 40 inch TV. Now even if sufficient evidence tells people that phones aren't hurting their mental health, I see evidence that they aren't living as 10-year-olds should. Being young is something you never get back, it's pure happiness, recklessness, fun, and a worry-free time in your life that can't be taken back. I see smartphones, Xbox, video games taking away that worry-free time and pushing them closer to adulthood where being 10 wasn't as awesome as everyone else before them experienced.
@Luke Hadley This made me really sad. I remember a time when I was the same way - actually playing games when hanging out with my friends instead of sitting inside literally sitting next to each other and not talking for sometimes hours because we are just sitting there on our phones. Whats even the point of being together? I mean, heck, sometimes we go a little crazy and put something on the TV and practically pat ourselves on the back for switching from one screen to another for a few hours. And even then, checking my phone throughout the movie.
I also have a younger brother and when he doesn't have any one of his various sports practices, he is on his Xbox. I can't remember a time at his age when I wasn't falling asleep on the couch watching my one 30-minute TV show my parents let me watch before bed time, because I was so tired from running around with my neighborhood friends after school all afternoon. And my brother is awake in his room playing Xbox until 11 at night with his friends. It makes me sad he will never experience the kind of childhood I got to.
I don’t think it’s necessary for the adults in my life to be worried about how much time I spend on my phone. I’m not going to lie, my daily screen time average is very high. Last week, my average was 10 hours and 30 minutes a day. In my defense though, everything I do throughout the day is on some sort of electronic platform. When I read, I either use my kindle or my phone, when I workout I follow youtube videos or listen to music/podcasts, I do school for 3-5 hours a day over a computer with homework that is also all online piled on top of that. Today, everything is online and through a screen. High numbers of screen time are inevitable. However, I do think in some cases this can be concerning. Every person spends their time differently. The things I spend my day doing on my phone/screen is completely different than what my mom does, what my dad does, my siblings, friends, etc. Everyone is different so I think a person’s mindset is based on what they do with their time. When COVID first hit I definitely did not exercise as much as I should have been. I spent most of my day laying down watching tv, youtube, eating, or just scrolling through social media and that definitely took its toll on my mindset and mental health. I realized what was happening and made changes to make myself feel better. So, yes, screentime does affect a person’s mindset but it has everything to do with how the person is spending their time with the screen.
@Francesca Fregoso How you spend time on your phone is very different from the stereotypical screen time. Usually on social media, or youtube. I love how you're using your phone to read and learn. However I do see what you mean almost everything is on a screen nowadays and it sucks us into spending more time on our phones.
I believe adults should be aware but not worry about how much children use their phones. Kids spend a lot of time on their phone whether they’re on social media, playing games, or watching shows, and what kids see across the internet can have positive or negative affects, or both. Now, some kids hold every personal detail about them in their phones while others might only use their phones as a resource to find directions. So when it comes to parents worrying so deeply about an excessive amount of screentime, taking children's devices away could make some kids feel as if it’s an invasion of privacy whereas others are more lenient and not affected by it. Regardless of how one’s child may use his or her device, I believe parents should limit time usage on phones or tablets but not forbid children from ever using any device. It is nice to get away from the screen and enjoy the outdoors and I strongly believe children, for as long as possible, should be exposed to that kind of environment. The younger they are, the less screen time they should be allowed, as it is not necessary and takes away from making the most of their childhoods. However, older kids have spent more time communicating on and connecting over phones and I believe parents should be less restrictive the older they become. Worrying about the amount of time kids spend on phones will eventually lead to restrictions that can harm teenager’s social life more than parents realize and could cause unnecessary problems.
Phones are very helpful and cool to use, but their also be very dangerous and parents should be worried about. For example "Texting someone you don't know is dangerous you can be talking to a killer or a trafficker that can make you trust them and give them your address and important information that can be compromised". In addition "They can track you down using the phone signal and the phone location that you enable" This show that parents should be worried about there kids using their phone unsupervised
Phones are very essential in this generation and I feel as if people have overused the benefits of the phone, they let it get in the way of communications in real life, study time, exercising, and just the overall experience of life. Adults should have the right to be concerned because they have matured and lived in a age where phones were not this advanced and had to grow up without the benefits of the phone
Although technology in this time and age is essential, I started becoming worried that I was using my phone too much when I started talking and communicating less. I looked for a psychologist irvine ca and found Dr. Kermott at https://www.therapysummit.com/ He has been very helpful in helping me to identify and cope with my phone addiction. He is very knowledgeable and shows he cares for my well being in a very professional and experienced way. I cannot thank him enough for improving my quality of life and it's only been 10 weeks!
The new introduction of technology brings up many debates between kids and parents. I can see why parents are sometimes concerned about their children overusing their phone and other technology. I think that phones can mess up productivity and cause you to get off task. I feel that this is why parents get concerned because sometimes they might not get everything done that they need to. This than results in the child facing problems and I believe the parents shouldn’t worry if the kids are on their phone as eventually they will learn to be disciplined with it or else they will find that they are going no where in life. Life is a process of learning, yes parents can help with that but I think that if the child learns it on their own it will be more beneficial. Also I think that it would help if parents gave them sly reminders about time management and phone usage to put them in the right direction.
I understand why some parents might be worried about the time their kids spend on their phones, but I believe these worries reveal more about human nature than phones. People are often resistant to change. For example, when paper was first introduced, adults worried that kids wouldn't be able to use and clean a slate properly. It really doesn't make sense to worry about phones. Any negative impacts would likely be present with or without much phone usage.
I understand why this would be a concern but I definitely dont think phones and depression/anxiety are a direct link. I do not believe it is the screen time itself causing the uproar of bad mental health but rather what we are being exposed to through the screen. These days there is absolutely no limit to what we can see, hear, or read on our phones. As well as almost no limit to what we can say. When these things are put together, you have young people being exposed to not only the real and scary world but the scary people in it. Theres climit issues, political issues, all kinds of negative things we are exposed to along with people who say rude things that don't deserved to be said. If anything its a cold, hard piece of the world that is damaging mental health, not the screen itself.
Technology is nowadays, essential for us. Adults should care about how many time we use our phone because the world is not only technology. More than be worried of the time spend in technology, adults should show us the real world and maybe have a little control of the use of the devices.
More than adults, everyone should care about how they use electronic devices and the time spend in them.
I believe they should be concern about how much technology is consuming not only children but everyone. Although if we are fine with and without our phones they should not be worried about how much we are on it. I think parents should wait until they're child is at least 14 to buy them a phone.(got mine at that age) Parents should also have some restrictions.
Yes adults should be concern about how much technology is consuming not only children but everyone in society. You can look anywhere- in your house, store, park, etc tecnology is basically everywhere. We don't realize it but even our own children spends a couple hours glued to their phones all the time. It's becoming a big issue that needs more attention.
Should adults in your life be worried by how much you use your phone? I believe they should. Kids spend a lot of time on their phone whether on social media, games, or spend time watch shows.,etc... What kids/teen see online can really effect them. For example social media can bring teens think they have to be and look like everyone on social media. Which can effect teens self-esteem, confidents, and mental health. Also gruesome things can be seen. which can leave teen traumatized. Being on your phone too much can also effect your physical health. Adults should be worried and check how much time you're using your phone. Limiting your time on teens phone can help because they will do productive things and be social with their family can go outside. Adults should be worried about the time teens are one their phone. it can help teen tremendously.
Should adults in your life be worried by how much you use your phone? I believe they should. This is their job as adults. Especially in today's society with the amount of time kids spend on their phone, I believe adults should be worried. In relation to me, my mother doesn’t allow me to spend too much time on my phone. In fact, she doesnt allow me to spend too much time on any internet device. There are many negative effects of too much time on your phone or any device. This is my opinion on if adults should be worried by how much time you use your phone.
I suppose I am fairly biased, but I don´t believe they should be. That is to say, if they were, which they are not. Most people's lives are built around technology; especially now that we are confined to our homes. On an average day, I spend- all day. Mostly. I am either writing stories in Docs, reading on the internet, or listening to music. As an introvert, I don't ever feel isolated. So, no. My phone helps me improve my writing skills and allows me to get reference for/if I need it while drawing. The only negative affect is that sometimes I get headaches, but that's about it. I could try to spend less time on my phone, but that would mean writing on paper instead, and I´d rather not waste. I am pretty content, I have no complaints about my phone usage.
No, I don’t think adult let alone parents should be worried about the amount of time one uses their phone. While a phone used excessively could be bad for mental health in children, one would know when to stop using their phone, whether it be they start feeling something bad, or they got to eat. Most kids and teen know when it’s time to stop, so I think parents shouldn’t need to worry about how much we use it.
No, I feel like they should know their child and how they behave with and without the phone. If we are fine with and without our phones they should not be worried about how much we are on it. If it is impacting the child negatively then yes they should be worried.
Personally, I really think adults should stop relying on studies to evaluate new mobile technology in its entirety. The most significant divide between adults and teens when it comes to smartphones is that older generations see them as a distraction like television. In comparison, younger generations see it as a tool.
Like a T.V., a phone can be an endless portal to media that has even more variety than the original cable television. However, unlike a T.V., mobile technology can be used for work. In the light of the coronavirus, schools across America have shifted to ‘online learning,’ an alternative to school that was initially used for children with abnormal situations, to continue their education. This has only been possible in recent years, and is now entirely accessible on one’s smartphone, in addition to a desktop.
I do feel that the problem lies in someone willing to spend hours scrolling, merely being a voyeur to content. Enjoying social media for hours on end without engaging with others on the site, is when things can become dangerous, and smartphones become an addiction. However, iPhones now have the tools to monitor not only how long a device has been used but also which apps are used the most. For parents who are considered, these reports can be the revealing factors that indicate how your child is actually using their phone.
I don't think think that adults should act the way they do over smartphones, However they are limiting screen time with good intentions, Probably from a story on the news that says negative things about phones.
Overall, I feel adults should monitor and be worried about how much their children use their phones. Especially for younger children, If they see people on their phones of are on their own devices for 6 hours a day they will grow up thinking this is the norm. Anyone with a device can spiral their usage out of control if its not monitored. I feel that putting a cap on phone usage may give children good self control skills and in reality most of phone usage isn't productive or useful and they can be missing out on valuable activities. Personally, I use my phone about 3 hours a day for safari searches entertainment and social media. I feel my phone has both positive and negative effects on my well being. Positively it can help me with basic research and relax and unwind but negatively it takes me away from reality and I can sometimes fall into a hole of constant non productive usage from scrolling through YouTube and Instagram. I sometimes worry about my screen time because I recognize that I fall into that hole when I could be socializing. My parents sometimes express concern but never to the point where they needed to take my phone or put a cap on the time.
@Colin I agree with you Colin.
I actually got mine took from the way I've been acting on it and i never spent time with my family as much as I do now. I'm kind of happy my phone is not with me anymore because I used to spend 9-12 hours on my phone when I am not in school.
On average, I spend about 2 hours on my phone every day. I usually spend time talking to friends, scrolling on social media, or listening to music. While that time could be spent doing other, more stimulating things, I think that my phone hasn't had an entirely negative effect on my well-being. I stay connected to friends and I learn new things, and I have access to a wider world of resources and interesting material. Of course, I do my best not spend too much time on my phone. Thankfully, being on a screen rarely affects my mental health Staying up later on a screen can cause eyestrain and sleep deprivation, which I sometimes feel the effects of. I do worry that I spend too much time on my phone, especially because I could be doing more productive things with that time, but my phone can help me with studying and socializing. It doesn't really get in the way of school and time with family, as long as I manage my time. I think that both sides of the argument are true in some ways. Yes, phones happened to become more popular at the same time that these many problems mentioned in the article became more widespread, but there is definitely a connection between the two. Plenty of people pin issues that stem from other things on phones and technology, which can give cell phones a bad rap when it comes to mental and physical health. Despite this, the argument of whether phones cause problems is still very relevant, and phones do have bad effects along with the good ones.
Technological devices are a very popular feature among the world. Included in the plethora of technological devices are smartphones. I myself have a smartphone, but I don't often use it. The maximum time per day that I use it is near two hours. The things that I do on my smartphone mainly include socializing with my peers. I believe that using my smartphone has a positive affect on me, because without it I wouldn't be able to talk to many of my friends and family members. Of course, living without a phone would be easy, as I did live without a smart phone for about 11 years, although the feeling of isolation may be more prominent if the ability to long-distance communicate is taken away. Also, sleep-deprivation is not something that I would associate with the use of phones for myself, because I typically go to sleep at an early hour to limit my time on the screen. The adults in my life are not concerned about my use of smartphones, as well as I. My smartphone is used as a way of communication, not a way of constant entertainment. Though I face no mental health issues regarding technology, I can see why prolonged exposure to screens can cause issues. Maybe it's the fact that you didn't get enough likes on a picture or no one responded to your text message. Thoughts like this can cause problems, but it is all about the way that you decide to use technology. All in all, problems with technology are caused by your perspective and way of using phones, not the screen itself.
On most days I spend about 2 hours on my phone. It makes me feel more connected with my friends and friends who have moved to different states or countries. Even though it makes me feel more connected with everybody it can create anxiety depression and suicide. Personally I have not experienced these things but I know people who suffer from anxiety that could be caused by social media. My parents are very strict about how much time I spend on my phone because of some of these reasons.
On the days when i was not under quarantine, i spent about an hour and a half on my phone a day. I would use it for mostly homework help or contacting my friends. Now my days with the quarantine, i spend most of my days on my device. That being near 4 or even 5 hours a day. The majority of the time ill be calling my friends out of boredom and listening to music. Contacting my close friends definitely has a positive effect on my attitude, making me feel much less more lonely and they have their ways of making me laugh. However, there are more positive benefits that come from using my phone than just reaching out to people. There are plenty of apps that are fun to use and that keep me busy, there are too many to name. That being said based on my experience i gain many healthy and positive effects from my phone. I've had barely any negative run-in's with using my device. I know some people that get sad seeing others lifestyle's or that they aren't as happy as someone but i believe having a phone doesn't automatically make you depressed or "too addicted" to it, as most adults think. I do not think that spending too much time of a device is bad. You could be typing out a long essay that requires lots of focus. Most parents or guardians i know, are worried about how long their child spends looking at a screen. I do think however, you need to know your kid well. and what they will be, or are doing on the device.
@Samantha I agree with this and believe that the things phones provide allow kids and teens to know more than they would reading a book.
Adults everywhere have the impression that young teens owning their screen is bad. I have been told this from teachers, family members, and friends and I don't think it is fair when people see me on my phone, and they mark me as addicted and assume I am on it as long as possible. Maybe that person caught at the one time I used it that afternoon, they don't know my habits and yet they jump to conclusions anyway. I have heard the horror stories about the anti-social teens that have become a slave to their online selves and how certain social media are opportunities for cyberbullying. I understand that a screen can become addictive and it exposes teens to sleep deprivation, but sometimes, parents are worried about issues before the problems have arisen. I use my phone for 1 hour and 30 min a day on average, and I do enjoy texting friends and playing games. I strive to limit the amount of time I am on a screen because no one wants to be an anxious, tired, smartphone loving zombie. Even though it is true that a lot of people do use their phones excessively, many kids try to make the right decisions when it comes to screens, so labels shouldn't be placed before having a good amount of insight on the situation.
I spend roughly 1 minute per day on my AlCATEL handheld mobile device. Usually, I am using it to call or text my friends to try to organize meet-ups with them. I think having my phone has had little to no effect on my well being, but it might if I ever need to call 911 or am lost. My phone doesn't really connect me to any resources. I don't think my phone makes me depressed or sleep-deprived. I don't worry about my phone, and don't think it interferes with studying or anything else. My parents don't try to limit my use of my phone. I think so called 'smart-phones' are horrible demonic devices that increase anxiety and decrease productivity in a way similar to my school given i-pad that I am using to type this.
Before the COVID-19 quarantine, I was spending 1-2 hours on my phone each day. Because I haven't been able to do my activities due to quarantine, I have been spending 3-4 hours on my phone. I usually spend most of my time on my phone texting friends. I do more now because of all the social isolation. And I also use Pinterest and YouTube to keep myself entertained when I'm bored, which is a lot more often this week than it has been. Being on my phone usually doesn't have a negative outcome on my relationships. It's actually quite helpful for me because I can stay in touch with friends when (before the quarantine) we were all doing things for sports and music and we couldn't be together. In those cases, a phone becomes quite necessary for us to connect and interact. It's when kids use their phones for entertainment too much that it becomes a problem. I have seen many kids at school who can't seem to get off Instagram or Snapchat. Even in class, they'll be scrolling through Instagram feeds, updating their story, or snapchatting with friends. At lunch, they're still using their phones. They can't seem to get enough of their phones. They make TikToks, take pictures with friends for Instagram, and continue scrolling through their Instagram feeds. These are also the kids who hate any form of exercise. The ones who always want to get out of PE. The ones who don't care about their grades and are happy failing. That is when social media and screens become a problem.
A Screen can be a bad thing. But it can also brighten a persons day completely. Having friends to talk to on apps like house party of face-timing a friend when your down are ways to keep us happy. The Data that parents keep on reading is inconsistent and untrue. Smart phones can provide a healthy way to express yourself on social media.
Looking at the screen gave me abundance in entertainment but after focusing on the screen I had a pain in my body. When working it leads to getting off-task.While meeting a friend using the phone which shortens the amount of interaction we can have.
I spend around one hour on my phone over the course of an average day. Using my phone does have a positive effect on my overall well-being, because I use my phone to maintain social connections with my friends and family. If I'm feeling sad or just generally run-down, a message from my best friend can turn my whole day around. Comments on social media also tend to brighten my mood. Whenever I feel lonely, I just text one of my friends, and we end up having an entire conversation. However, I must admit that when I spend too much time on social media, I do begin to feel restless. If I waste numerous hours looking at people's posts, I start to feel sad and lethargic. I do not worry about spending too much time on my phone. Instead of getting in the way of socializing, I argue that my phone actually helps me to socialize. I must say, however, that I have found myself easily distracted by my phone when I am supposed to be doing schoolwork. Sometimes I stay up quite late scrolling through Instagram, or trolling around on YouTube. My parents have expressed concern about the amount of time I spend on my phone, so they have tried to help me cut back on my screen time by limiting it. I have not protested, because it's not like I have a choice, so I see no point in arguing. I find myself agreeing with the second side of the argument. Phones do not have anything to do with the increasing number of youths who are depressed, lonely, and/or anxious.
I use my phone around 3 hours during the week. My parents set up a screen time limit so im not on it as much. I think its okay to go on your phone as long as your not choosing your phone over hanging out with friends or other good opportunities. Normally on my phone I play games, watch YouTube and interact with my friends. I think most days I use my phone a fair amount then I would go outside and get fresh air or do something else that doesn't involve an iPhone. Plus i'm pretty athletic so sitting down on my phone for a little bit doesn't affect me.
I don't have a phone, but I usually spend 2-3 hours a day on my Chromebook, and I usually watch videos on youtube or look into different topics that my mind wonders about, like politics, or the coronavirus.
I don't realize any effects that my laptop has on my well being, so I assume that there aren't that many effects. It doesn't help me build relationships that much. And when I use my device, I don't feel isolated. Some of the positive benefits are letting you know about what is happening in the world and letting you interact with others on a digital platform without transmitting diseases of any kind.
One of the negative effects may be mood swings. I say this because usually, I am pretty mad when my parents tell me to get off, when before I was completely content with what I was doing.
I usually worry about the time I spend on my device when I have homework. I keep telling myself to do my homework, but then I also tell myself, well just one more video, again, and again, until I don't have any more time until my parents make me go to sleep and I have to do my work in my bed.
My parents don't worry because they believe that I can have my own time to myself. They do however limit my video game time to 1-hour per day (if there is no school that day). I responded well because I respect my parents and I believe in following their rules.
I agree with the second argument because devices are just a mirror that presents us with problems we would just face without our devices
I think that it is okay for kids to go on screens as long as they are not missing opportunities like hanging out with friends. Screen time is a thing to do when kids are bored. My parents limit my screen time and I think they should give me more screen time. My screen time doesn't interfere with the time I spend with family and friends. I think it is okay for kids to use screens, just not all of the time.
I got a smartphone only a month ago, at the age of thirteen, because my parents felt very strongly about this issue. I had had a flip phone for a year prior but never really used it because it took so long to type anything and it only had texting (no TikTok, Facebook, not even group chats). I convinced my parents to get me a real phone after all my friends had one. Now I use it for about an hour a day. This is pretty low compared to most people, but that doesn't change the fact that that is more time than I spend playing trumpet, for example, which I definitely think of as more of a hobby than "being on my phone". I'm not really sure why- I use my phone for texting with friends, geocaching, and other apps, none of which take a lot of time. I notice that my screen time has really gone up now that I can't see my friends because of Coronavirus. My parents are really pushing back against this, which I think is unfair as they are on their phones to stay connected all the time too. Generally I feel that being outside with friends is preferable than texting with them, but with Coronavirus around, I think it's time to make an exception.
Nowadays, we see young children using iPhones and we don’t think anything of it. But should we? Parents give kids phones at young ages because kids gives there parents a simple reason as to why they need a phone; it’s to stay connected, to the parents or friends. But looking at how kids use phones it actually makes them disconnected. My little sister who’s in 5th grade got a phone when she was only in 4th at the age of ten, which is the average age that a kid gets a smart phone. When she got it she started to go outside and playing with toys less. When I was her age I was outside with my friends everyday. We never ran out of things to do or adventures to go on. Look at her, she has the same amount of friends, but when they’re over they’re only on their phones, every 5 minutes they might turn to show the other a post but then they go back to staring at there phones. I believe that adults should be worried when it comes to(667 directly connected to the fact that she has a phone. The phone is making her more isolated because she’ll post a Tic Tok and wait to see how many likes it get. Kids are on there phones all day instead of outside and playing with there friends. Which would be a cause of concern for parent.
I use my phone a lot more than most people. I am not addicted to my phone or anything. During Week Without Walls, it was not bad without my phone. When most people use their laptops or go outside I use my phone. My average screen time is pretty high compared to most people but its also because most of my non-tech related hobbies, I use my phone too. I like to paint and even when I’m painting I have my phone on the side watching Netflix. I stay up at night and I use my phone because my laptop is so big and I don’t like to use it at night as much. I scroll through tik tok at night because it is fun. The for you page is really interesting because there is a lot of funny videos and they are addicting to watch. I also use skype to call instead of using my laptop because sometimes my laptop glitches since its really old, and in the middle of the call it just stops. So in all my screentime on my phone is pretty high.
During the day I usually use it for 3-4 hours when I have school but on the weekends I use it for 5-6 hours a day. I usually watch YouTube or talk with friends when I use my phone. Using my phone after school helps me relax after I do my homework. Having a phone definitely helps me connect with my friends that I don't get to see very often. I don't experience any negative effects of using my phone except sometimes getting a little tired. Using my phone doesn't get in the way of socializing with my friends it actually helps a lot because some of them live very far away. My mom sometimes worries how much time I spend on my phone but she just tells me to go do something for a little. I think that phones can in some cases have negative effects on teens mental health but it's what happens on the phone and if they have problems nobody noticed beforehand.
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Phones have both good and bad things to them. Although it is impossible to avoid today. Teachers use them for assignments, schools use it for a grading system, some jobs even use them to clock-in and out. One of the questions asked on a syllabus is if you have internet available to you. In the article it mentions " recent rise in suicide and depression among teenagers was linked to the arrival of smartphones." This makes sense because at the end of the day everything is on the internet. Good and bad. But it is a matter of how strong minded one is and the influence we present ourselves with. It also says "the number of children with mental health problems who are helped by social media because of the resources and connections it provides." This is something that other generations need to understand about this generation. That yes phones can help others too in so many different ways. Technology is so advanced today that you are able to control was goes through your feed. If you only make positive things available to you you will have positive results.
Headline: How Do Phones Cause Problems?
I spend a lot of time on my phone. Around 4 hours. I usually just watch YouTube or talk to some friends.
Spending time on my phone helps me relax. Talking to people does help me stay connected and allows me to talk to friends that live far away.
Using my phone doesn’t really affect me in any negative ways, I don’t usually get stressed because of things going on involving my phone.
I spend a lot of time on my phone because I am not worried about my health. Every day I will run or surf, and that is for a minimum of an hour running and I will surf for a minimum of 3. If I sit around all day on my phone that is when I start to feel bad, I mentally cannot just sit on my phone for longer than a certain period of time.
My parents have never limited my screentime. They will take my phone though. If I sit on my phone they will keep telling me to get off, if I don’t they will just grab it and keep it until the next day.
I think phones definitely are a problem. Not too much for me but I totally see how they can become an addiction and an issue. I think these devices just create issues, without them we wouldn’t have many issues. There isn’t really anything that reflects my own experience.
@Justin Bolsoy I agree with you. I consider myself one of those people too who does not have a problem with their phone. In terms of i am not addicted to it. I have priorities and technology nor my smartphone gets in the way of them. I know what time i should go to bed etc. So the thing here is that i think it just depends on the person. "they say, the phone is just a mirror that reveals the problems a child would have even without the phone." This is a quote that i agree with. Some people claim that technology is keeping teenagers from engaging in the real world and is affecting their social life. I don't believe that is the truth with everyone. I believe that some people for example that are shy, and timid but are a whole different person over the internet would still be timid and shy even if the internet did not exist. Than again i think this all depends on the person
Usually I spend from as little as 1 hour to a whole 8 hours on my phone. I think using my phone on a typical day has its benefits and positive impacts. On a typical day, a phone can be very useful and entertaining. For example, you can contact people, search things, go on social media, listen to music, etc. By simply socializing, your mood could vastly improve and in my case, that is true. Phones may have its benefits and positive impacts, but it also has its negative impacts. I find that my phone tends to keep me distracted from my school work and I tend to use it more than I should. I do enjoy using my phone, but it does lead me to picking up my bad habits like procrastinating and being isolated. Although I have tried to limit the amount of time I spend on my phone, sometimes it does work and sometimes it doesn’t. My parents have also told me that I use it too much. They say that it keeps me distracted from my work and that spending the amount of time I spend on my phone is unhealthy. It seems that the less I use my phone, the more productive I tend to be.
@Cherry That is so true. Sometimes if I have an extremely busy day I will probably glance at my phone no more than 10 time. On the other hand I will be on it all day long.
I think one of the biggest issues is having the strength to put it down and just live life.
I cannot deny that I use my phone often. However, I cannot say that I believe it harms me in any way. I mainly only use my phone for music, videos, and texting, and calling. I also spend time playing games. However, my phone has such small storage I can only fit two games on, Clash of Clans and Plague inc. People are commonly associating social media with negative impacts, but that doesn't affect me; besides, I don't use social media. The closest I have come to social media is texting my friends and using Snapchat lenses to look like a french fry. So I do believe my phone does not have a negative impact on my life.
@Rowan I believe that your phone starts to negatively affect your wellbeing if you are on it for more than id say like 3 hours. I get it, like the time when you're on the bus or want to listen to music it's fine. But if the first thing you think about when you get home is "oh I need to check Instagram" I think that can lead to some problems.
Parents should be worried about their kids and always check up on them. But as a kid, I can tell my parents that there's nothing to be worried about. The phone is like a distraction from the real world. Some people can handle it and some cannot. Some people are good at managing their time and can use their phones once they finish everything. But then some people can't manage their time and waste all their time on their phone. But phones are a great thing for kids, they can create new opportunities. People can meet new people online that they could never before in real life. For example, I met my best friend online and now today I can see him whenever I want since we live close to each other. He's the most supportive best friend I've ever had. He has been like a role model for me since he's a couple years older. The phone isn't just a distraction you can keep up with the news or just what's going on in the world. Humans don't like being left in the dark they want to know what's happening so they know what to expect. Phones can be a distraction if the user doesn't use it appropriately. Meaning if they stay on the phone all night and not do any of their homework or the work they were supposed to be doing. I would consider that not appropriate. But in the end us students should always be monitored because we need guidance in our lives. Our phones can lead us to a bad place and our parents need to set us in the right direction.
My average screen time is 6 hours, I typically do some research, watch tv, and
talk on my phone. Using my phone has a positive effect on me because it has good resources like the Internet. I can also make phone calls, do useful and important things by using my phone. It makes me feel connected to the world. It can help me build relationships with people over the web.The way I use my phone sometimes can have a negative effect. For instance it can be a distraction when I am doing something important. When I read bad things it can somewhat affect me in a negative way. If I have too many problems it can cause stress.
I do not spend that much time on my phone and if I saw myself developing a bad habit I would do something about it. The only reason I use my phone is because I don't go out a lot.
I have spent less time on my phone by reading instead of going out somewhere, playing outside. My aunt tells me I don't always have to be on the phone “yall can go outside if yall want’ I try not to spend a lot of time on my phone I even things out so I have a balance.
@Brianna I agree that with using my phone, I am able to make good use out of it. I use my phone to use the internet for my homework, and I also use it to contact my friends if I have any further questions. My phone has helped me positively, where it's become a great resource that helps e throughout everyday and also entertains me when I need to. Parents see phones as such a negative thing, when in reality, they're not as bad as they think. However, there is a downside to phones and technology. As much as my phone helps me, it's also my biggest form of distraction. I admit, even when writing this response, I got distracted by using my phone. I believe I have developed a bad habit by using my phone too much, however, I don't believe that it's harming me as much as parents may think. I think my parents should worry less about how much I use my phone because I really do use it in a way where it helps me daily and positively instead of negatively. I see different methods that you use to try to avoid using your phone, and I should develop methods to avoid using mine before it becomes a bigger problem.
I spend about 4 hours and 25 minutes a day on Instagram. When I use my phone I get a lot of good information about what's going on around the world. I’ve had a lot of crazy things happen in relationships that have made my life crazy and a lot of people left my life.
When I use my phone a lot of crazy things have happened with my loved ones. It helped me keep in touch. I did not start feeling lonely until I started seeing my friends with their girls and posting each other on their page because of what they had I always thought I needed what other people had. I needed to find a type of creation for only I can know or only I can have a side with my pain and thoughts of every thing that ever hurt me could be kept in my dark side.
I'm never on my phone too late and I am always on time to do what needs to be done and never missed sleep time during school. My education is the first thing on my mind day in and day out.
I spend a lot of time off my phone also. I have boxing and work to go to when I’m not on my phone. I've really been keeping to myself.
My mom doesn't really like me being on my phone because of what people are saying and doing on their phones. I’m ok on my phone. I only do things I'm supposed to do.
I do not believe that increased phone use is the cause of the increase in mental health issues in teens. I believe that it is simply a correlation. Phones can be used as a coping mechanism. It can be used to distract from anxieties and escape from the real world. There are many positive uses phones have to help deal with mental health issues. I believe that the real cause of the increase of mental health issues in teens is based around school. Many students feel the pressure to get good grades so they can get into a good college so they can get a good job. There is so much pressure put on kids to make decisions that will affect their future that they feel very anxious about the what if scenarios. “What if I don’t get good grades” and “What if I don’t get into a good college”. The pressure drives the students to work really hard and not care about what they need to give up to be successful in school. Most teens stay up late finishing homework and don’t get enough sleep. Sleep is one of the most important things to keep good mental health and many teens are giving up sleep to succeed in school. I believe that this is the main reason for the decline of mental health in teens, not phone use.
In my opinion, adults should be worried about their little children who are spending too much time on their phone. What about teenagers? I think they should let them manage their time by themselves. Yes, sometimes they could spend too much time being out of real life and then you can talk to them. And when i say “talk” i mean real talking and not just start yell at them because of that. Most of the teenagers could have a hard time because of all the stress and anxiety they are going through, no wonder why they are trying to hide themselves in the phone. In this case parents should definitely talk with them about their problems and of course give them support.
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I can admit that I do go on my phone and my laptop a lot during the day. Sometimes it's for school work but I will say most of the time its just for fun. I can't think of a life without them and I know that's really sad to say but its the truth. This is the way I can talk to my friends that I'm not with or even my friends that live all the way in America or Germany. The thing is I don't just us the things for watching videos or playing games. I use them for getting the news, talking to my friends, and listening to music. Yes, there is a factor that is saying that it's bad because of social media but I love social media. I don't have to go on it every day but its a place where you can see what your friends are up to or learn something new. I follow this Instagram account where all they do is tell you how great you are and they build you up. So yes there are some dark sides of social media but there are also light sides. But I will say I do think that I use my phone and laptop too much. Sometimes I think about how I want to go for a walk or doing something with the day but then I just get on my phone and next thing I know its 2 hours later. There have also been times where I have found out that my friends were hangout and they did not invite me and I have felt upset by that. Sometimes I do waste away that day on my laptop and phone. I would say at the end of the day it up to you to think about how much time you are on them because there have good things and also bad things.
I have a problem with mobile devices. I admit I am very much obsessed with them. I can’t imagine my life without these devices. I wish I can imagine that. I wish I can just stay away from my computer and phone because I do realize that it’s slowly destroying me. But it’s my only access to listen to songs I like, watch youtube videos, play games, and most importantly, talk with my closest friends. Luckily, I’m not obsessed with it in the way of constantly checking social media like Instagram and Twitter. I have accounts but I barely use them. What I do use 24/4 is YouTube. I could spend hours upon hours watching people play games, live their life, complete challenges, and all that fun stuff. It makes me feel happy and entertained. I don’t like not being occupied. It feels lonely, so I fill that loneliness up with these videos and group chats with my friends. I can lose sleep over it though. I can lose track of time while watching these videos and not sleep or do my homework. So while it has made my life better in some aspects, I need to start disciplining myself.
I believe that using phones does not negatively affect me in my daily life. To me, a phone is a tool that helps to book Grabs and received calls, which takes me less than 15 minutes a day from Monday to Friday. But on the weekend, I usually spend about 45 minutes a day on my hobby. I usually visit my grandma’s house at the weekend and I love to film my dogs’ activities. You may think its boring and weird but not if you have 3 dogs, a very big garden with a river on the side and you are being banned from playing games. I usually take photos and videos of my dogs playing as well as learning more about their habits like photos of them swimming in the river or eating grass (LOL). Also, I like hearing music and watching youtube videos on my phone. Hearing songs while exercising helps me to get less bored. I really enjoy using my phone like that and it does not affect my ability to socialize. That’s why I can tell you that the phone does not bring any negative effect on me but a tool in making life easier and more exciting.
I used to spend 4-5 hours on my phone, but now I normally spend about 2-3 hours on my phone on a normal day. I would usually go to apps like YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Messages, and I would sometimes play games. Having my phone makes me less bored, I can even do my school work, I can easily text or call my parents and friends. It’s just a really helpful and handy device. But, it could make me dizzy and sleepy sometimes. I’ve tried to limit my screen time to only about 1-2 hours but I would just go back to 2-3 hours after a week. I am aware that smartphones can be really unhealthy, but there are just too many positive sides. My parents would sometimes tell me to stop using my phone and rest my eyes, but they have now come to realize that it doesn’t take away my school work/homework time, it doesn’t take away my sleeping time and that nothing will really change if I stopped using my phone. I understand if you think that smartphones are bad for you, but think about it if you know when you use it, where you use it, how you use it, and how long you use it, then it may change your mind.
Yes, I do. On a typical day, I usually use my phone for about 4 hours, mostly chatting, listening to music and reading ebooks, and I enjoy doing these. My phone has a positive effect on me since chatting makes me feel less isolated, it also helps in building relationships. This is really a helpful effect on me, it keeps me encouraged and I know that people care about me. I also can learn some writing techniques from reading ebooks too. There aren’t any negative effects shown now, it doesn’t make me feel worried or any other. My parents have tried to limit my screen time but after they realized it doesn’t stop me from focusing on my homework on time, they pretty much let me go. That’s why I haven’t worried about my screen time since it doesn’t affect my process of doing my homework or study for a test, etc. Overall, my usage of my phone has a positive effect on my mental health.
My opinions on the usage of phones aren’t that welcoming because I believe that phones bring negative effects to your daily life. I surely do enjoy using my phone to communicate with my friends and watch entertaining videos, but it has brought a lot more negative effects to my life. When I’m on my phone, I usually use social media to communicate with my friends. Texting your friends on your phone is simply very fine and it could be convenient and more neat but I have noticed that social media makes me very desperate for text replies. I got very stressed whenever I didn’t get enough messages from certain people and this made me obsessive. People not texting me enough was a sign that I wasn’t good enough and it made me feel lonely and sad. I absolutely hate being lonely and when people don’t text back and leave me on read, the thought of me having no friends and being lonely deepens. Due to these negative effects, I have decided to delete all social media and decrease the amount of phone usage. Using my phone to text people and use social media made me a negative person and I really disliked it. Without social media, I believe that I could stop using my phone more than my past.
Should adults be concerned about how much the youth are on their phones? I think yes. As a result of being 16 and living daily in the collateral damage of "screen addiction" I see what it is doing to my friends, peers, family and even myself; and the effects are anything but positive. Technology such as smart phones were developed with the intention to bring our society together by introducing immediate communication. But this development has exploded into so much more with new developments such as: smart televisions, Ipads, Air pods, Alexa, and Self driving cars. This technology that was initially introduced to bring us has driven our society apart by creating a culture that encourages a sense of entitlement, immediacy and laziness. Additionally, Phones in specific have become a tool for young adults and kids to avoid social interaction. So, as a result, instead of learning hard yet, valuable social lessons new generations are burring themselves into their phones. Therefore creating a society of people who are unable to communicate and interact.
Technologies are being more advanced. Because of this, there are a lot of phones in the world. People are buying more phones every day so more phone companies are born. If you go around, you will see that most everyone has a phone (usually smartphones). Phones used to be devices that are used to call people far away. Now, it is getting more advanced. We can call chat, text people far away, post things so everyone can see, etc. This is called social media. Everyone wants to get their hands on a phone, so companies like Apple, Samsung make billions of dollars. Phones are now people’s friends and they can spend hours looking at their phones. Most of them play games on their phones, be on social media for many purposes, etc. Little we know that phones are bad for us. They don’t make people live better, but phones can be dangerous. Hackers can steal people’s information and money by hacking your phones. They can know everything you put on your phones. Moreover, the screens on phones produce lots of light. These lights are bad for our eyes and can make us have eye diseases if we use them regularly. In addition, phones produce radio waves that are bad for our brains. Phones can catch on fire or explode if we put them on the cushions during charging. Most people don’t know this yet. So people should be aware of this. Phones can shorten people’s lives. So we should be aware of how many hours we spend on the phones.
I think parents should be worried about how much time their child spends on electronic devices such as phones, ipads, and computers. Phones are great in many ways but not always. When kids are constantly on their phones they don't know how to act in real life cause they are so used to looking at their phone all day. I think parents should wait until they're child is at least 12 to buy them a phone.(got mine at that age) Parents should also have some restrictions on their child's screen time and make sure that they are not on their phone too much. I've seen a lot of people who are addicted to their phones and can't go a day without it, I think if parents were more mindfull of their child's cell phone use this would not happen.
Allowing your child to have a phone is a big debate constantly happening in our world today. I believe that my phone benefits my day in countless ways.
I'm currently living in Vietnam, before this I was in Dubai for four years and before that I was in the states, I have a lot of different connections around the world. A lot of my friends don't live near me. With this, having a phone allows me to still be in touch with them. Im still very close with many people I may not see a lot because of my phone.
As well as this, my phone also helps me keep organized. I can set reminders, alarms, and mark upcoming events in my calendar. On an average day, my phone helps me a lot by letting me communicate with others, plan events and keeping track of myself.
Furthermore, as much as it is good there always can be bad. Sometimes my phone can get me to procrastinate. I do feel at times I can be on it a little too much but I do believe it benefits me overall. It's just a simple switch of the mute button.
To conclude, my phone is a place where I can go to keep in touch with others, share new interests, and help keep me organized. Although at times it can distract me, I overall think it's more of a pro than a con on a typical day.
Usually, I use my phone for around 3-4 hours per day. Mostly I just go on Tik Tok, Insta and youtube. I enjoy using my phone because I get to see what’s happening in the real world. Also, I get to chat with friends. Also, I use my phone to talk to my family. My parents don’t really have a rule on how much I get to use my phone but they always say like don’t use it when eating or doing school work. Personally I think using my phone makes me really positive because I get to listen to music and watch youtube. I don’t really get worried about how much time I spent on my phone because sometimes I just shut it off. I feel like without my phone I can’t communicate with many people and like I get like bored without my phone so I always keep it on me. Personally I don’t think phones increase anxiety because I have never really dealt with anxiety. The only time I think I use my phone too much is when I’m trying to do homework and I keep on getting distracted by my phone. Also when I try to sleep it takes a long time for me because I just go on my phone and it keeps me awake. My parents have never tried to limit the time I get to use on my phone.
My phone overall, I think counts to be my best friend. This is because whenever I am sad, it would always be there. Whenever I am happy, it is also there to be happy with me. I do everything on my phone. I spend about 9-10 hours a day on the phone if there is no class. But if there is a school then I will spend about 1-2 hours a day. On my phone, I would do a lot of things. I would play a lot of games too like Pubg, league of legends, crossfire legends, clash of clans and many more. I think that using my phone has a positive and negative effect on my life. I made so many new friends on my phone using social media, but I also use less time for my family members. I do feel a bit sleep deprived on some morning, I also feel a bit lonely sometimes too. Since the phone is just a phone. But then I realize that if I am lonely, I can just go to Instagram and talk to my friends. Yes, I do know that I am using my phone for too long every day. But what am I suppose to do at home other than go on the internet? The thing that I worry about most is that we are spending to much time on our phone. For me soon, our society is gonna be controlled by our phone
Nowadays, every kid has a phone and I’m sure 99 percent of them are just clinging to their phones all day. According to the latest study, on average, a child gets their first smartphone at just 10 years old. That same study also showed that by age 12, 50 percent of children have social media accounts like Instagram or Snapchat. It now sounds as if smartphones are bad, but they also have their benefits. Some benefits may include being able to have instant communication with other, being able to take photos using the camera, being able to surf the web, etc. Though there also plenty of disadvantages when it comes to your smartphones like having poor social interaction with people in real life, being addicted to your phone, and having health issues with your body which could be caused by being addicted to your phone. Once you are addicted, you may want to stop yourself, but it’s harder to do then it sounds so you better be prepared for the consequences.
I think that it doesn’t really matter how you use your phone because usually in every single situation it is beneficial and it does make our lives better. But lets put two examples, someone that uses their phone for social media and someone who uses it for work/homework, the person that only uses it for social media, that’s their choice and who knows maybe they are actually learning and being more social and avoiding depression which in fact being alone makes you become more and more depressed. On the other hand, the other person that actually uses their phone for work or homework is a very efficient and responsible person because they use their phone wisely. yet at the end of the day, it’s still beneficial for both of them, even though you don’t use your time wisely on your phone in most ways it’s still useful and beneficial.
It’s also a matter of whether you are responsible or not, because if you are responsible and know when to use your phone for work/homework and when to use it for games and social media, then your phone is basically perfect because its a working tool and since you are responsible you know when u need to work and when you can go on social media basically creating your phone into a working and entertainment tool at the same time by just being responsible.
Using our phone has a positive impact on our lives? Most of the time, I use my phone because I need a break from work, but what am I doing on my phone? Sometimes it’s social media. Even though it can improve our relationships and also help students to express their feelings through posts, but it is usually a waste of time. Sometimes I get off task and get distracted because of youtube. Although youtube can be partially educational, I think it isn’t with what I watch. Of course, when I’m allowed to use my phone, I’ll definitely procrastinate if no one reminds me of work. This can create a negative impact. Every time I’m using my phone too much, I get stuck into it. Sometimes I can even choose is to keep scrolling through my phone than to play basketball with my friends. When this happens, I wouldn’t sleep because of the blue light coming from the phone, and it really hurts my eyes too. However, sometimes when I meet up with my family, I was on my phone so it is kind of rude to my family. If I could control myself to spend less time on my phone, I would benefit a lot more. I can have more spare time to spend with my friends and family, plus also to stay healthy and active. I can also sleep better without my phone because I can relax and just enjoy sleeping.
People wonder if buying a phone for their child is a good idea or not. Some say that it’s a good idea while some don’t. However, as a child who owns a phone, I strongly believe that giving a phone to your child is definitely a good idea. My parents gave me a smartphone when I was in 4th grade. When I was young, I used my phone more for entertainment like playing games more than calling and texting my parents. However, as I grew up, I started to use my phone for more “good uses” like texting and calling my parents when I needed an umbrella in school to go home, which had a positive effect on my overall well-being. In addition, using the phone helped me build relationships. In my old school and my current school, my friends and classmates often used SNS like hangouts to have conversations with each other and play together. Adding on, I got along with my classmates and friends well by often talking to them and playing together using our phones. Therefore, it is logical that using a phone helped me build relationships and not get isolated from others. To sum up, using my phone clearly has a positive effect on my overall well-being since it lets me to contact my friends and parents when needed, helps me build relationships, and prevents me from getting isolated from people. Therefore, it is definitely a good idea to give your child a phone.
I probably use my phone for 6 - 8 hours a day. I mostly use it in my free time or when I’m done with my homework, but sometimes I will still get distracted when I’m doing my homework. I have thought about decreasing my amount of screen time, and I also have tried it, but I think I’m addicted to my phone. Every time before I do my homework, it’s quite hard for me to get off my phone. When my parents tell me to do something while I’m on my phone, I always tell them to wait a minute or later. I usually scroll on Instagram, Tik Tok, play games, watch Youtube videos when I’m on my phone. I should start using my phone less and get work done faster because I get distracted very easily when I’m trying to do work, so it might take me an hour to get an assignment that only requires 30 minutes done.
I think that phones are a great thing and that they help us with many things including, everyday tasks but, spending too much time on my phone is not so good. It is 100% better to go out and hangout with your friends or go for a bike around the park. To be active. Although I use my phone quite a lot I try to not look at it every other second like some people. I use my phone for calling my parents, chatting with friends, taking photos, ect. If you spend your whole day on your phone you get nothing done and never go outside. I think that it is important to spend some part of your day outside and being social face to face, not screen to screen. Most people say that being on your screen too much is bad for your health and eyes but I learned a while ago that it just makes your eyes tired and can not damage your eyes. My parents worry alot about me spending time on my phone. They always say that it is not good for me. Sometimes I think that I am spending too much time on my phone but never think it is getting in the way of me being social or getting my work done. My phone actually helps me organize plans with my friends and helps me organize my homework. Overall I think that you should have a balance leaning towards the no phone side.
I do not think parents should limit their kids’ phone use and give them some freedom on that. Personally I do not spend over 4 hours on my phone but recently my parents started to try and reduce my phone time, which I do not understand. My phone always gives me only positive emotions and lets me meet new people as well as communicate with friends, and you also need a little distraction sometimes. Yet I never get obsessed over my phone. So I believe that parents should not limit their kids’ screen time and even if there is a LARGE overuse of devices just try to talk and figure it out.
Adults SHOULD be worried about their kids cell phone use. If they are not worried they are simply bad parents. Cell phones can affect child users positively but truly they are a vice on the user's life, regardless of their age.
Before smartphones kids were out in the neighborhood's yards playing and enjoying the outside world. They would entertain themselves and the other neighborhood kids with games and sports. Without smartphones, kids had no choice but to go outside, be creative, and live their young lives to the fullest everyday.
I have great parents that support and love me unconditionally. They raised me limiting my use of technology and positive effects of their practices still show. I received my first phone in the last week of sixth grade but it came with serious restrictions. Some restrictions were imposed by my parents such as: it was not allowed to be or even charge in my bedroom while I slept, I wasn't allowed to use it when friends or guests came over, I could not use my phone before school. Other restrictions were imposed by myself like: I would not bring it to school, it would not leave the house.
I credit these strict limitations to improving my social skills and respect I show for people. I do not feel the draw to my phone to the same extent that my peers do. I think kids are better off without phones because they tend to hurt them more than phones help them in life.
I was interested while reading this article because “smartphones” seem to spark a lot of controversy these days. However, although I acknowledge that the culture is changing and young people are becoming more accustomed to using their phones all the time, I do not believe it should be a huge concern to parents. In Nathaniel Popper’s article, he states that studies show that the link between social media and both depression and anxiety among teenagers, is “small and inconsistent.” Of course, social media could certainly enhance one’s previous problems but it’s hard to say that social media is the root cause of it. Like Candice Odgers says, “There doesn’t seem to be an evidence base that would explain the level of panic around these issues.” It’s one thing for a parent to be annoyed at the fact that their child is spending considerable amounts of time on their phone and being very concerned about the overall well-being of that child. I believe that children spending considerable amounts of time on their phone are somewhat missing out and that they should be encouraged to do something else. However, I do also acknowledge the fact that young peoples’ culture is changing and that smartphones are a large part of that. If the opinion that smartphones are causing mental health issues has been debunked, I don’t believe that cell phones should be a worry to parents.
There is a point where too much screen time can become bad. The studies that relate phone use to depression and anxiety are irrelevant because the results are inconsistent. Also, I think that would only matter if you used the phone in the wrong way. Ultimately, parents shouldn't be too worried about their child's screen time because technology is the future. If used in the right way, a phone can open up so many opportunities in today's society. E-sports is becoming more profitable than ever. It is just as profitable as traditional pro sports now. A phone can be used in the wrong way though. If it isn't being used productively, it becomes a burden. However, kids need to be familiar with technology because that is a major part of the future.
I catch myself fantasizing about life in the 1900s when people didn’t have smartphones. Living in a world without phones or technology seems so surreal, but it looks so much more fun. Growing up with this type of technology constantly at my fingertips has been great in some respects, but has really taken away from social lives.
I don’t think that depression and anxiety is something that technology is causing, like many people have said in the past. In fact, I think that it has become a great platform for people to express themselves if they don’t feel comfortable doing it in person.
However, phones have caused genuine conversations to become rare. Unfortunately, I don’t think anyone could live in this world without a phone, anymore. This world and our society has revolutionized around technology. Don’t bother walking to get the newspaper in the morning and reading it on the front porch. With one click of a button, the news is portrayed right before your eyes. Without your phone, you miss out on so much, which explains why our generation uses them so much.
Anxiety and depression is still a concern in our generation, but we shouldn’t be blaming technology for it. More so than ever, teens have so many other things to worry about that causes their anxiety or depression.
@Reilly Johnson I do have to disagree with you when saying that technology doesn’t cause anxiety and stress. The internet allows people to show the perfect parts of their life. You get a small view of what they want you to see. When you read online about these perfect people it leads to a loss in self confidence for many people.
The internet is truly a unique place. It gives people the ability to express themselves in an uncountable amount of ways. Unfortunately you have to take the good with the bad.
I use my phone everyday, and not just to be on social media. It can be used a tool to help with homework, communicate in the case of in emergency, and search up information needed. Honestly using my phone has had a more positive affect, but this can go both ways. When I get home from school and sports, I tell my self I’d do my homework at a certain time. It always ends up dragging on because I’m on my phone, which does not help the fact that when I finally start my work I want to go right to bed. However though, when my mom sees me not focused she always threatens to take my phone away. My phone may be a big distraction, but is also a good tool to have. Maybe other students that are addicted like me should be more aware, I am starting to set screen time to limit the usage of my phone and be more successful with getting my homework done. I feel like you need to admit to the fact that you have a problem to help it. Adults should be concerned, but taking away the phone will only make it worse, especially with crabby teenagers today.
@Terra Torres You make a very convincing argument, by providing anecdotes and facts. I agree that adults should be concerned, but it should not be their decision. The child should make the decision, do they want to work hard and achieve their dreams or just rot away on their phone? If they choose the latter, it really is their decision and they can waste their life if they choose to but parents should not have to worry about it. I might spend a little too much time on my phone during the day, but I know when it gets down to crunch time, I will get it done. My phone has a positive effect on me, but I'm afraid I can't say the same for others. It is a good way for me to communicate with my friends, talk to my boss at work, or learn about things.
As a senior in high school playing two varsity sports, being an Eagle Scout, lifting and or cardio every day of the week and loving to play xbox I manage to spend around four hours and 30 minutes a day on my phone. Most of my time recently has been on snapchat, instagram, and youtube. Using my phone has a more positive effect on myself then if i did not have a phone. Without a phone getting practice times, homework notifications, and communicating with parents would be very difficult. My phone never gives me a sense of loneliness or anxiety. The only time I feel anything negative or sad is when I can't go out or be on a trip and I see pictures of the event. Using my phone helps me with communicating with friends, studying is enhanced through facetime, exercising is put to the test with instant results on steps, speed, and heart rate. After spending less time on my phone does feel good but I also fall behind on my email and my stock trading. Sometimes my parents do comment on my phone usage but I am pretty good about not using my phone during family time. I believe that phones are just a mirror that reveals the problems a child would have even without a phone. This is because people are born and develop problems over time and this has been proven for hundreds of years. Statistics came out saying that phone usage leads to depression but those stats were recently revised due to inconsistencies. This article was a great piece of information for both opinions on this issue.
My phone is an extremely versatile tool. It can be used as a flashlight, calculator, ruler, go-to-entertainment, work, and even scrapped for life saving survival scraps, like batteries, keeping up to date and so much more. It’d be crazy to think about not using it constantly. Life is made easier, a weight of many is lifted when you use your phone. The world is at your fingertips, to call, check emails, send messages, it’s all there. It’d be crazy what I’d do without a phone. My parents are mostly content as I get good enough grades, and my grades don’t seem to be lowered because of my phone. Personally, I think it helps my learning experience as I explore and learn because a chunk of information on the world is right on the internet, accessible by my phone. I use my phone to connect with friends and be entertained in boring situations, on a long car ride, I’d watch a Youtube video or play a game.
(part 1) On an average day I spend about 8 and a half hours on my phone, according to my “Screen Time” in my iPhone settings. I am in awe of myself at that number because I feel like I spend far less time in one day on my phone. Typically, I’m snapchatting my friends, scrolling or posting on Instagram, editing photos on VSCO, and texting or calling people or even just streaming music. Using my phone has a positive effect on my well-being. I am able to keep in touch with long-distance relationships and interact with new people every day. It helps me build and maintain relationships that, otherwise, would fail due to the fact I can’t spend every real-life moment with them. Another positive benefit is it allows for immediate feedback rather than before phone it may have taken hours or even days, depending on what era you refer to. Although, there are downsides to using your phone, just as there is to anything you do. Some of those being, if you compare yourself and your life to what you’re seeing online. It’s so easy to get caught up checking other people’s profiles and using that as an expectation of how you should be living your life. People rarely show their real faces on social media which creates a high standard for men and women everywhere. It also makes it very easy to put your opinion out there, which can be an easily abused power.
If I am being completely honest, I am addicted to my phone, my iPad, whatever glowing screen is in front of me. Like drug addicts, most teenagers will deny that they have a problem, that they don’t actually use their phones *that* much. But I’ll be the first to say it. When I hang out with people, the first thing that comes out at a moment’s silence is our devices. Bored? Phone. Procrastinating? Phone. But this isn’t new information, and adults are all too eager to criticize adolescents for always “being on that darn phone!” However, why are adults not worried about their own personal phone usage? On the train, when I used to see Sudoku books and Kindles, I see phones. My dad claims he is “checking his email!” But I know better than to believe that this problem is exclusive to teenagers and children. Parents, rather than being worried about the amount their child is on their phone, should be worried about the example they have set. As a kid, there was a precedent set in my family that reading was good- it was a reward. However, when parents nowadays use extra screen time as an incentive for their child, that is when problems begin. Parents, rather than worry, should lead by example, and encourage their kids to put down their phones, and reward them with screen-free time.
(part 2) Personally, my phone usage is not the root of my anxiety but things that happen on my phone can trigger an anxiety attack that wouldn’t have otherwise happened. That could also be from the amount of time I spend on my phone, looking into things and getting over-involved in online relationships, forgetting to live in real life for a second. Cutting down on my screen time is something I’ve been trying to work on a lot recently. At the moment, I don’t feel it gets in the way of anything I do day to day, such as socializing, exercising, studying. Don’t get me wrong, I procrastinate and play on my phone when I should be doing something more productive but I know when it’s time for a break. No one in my life expresses concern on my phone usage, sometimes I wish they did. Just as a reminder to live a little. I believe that the phone is “just a mirror that reveals the problems a child would have even without the phone.” This is because everything is good in moderation, as my dad says, which applies to everything in life.
I think that adults restricting their child’s phone access has a negative impact upon their child. Many adults argue that phones disconnect their child from the world but often this is the opposite. Adults view anti social children as a product of phones while in reality they are just introverted children regardless of the phone. Another misconception adults have is that limiting phone usage will help a child’s social life. What adults fail to understand is a large portion of a teens social life is online in the modern era. Teens with restricted phone time often fall behind socially as their peers strive ahead. Overall it is undisputed that phones have integrated themselves in every aspect of our lives and while restricting phone usage is well intended, it is nothing but a handicap.
@Danny Ahern I agree that antisocial children are not a result of phones, but just who they naturally are. In the past, introverted people have had to learn how to be an extrovert. There are so many aspects of society that are geared towards extroverts. School, for example, is full of kids who all learn together, but introverts would learn better on their own than in a big group. Parents say there is an increase of antisocial teenagers, but the reality is that there is an increase in teenagers being themselves and not having to learn to be someone else.
I would say that if you are in middle school you should definitely have a phone on you just in case if something goes wrong, but when its after school I think that there is some benefit to taking "their" electronics away. Once you are a junior/senior and you have your own car I think it relives some stress and lets you focus more ans since you don't need to communicate with people to get rides and stuff like that the use of a phone is completely for entertainment.
I believe there are pros and cons to the use of phones in this generation. I agree that parents have the right to be concerned about the long use of phones for their children, especially preteens. Because of the easily influential addiction to using phones as entertainments for smaller children, it may affect their future and must be concerning for parents. However, the use of phones is also profoundly helpful, as we have access to more information in little time compared to looking for information through other tools.
To a certain extent the usage of phones is generally high in both terms of Good and Bad sides. Yet at the same time there is a sense of more Negative effects because of being too much on the phone for less athleticism and may not get enough sleep. The devices are technically the catalyst of the lifestyle we live in today and would lead to less exercising to be healthy. With being unfit, some could feel depressed and the parents/guardians are worried about their children to feel the best for the next day. In order to help them try to limit the playtime but not as much to annoy them and keep on continuing, unless they are used for Good research. Now that’s a reason to use phones to look up information and news that may be worrisome when going out.
In today’s generation, phones are an extremely important part of our day. Our phones allow us access to the world around us in the matter of seconds. However, the average teenager spends hours viewing their phone screens which, as explained by professionals, may have negative implications. Although there is no concrete evidence that demonstrates phone use leading to a decline in mental health, surrounding factors should be considered. Phone use leads to social media which further leads to a world depicted as perfect on sites such as Instagram. A decline in mental health makes heavy connections with the time in which phones became prevalent. Adults should have the right to be concerned for the amount of time teens spend on phone because although technology is our future, there is still a world outside of a screen.
I deem this a very tricky question. The question asks do adults have the right to care about how much kids use their phones on average. And the answer is they don't. Well specifically not those adults. The only adults that have the right to care about how much kids use their phone on average is parents or guardians. We are entering anew age where smartphones run everything that is useful to everyday life. Time, payments, ordering things online, communication of all ways, faxing and scanning papers. The list goes on and on. And its only going to keep advancing so adults need to either get on board or zip it. Smartphones aren't life but it is a good part of it and a big help.
I'll admit that I'm on my phone quite a bit; I use it for around 5 and a half hours every day on average. I use Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube, and Netflix most of the time, however, I also write and read on my phone as well as talk to my friends and family. It helps connect me with resources but definitely also distracts me from doing my work. I think that sometimes what I see on my phone can upset me and can definitely make me jealous of other people's lives, but I also use social media to remind me of how good my life is and what I have.
I do think I spend too much time on my phone. It doesn't stop me from socializing, but it can stop me from studying at times. Instead of texting to ask for help with work or doing research, sometimes I find myself scrolling through Instagram or Snapchatting my friends. It can also distract me from sleeping since I start talking to friends instead of going to bed.
My dad tells me to get off my phone sometimes when he's trying to talk to me, but sometimes I'd rather watch TV than interact with people. With a busy schedule, it's good to have down time to recharge.
I honestly can see why people would think phones amplify mental health issues in teens, but in my opinion my phone helps me stay connected with friends.
@Samantha Rogala Just Five and a half hours a day? We need to bring those numbers up. All jokes aside though, I admit that I also spend most of my day on a screen. Spending roughly Six to Eleven hours causes to come to school with a lack of sleep and at some times, messing up my sleep schedule. Yes there are some problems such as bad posture and maybe some "dangers" that come with facing a screen all day but I agree with you that this device Im currently typing on right now is a good way to communicate with others. In this day and age, i believe that communication is essential to keep up with the daily news. Whether it be homework, social, or productivity related, phones ultimately help kids out (unless they have no sense of time and just stay on it all day without being productive).
I use my phone for on average 6 hours a day. I typically text my friends or browse social media. I think my phone does have a positive effect on my well-being, it makes everything easy, and makes boring situations less boring. I'm not aware of any negative effects my phone has on me, if there are any. My parents don't worry about the amount of time I spend on my phone, and I don't worry about it either. I can control the amount of time I use it, so it doesn't get in the way of things like friendships or studying. I agree with the latter argument more.
I use my phone for on average 6 hours a day. I typically text my friends or browse social media. I think my phone does have a positive effect on my well-being, it makes everything easy, and makes boring situations less boring. I'm not aware of any negative effects my phone has on me, if there are any. My parents don't worry about the amount of time I spend on my phone, and I don't worry about it either. I can control the amount of time I use it, so it doesn't get in the way of things like friendships or studying. I agree with the latter argument more.
Having a strict mother i feel strongly about this topic. My mom frewuently checks my screentime and it feels like i have no time that is mine. Sometimes if i have nothingto do i just want to relax. Like everyone of all ages people enjoy doing things like reading puzzles drawing knitting and now some people are seeing things like going on our phones as hobbies. I do think it is ridiculous for people to be going on their phones all day everyday for more than 8 hours. It isnt healthy for someone to be doing that and i see how that can be a concern for parents. HOwever if the cheking of screentime and phones becomes extreme I know it can strain relationships between the parent and kid. ONce a child gets there phone turned off it triggers them and makes them really upset and can cause them to become stressed. It can also make them feel like they have lost their parents trust. I use my phone at night and afterschool it dosent make me nervous or sleep deprived on the weekends i talk to my friends on the phone pretty late just because its fun but i still get enough sleep and its just like a sleepover but not in real life. I know how to control myself on my phone and only get worried about my phone screentime when im worried my mom will check it and get mad. I feel as if older people are making phone screentime way more serious than it has to be. It dosent get in the way of my life at all because while on my phone im talking to my friends and i still make time 4 cheer
I do not think that adults should care all that much about how much their kids are on their phones. People aren't always just watching videos or whatever. For me, I'm talking to people that I don't or can't see everyday. For instance, I have friends that live across the country so I can't just get in a car and see them. But nowadays technology is kinda good. Its more useful then just going off the books in some situations. Coming home after the stress of school and watching a show on my phone or something relaxes me.
That’s true, for there are times technology is needed to be helping in both real life and class works, with the internet you could find sample videos to figure out a problem. Parents sometimes forget the Pros of the use of phones, and could be difficult into trying to help. Also relaxation is a good point, for that built of stress can harm your mentality. Impressive on the advantages of having a phone for work.
Smartphones have become the normal for members of all generations. While some may have an addiction to a new game or recents posts popping up on their feed, most people can control themselves when it comes to screen time. Personally I see my phone and what’s on it (Snapchat, Instagram, Netflix) as a break from homework and studying after a long day at school. However, I can see where parents are coming from when limiting their little kids screen time. When kids are younger ages they should be playing outside rather then being glued to their phones. As kids get older they need to take on more responsibility for themselves and this includes straying away from distractions. Being able to know your limits when it comes to spending time scrolling through Instagram should be learned by the kids themselves instead of forced by their over controlling parents.
Typically on a school day I do not spend that much time on my phone. To me my homework comes before texting my friends and watching YouTube. Sometimes I get really worried when I am on my phone for more than 6 hours a day on weekends, because that time could be used for something else besides sitting on my bed and on my phone the whole day. My phone does not shape who I am, what I am interested in shapes who I am and for me that is not social media. My parents do not worry about how often I am on my phone, all they care about is me getting my homework done and they know I put my homework before social media. As teenagers who probably spend the most time on their phones don't even realize how long they are on it each day for. Social media and other apps on our phones can cause depression to at least a couple people. Many YouTube videos can impact someones life in a negative way that maybe that person didn't think of when they made the video. We need to know our limit and consequences when it comes to our phones.
“Put that phone down” and many other similar phrases are things that are heard constantly by my generation. I do spend a lot of my time on my phone every day, but the way I see it, that's no different than my parents spending hours watching TV when they get home or doing things they enjoy, like shopping or reading, on their computers.
My parents like to blame all my problems on my phone, from my grades, to my attitudes, to stress levels, and anything else that isn’t perfect. Just because it's something new that they didn’t grow up with, they think it's the source of all my problems, but that's not the case. My main source of stress is all my increasing school work. I have at least 4 hours of homework every night, and taking short breaks on my phone helps me to relax and power through the rest of the assignment. My phone can also be helpful when I don’t understand part of my homework, because I can just text or FaceTime my friends and they can help talk me through it.
My parents don’t understand all the good things that come out of my phone use, and the way they see it, I’m just spending hours scrolling through social media and being antisocial. But in reality, I’m talking to friends I don’t get to see all the time, learning new things online, taking pictures and creating new memories, and yeah some of my time is spent on social media, but not enough for it to be a problem.
@Skye Solomon
I partially agree with what you have said about this issue. I find it very unfair the way parents seem to boil all your problems down to your phone. I also believe that parents don't often realize the many good things that kids can accomplish on their phones. For me, I mostly use my phone to stay close and make plans with my friends and also stay educated on sports. However, when it comes down to it, phones are mostly a distraction. They can be addictive and huge source of procrastination for kids who should be focusing on things like school and sports. I can judge phones and list all the bad things associated with them, but I also that I will go right back on my phone after I finish writing this. I know that phones can serve as a problem, but I do not think I could restrict the time I spend on mine.
The adults in my life are already worried about how much time I spend on my phone.
It seems that one of the biggest concerns that adults have nowadays is one for our ever increasing reliability on phones. And yes I get it, but there are bigger problems in the world, and people are treating phones like some kind of demonic possession.
Yes I’m on my phone very often, and yes I don’t do exercise. But I’m not going to get down and do twenty push ups if I don’t have my phone.
I do regret being on my phone so much because it does distract me from working on projects that I actually do want to work on. There are other factors that play into that, which don’t involve my phone use. Like how tired I become after doing work for school, or how motivated I am to actually work. Sometimes phones are a good way to relax. School already drags us into having to put forth our effort into work for a good seven hours, and many students have extracurriculars of some sort. I don’t have to be introspective and analytical 24/7, that’s just tedious.
Adults make it out to be like pour phones distract us from thinking deeply about our societal conflicts or reflecting on our lives, but they don't seem to understand that out phones are essentially storing away most of our lives. We were born with technology. We take pictures to remember good times, not to show off, we use social media to share parts of ourselves, even if they are filtered, we text instead of talk because sometimes people aren't there.
“Get off your phone”, “Y’all are all addicted”, “I’m scared for your generation”, are heard almost every day by my generation. Adults are convinced that technology is the problem, and that they cause all of the problems we have.
Technology isn't the problem, the stress is caused by the overload of work, staying in your room doesn't mean your on your phone, failing a test doesn't mean it's because you spent all your time online, yet these are all the things it's blamed for.
Phones are what most adults get on teens for now a days, because of their popularity. Personally I don't use my phone nearly as much as most of my peers. I get it taken away so much that I've grown so accustomed to being off it that I never depend on it. However I do use it when necessary, I use it in Spanish to find words I don't know, in dance class to find music, I use it to communicate with my parents and friends, to get around town with google maps, and to take pictures of memories I want to capture.
Adults should be grateful that they are able to ensure their kids are safe with the click of a button, that they can do their work off their computers, that they can connect with their old classmates and friends instead of bringing down our generation for advancing. It isn't something to worry about simply because it's hypocritical, if they used the advancements being made during their generation and were excited about them, we should be able to use these innovations without judgement.
@Charlotte Todd
I totally agree! Phones are almost always what our generation's mistakes are blamed on. It isn't fair to assume that we are always on our phone when we are away from our parents, but it is justified and parents have an excuse for being all over the board on phone use. You see, our parents base almost all of there parenting on how their parents taught them and they get to choose what they want to adopt from their parents methods and what they don't. They issue with this system is that our society is developing and changing so quickly that some parenting styles just aren't effective anymore, and never before seen problems are facing parents every day. A prime example of this is the smartphone. Our parents, as they are probably Boomers or GenX, never had to deal with the freedom and slavery of an iPhone, therefore they don't know how to teach us to deal with them.
@Charlotte Todd
“It's because of that damn phone” or “you’re spending too much time on that thing” are things that i constantly hear from adults as well as the ones listed below. But what i really don't understand is why parents and older generations blame so much upon our superior technology that could help advance the acquisition of knowledge for our generation. My parents whenever I get a below average grade on something in school, they immediately hop on the “Too much time on your phone” train, and it really pisses me off because how would my phone or games on my phone have anything to do with my grade. But they continue to threaten me with taking it away for no reason, really gets under my skin because they don't consider anything else.
@Charlotte Todd
I hear those same words everyday. Parents and adults are so quick to blame the source of all our problems on technology, when it's so much more. Of course technology has its ups and downs, but along with everything else in life. If technology wasn't the problem then parents would just find the very next thing to blame.
Technology has become a part of everyone's lives. Like you said you use it in dance, and in Spanish. I know many teachers base their lessons and homework off online tools. Videos and websites help us further understand material that may have been difficult before. Having unlimited access to anything we want right at our fingertips is extremely useful.
The article also mentions that countries in Europe have lower anxiety, depression, and suicide rates even through phones are more prevalent in those areas. I feel like technology cant be all to blame because of this. It can also be due to our education system and immense amounts of pressure put on students to preform well. Comments from parents and adults blaming kids for their performance instead of helping them or encouraging them can do more than the initial harm done.
i,ve never had any problem with my parents and my phone. Ive always been good at coding and i made my interest in it very clear to my parents. the only time they ever got worried is when an email was sent to them because i was pirating a ton of games. I haven't done that since but other than that my parents never cared.
On an average school day, I’ll arrive home at around 6 PM, after a long day of school and rehearsal for whatever production my school is producing at the time. I will sit down on my bed and let a sigh of relief escape my body. Then I will proceed to scroll through Instagram, respond to Snapchats or text some friends for about half an hour- enough to relax and prepare for homework. About 4/5 days in the week, one of my parents will come into my room, “No phone until homework is done, don’t let me catch this again!”
I think that statement may be true if I were sitting down at my desk, working on a WebAssign or an essay- but during a relaxation period, it gets on my nerves.
My point here is that parents get a little too involved. In middle school or elementary school (hopefully very few elementary schoolers have cellphones, but that’s another issue completely), I understand a little micromanaging when it comes to technology time. However, by the time we reach high school, we should all be responsible for ourselves in that realm, to turn in homework, to know our time limits. It is time for the parents to release their grasp unless it is absolutely necessary.
It is our job as teenagers to learn what happens when we stay on our phones too long and we don’t get enough sleep or don’t finish a homework assignment, we won’t understand the consequences if we don’t learn for ourselves.
@Josh Reifel, I live a pretty busy life as well. I go through countless hours of school work and then have a whole week of track afterwards. I also find it comforting to open my messages and I personally watch one or a few episodes from Netflix but work always comes first. You claim that we won't understand the consequences if we don't go through them but we are taught from a young age that too much technology isn't good. I just can't completely agree that parent supervision is bad. I'm not claiming that all kids should be tracked by their parents on apps such as Life360 but multiple people who use them have an little to no trust with their family.
We are teenagers, our parents are supposed to agree that we are responsible but we shouldn't take advantage of it and spend all of our free time on our phones. I know many "cool" parent who have a small grasp on their children but it isn't always for the best.
If you or your friends don't want to involve your parents, I would suggest building a stronger relationship and then there won't be a reason for phone searches and location tracking.
In modern times almost everyone has a smart phone or another device, and those who do not probably feel like their missing out and they most likely are. While they may receive information that’s on the internet another way like on the tv or a newspaper, everyone with the technology receives it quicker and are more easily able to be kept up to date. But, it’s easy to spend hours on your phone with things like social media and games, but most use it at times when their not doing something else most likely to just stop their boredom. Too much time on your phone to the point where it’s taking away from your social interaction with people face to face or causing you to miss other experiences is a problem, but for the most part I think smart phones are a positive in most people’s lives and that most do not use their phones to that extreme extent. I do use my phone quite a lot daily, but it allows me to connect with my friends and family, especially with those I'm unable to see often and I do feel more connected to them and the world by using it. My phone is also where I go for any information about what’s happening in the world, without it I would probably be out of the loop as watching the news is and never really was a thing I would do often.
We live in a society that is constantly looking at screens; whether it’s our phone, iPad, computer, tv, we’re constantly looking at screens. And although depression rates are increasing, I do not agree that we can blame that on technology. I believe that yes, social media does come into play when considering these factors but the biggest reason for it is not because we’re trying to look like those Instagram models we see on our feed. I can honestly say I don’t see it as a competition to look like them, social media just allows us to compare ourselves and our lives to our peers; and that is who we are competing with. However, I think that being able to look at our phones to get a break from our stressful days and see what our friends are doing and see how other people are having a good day can make up for the competition we feel. Being on our cell phones is more of an escape than it is a burden.
Although many people think that phones and electronic devices aren’t necessarily beneficial, I believe that parents should not be worried about the amount of time we are on them. They help us communicate with friends easily, which can help socially and academically. Also, there is so much to learn on these devices. I don’t believe that being on an electronic device for a long period of time is something to worry about, due to the connections and friendships which can be made on them. There is more to being on a phone that many parents think. When I’m on my device, I’m not just staring at a screen wasting time; rather, I’m making personal connections and learning new things during my screen time. Being on my phone does make my life better because I can easily talk and connect with my friends whenever and wherever I want, which usually brightens my mood. Overall, parents should not be concerned with the amount of screen time their child has.
@Johnny
I agree that having a phone can help your connections with your friends, but it can also alienate you from them. It only helps if you only spend time on the phone when you’re not with your friends, and obviously, if your parents think you spend too much time on your phone, it’s because they think you don’t interact with them enough. Also, studies have shown that screen time can mess with your brain, like how it cuts into your sleep time or makes your brain slower. There’s nothing to say that the depression rates increasing aren’t due to phones at all. It could be, at least a little, because staring at a screen is detrimental to their mental health, or that they need to interact with people in real life more.
Social media effects every person drastically whether they decide to admit it or not. Many students use their phone as a way to escape their problems but in reality they’re avoiding them. Students should be out in the real world creating a future for themselves and striving to achieve their dreams. Yes, phones are helpful to communicate with the world but it gets to a point where kids nowadays are living more in their phones than in the real world. Parents should teach there kids that there is more in the world than a streak or a new high score on their favorite game. They should be teaching them how to act, how to gain a career, and how to be an overall good person. My parents were always strict on the phone policy, but, that has helped me to live in the real world and recognize the appropriate times a phone should and shouldn’t be used. Our parents help to shape our lives and all of them need to do an amazing job and teacher their children how to use their phones.
I won’t lie, I do spend a while on my phone every day. But it is for good reason. I normally use my phone to read, text friends and family, listen to music and every once in a while, I use it to look at social media or watch videos. I would say that my phone has a positive impact on my well-being. I stay connected with friends and family and also get to have leisure time to myself when I feel like I need it. It is also a stress reliever for me because I have books and other things on my phone that I use when I feel like I need a break from my life and school.
Despite this, there have been times when I’ve felt that my phone has negative effects on me. I have used it to stay up past my bedtime, which then effects how much I sleep and the rest of my week. Adding onto that, it has caused me stress issues when I started looking up things that I didn’t need to focus on, but that’s also a fault on my part as well.
My phone has definitely gotten in the way of my studying and sleeping times before. But recently, I’ve realized a lot of my bad habits and have begun to break away from them, including using my phone only when I absolutely need to or have free time that won’t take away from time to do more important things.
I would say that it’s more like a mirror. Most of the times we reflect our emotions into what we do on our phones and that could have both a negative and positive impact. I feel that the other argument also bleeds into this argument because it’s a reflection.
Lately, I’ve been using my phone too much. I’ve noticed how whenever I’m on social media or the internet, my anxiety goes up and I feel less happy. Parents should be very worried about teenagers using their phones because it noticeably has been causing more anxiety and depression. Why is it that before the 21st century there were not nearly as many cases of depression or anxiety in teens? It’s because of smartphones. The tendency to go on our phones is so strong because of social media. Social media has a negative effect on society because it creates a comparison between peoples lives. It also tries to represent real life, but it’s truly just a fake world where people hide behind a phone.
The amount of hours teenagers spend on their devices should be an avid concern. Studies only articulate that increased screen time can oftentimes cause attention-deficit disorders, anxiety, depression, etc. Through my experience, I have experienced all three of these symptoms when it comes to constantly checking things like Instagram and Snapchat for useless things like, “How many followers do I have?” or, “How many people viewed my Snapchat story?”. Things like this should be a widespread concern amongst parents as the statistic of developing disorders is on a high rise and should be dealt with in a more serious manner.
I personally do use my phone quite a bit during the day, but most of my time spent on my phone is when I am at home. I tr to keep my phone out of my mind when I am at school, as it is a large distraction from the other much much more important things that I need to focus on at school. The technology access we have can be very draining to your young minds, especially as our adolescent minds are still developing.
Although technology can be very draining, it also has many many positives and advantages to it. The access that students now have to technology is life changing. We are able to do and learn many things that we weren't able to in the past.
In conclusion, I think that phone usage is not bad, but we just need to be mindful about when and why we are using our time on our phones and the impact technology can have on adolescents.
I use my phone for at least a few hours a day, going on social media or just playing games. But I don’t think my phone use effects me negatively, I use it to escape from worrying about school and other things, or when I’m lonely and want to escape my own brain. However, I’d rather see my friends in person than call or text them, and sometimes when I do see them I forget I even have a phone. My parents use their phones much more than I do, so I don’t think it’s a generational problem, some adults just like to find excuses to criticize young people.
My parents never restrict me from my phone, but sometimes I wish they would have. I ha evnow gotten to the point where I feel almost addicted at times. I’ll spend hours late at night just scrolling through pointless things I won’t remember. I also feel like using your phone when you are with others is one of the most rude things someone can do. If you are with someone you should enjoy the moment and not be looking through something else that is pointless.
My parents personally are always telling just how much time I spend on my phone is very disturbing to them and that it's detrimental to my life. I never really believed them in the past. I mean obviously I knew it couldn't possibly be good for me and there were better things I could be doing with my life but I didn't think my mental health was declining because of it. This article mentions a study they did that proves phone time does not link to a decline in mental health. I have to say the time I spend on my phone is usually texting or on social media platforms. For this reason you can see the time I send on my phone is used to communicate with my friends. So if anything I would say my phone time is beneficial to me. It allows me to talk about my life situations with people who care and will listen to me.
I believe that adults shouldn’t be worried about how much we use our phone but instead they should be worried about how we use it. For example, kids who use there phones for educational reasons or to talk with peers should be allowed. Social media uses such as Snapchat or Instagram should be limited to about 3 hours a day. Scrolling through social media for hours at a time isn’t always good for you and may lead to depression.
Whether or not parents should be concerned about their child’s cell phone usage does not necessarily have a black and white answer. If I child is happy, social, and healthy, parents don’t have a solid reason to be concerned. On the other hand, if their child is clearly lacking in one of those three fields, it would be appropriate for parents to look into what role their cell phone usage plays in that. With that being said, an underwhelming sense of happiness or diminishing health can be very hard for parents to notice in their child. Multiple studies have resulted in statistics supporting the idea that social media takes a large toll on adolescents mental health. Despite this, social media has also proven to be an effective mode of communication and can actually help people maintain relationships with distant friends, and enforce socialization. With this in mind, I believe that parents should pay more attention to what their children are doing on their phones, rather than the amount of time they spend looking at a screen.
Since the rise of advanced technology after the birth of the internet, it has engulfed younger generations quite a bit. Though there are many positive effects of social media, what is seen on the news and in school conversation is more negative. What we hear about is how daily hours on our cell phones has a higher average than ever before, there are increased suicides due to technology, and mental health is declining from increased social standards due to technology. I do agree that without our cell phones we as a society would still face these problems, yet technology has only elevated these issues and caused a national concern. I believe there are many benefits from technology, but it’s hard to see through to that when media coverage slanders its purpose to be a more effective resource.
I personally don’t spend that much time on my phone, but when I do it’s usually during the night. This makes me sleep deprived and I wake up miserable the next morning because of the amount of sleep I got. Although I don’t use my phone that mush I make it up with playing a lot of video games. I spend a good portion of my week just sitting around and playing games. I would say that I’m not wasting my time by doing this but I have to say the truth and that is that it is a waste of time. I could be doing so many other things like playing guitar or drums but I do nothing and just sit around.
In my opinion, adults in our life should be worried by how much we use our phone. Based on my phone’s screen use report, the average time I spend on my phone is about six and a half hours per day. When I first saw that data, I was shocked. I digged on more details in the screen use report, but this time, not surprisingly, I spent most of my time on my phone on social medias. I also love to watch Chinese TV shows and TikTok videos on my phone. I did play games sometimes. There was a period of time when I was really into the game, “Homescapes”, I would spend my time to build the perfect house in the game. To be honest, I seldomly spend time on educational apps.
Looking my screen report data, I am even worried that I spend too much time on my phone. So, why would my parents not worry about that? As teenagers now, we are still learning how to better fit into the real world. We also got depression and mental illness just based on some strangers' offensive comments. One time, I made a comment on someone’s TikTok which wasn’t aggressive at all. But 5 people had negative comments against me. At first, I was sad. I thought I didn’t do anything wrong, so I talked to my mom. She consoled me that people online don’t matter in my real life, just ignore them. See, parents have a lot of better advice.
The adults in our lives should not yell at us when we spend too much time on our phones, but instead, they can help us make the good decision and console us when we have bad experiences.
@Tiffany Rong I love how you included your personal experience of your technology experiences regarding your parents help and support! I do agree with you that parents should have some control over our technology, as long as it is reasonable and understanding.
I use my phone a lot of the time. It’s a way to talk to my friends and still maintain relationships even though I am extremely busy. After moving to a different state, my phone has helped me keep in contact with friends that I probably wouldn’t have been able to if I did not have the technology to keep in touch. It makes me happier because I am talking to the people I care about and those that care about me. I don’t think of my phone as a waste of time because on the days when I have so much going on I can talk to my friends instead of never talking to them because of how busy I am. More positives to phones include safety— I can always call someone or text someone if I do not feel safe— connection—there are so many platforms for people to meet and talk about the things they have in common— and entertainment— it provides something that I can do if I am truly really bored.
I personally never touch my phone but I make up for it by still spending eight hours a day on the internet. It's not only out of my own desire to use the internet but also how society has become so dependent on it. I find it extremely counter intuitive that schools and the education system seem to have a phobia of using the internet when everything to do with school is carried out through it. For instance If you need to contact your teacher, sign up for AP exams, Sign up for the SAT or find resources to help you study for upcoming test.
A lot of parents are way too strict on internet usage when it can end up harming their child. For instance I have a friend who is only allowed to use his computer until 9 every night. The problem here being that because he is the type to procrastinate, if he wants to relax or take a nap right after getting home from school a lot of times he can't even get his work done because of time restraints. The person who controls this doesn't even live in the same household as him and if that person is busy or can't return a call then my friend is incapable of completing all of his online assignments. You can make the argument that it's his fault for not grinding homework right after he gets home, but giving him the opportunity to do the work is better than trying to force him to do it earlier or just take the zero on the assignment.
As a teenager in 2020 I naturally spend over 7 hours a day on average on my phone. While this may seem like a lot once I get scrolling through Tik Tok or watching netflix 15 minutes turns into 4 hours. This is the way it is for most in this generation. This doesn't mean I am unable to go a week without my phone, sure I cant keep up with the Tik Tok trends or snapchat my friends, but we still enjoy talking to each other and enjoying our time together.
When teachers, parents, or other adults say that social media is a main cause of anxiety and depression I want them to step into our shoes for a day. The article mentions how it is shown to not be related. In fact getting the time to myself to check my phone and play games is what relieves my stress. Sitting through classes where everyone is competing against everyone to get the highest grade or having 4 hours of homework a night is what is stressful. The last month has been one of the most stressful for me. Not because I don't look like the instagram models or I can't dance like Charli Demelio, but because of finals, midterms, and school as a whole. The slight relation between the two that they apparently found could definitely be because teenagers go on their phones when they are stressed out or sad. Just like the article said. They use their phones as an escape from the bad happening in the real world.
Honestly i could cut back on the phone usage a bit more. But most of it is going towards communicating with my Friends, teachers, and my parents as they like to know where i'm going or what i'm doing. The time i'm not doing that, im looking at memes and watching youtube, and both of them bring me joy. This is also a death trap as It is very easy to be sucked into my device and let the hours slip away without me batting an eye. This can be very problematic as i will have a little bit of homework to do, but knowing that it is easy to do makes me feel comfortable and i hop on my phone, suddenly it's past bedtime and i don't get enough sleep because im trying to grind through my homework really quick.
These are the facts, but none of them have to do with the cellphone but rather my inability to put my phone down and concentrate. For parents that are worried about their kids and how much time they spend on it, then set a time limit for how long they can use it for each day. But know that there aren't just a bunch of “brain rotting” things on the phone, what about puzzle games that can actually help your child's learning. There really isn't anything wrong with cell phones, but rather people that use them. Using them as a to look at things that interest them, and captivate their attention which gives cell phones a bad rap as being distracting and making people more violent.
Upon checking my phone, I realized that I average five hours and thirty minutes on my phone everyday. I knew my screen time in the summer was higher than I would have liked because I spent most of the days using it while recovering from four hours of soccer practice everyday, but during the school year? I expected it to be a lot lower. Of this five and a half hours, the most of it is spent using networking apps like iMessage, Instagram, and Snapchat. Although five and a half hours is still too much, I find comfort in the fact that I"m using the time on my phone to interact with my friends. My friends are some of the most important people in this world to my well-being so if I'm spending five and a half hours on my phone a day, at least I know most of it is going to them.
Although using my phone does have benefits, there are also drawbacks, and one large one in particular: a lack of productivity. This one stands out the most because it hits me every single day of the week, and frequently on the weekends too. I'm sitting and at my desk, working and sending texts at the same time, and before I realize it it is ten o'clock at night and I'm still not done with the little amount of homework I had. All of the other drawbacks about using a phone I can stand, but this one is frustration. There are so many things I could do with just an hour of time but I don't have the self-restraint to put my phone down to get that hour. But who knows, perhaps my problem is with myself, not my cell.
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@Sam McNamara There is something about being able to talk to your friends at any time which is the main distraction I find when using my cellphone. I don't use my phone that often but when I do, it is probably me talking to one of my friends. However, social media is giant rabbit hole that sometimes really hard to get way from. I will be doing my homework and like you, I will suddenly get on my phone to text one of my friends back. It's a sort of reflex at this point. I have self restraint when using my phone but that all goes away when I really don't want to do an assignment. I agree with the notion that is our fault when we use our cellphones a lot. However, it is the cellphone companies job to keep us using the device which just manipulates us into using it more.
Before reading the article, I wanted to argue that the increase of phone use has led to mental instability within the U.S. I can’t help but notice that it is becoming more difficult for my generation to maintain conversations, as well as the increase in suicide rates and Mental Illnesses.
I was surprised to see that although suicide rates have gone up In the U.S. since the increase in phone usage, the rates in Europe haven’t changed since the increase in phone usage. Hinting that the problem isn’t phone usage, but other political issues in the U.S. is extremely interesting, yet concerning. It causes me to be concerned about the fact that we are worrying over how much time kids spend on their phones instead of more pressing matters such as income inequality or student debt.
@Sofia Noonan Yeah I would like to take a deeper look into that because that is very interesting. But using a phone extensively is probably not the best but the effects it has i’d say are still vastly unknown. So I do agree with your comment.
Does using your phone have a positive effect on your overall well-being? Does it help you build relationships, connect with resources and make you feel less isolated? What are the other positive benefits?
Using my phone has mostly had positive effects on my overall well being because it has improved my attitude towards and has taught me to open up more to my friends. Talking with friends online opens up a new type on conversation and I, like many others tend to be more open minded. Even though you are not aware of how they would act in person, you get to know another aspect of them. There are many other benefits too. Being open to so many oppurtunities to improve my education helps me perform better in school.
In my opinion, adults should be worried about their little children who is spending too much time on their phone. What about teenagers, i think they should let them managing their time by themselves. Yes, sometimes they could spent too much time being out of the real life and then you can talk to them. And when i say “talk” i mean real talking and not just start yell at them because of that. Most of the teenagers could have a hard time because of all the stress and anxiety they are going through, no wonder why they are trying to hide themselves in the phone. In this case parents should definitely talk with them about their problems and of course giving them a support.
Do I think I spend too much time on my phone?... Yes most definitely. I’m constantly distracted by phone while trying to do my homework, study, or even hangout with my friends and family. In fact right now, as I write this, I’ve already glanced at my phones like 4 times.
The thing is, I know it’s a problem, how much I’m on my phone, but yet I don’t really do anything to reduce the amount of time I spend on it. My phone allows me to do many things that make me happy, such as texting or face-timing my friends, watching Netflix, or scrolling though pinterest. But also, the amount of time many teenagers and myself spend on my phone, is unhealthy. For some people, they become severely anxious when they’re away from their phone. Others often compare themselves to people on instagram, causing a lack of self confidence in many young people. Studies have even shown that young people can’t socially interact in the ways that people have been able to in the past.
Overall, I think people are spending too much time on their phones, and creating a negative affect on the young population.
@Ellie Short
Although I agree being on your phone too much can affect you in a negative way the things you are mentioning are the extremes. In my opinion yes, girls can get self conscious because of Instagram models but that same lack of confidence is also seen outside of just what people see on their phones. Especially in the last few years being on social media and seeing these Instagram famous girls with the not so called "perfect" bodies can help many young girls love themselves. I also believe that people getting anxiety from being away from their phones is an extreme. There are so many other way more prevalent causes of anxiety that phone use can help with. Getting to take a break from life. As far as social interaction abilities studies may have shown they are lacking but with social media we are also becoming a lot more informed. For example, 30 years ago you couldn't carry on a conversation about politics with a 15 year old. In todays society a lot of kids this age can have this conversation because of how informed they've become through social media.
@Ellie Short
Although I agree being on your phone too much can affect you in a negative way the things you are mentioning are the extremes. In my opinion yes, girls can get self conscious because of Instagram models but that same lack of confidence is also seen outside of just what people see on their phones. Especially in the last few years being on social media and seeing these Instagram famous girls with the not so called "perfect" bodies can help many young girls love themselves. I also believe that people getting anxiety from being away from their phones is an extreme. There are so many other way more prevalent causes of anxiety that phone use can help with. Getting to take a break from life. As far as social interaction abilities studies may have shown they are lacking but with social media we are also becoming a lot more informed. For example, 30 years ago you couldn't carry on a conversation about politics with a 15 year old. In todays society a lot of kids this age can have this conversation because of how informed they've become through social media.
@Ellie Short
I would politely have to disagree with you. Although I would like to stop spending as much on my phone as I do, just to be present in my surroundings, I don’t believe the amount of time spent on your phone is what causes teens to have a higher rate of mental issues, such as anxiety, depression, or sleep deprivation. I think what the article was getting at, is that the belief that the excess use of phones among youth is what is causing teens to develop mental issues ,were centering their research among correlation rather than causation. Many teens nowadays are extremely stressed and tired because of the excessive expectations and competition in school nowadays, resulting in more stress and anxiety. We are also the generation who uses our phones the most because they’ve been around for most of our lives. This does not mean that phones cause teens to be stressed, and in looking for other reasons (such as school) which may be why we are all so stressed instead of automatically resorting to phones as the blames, we could possibly move towards a solution.
In my opinion, adults should be worried about their little children who are spending too much time on their phone. What about teenagers? I think they should let them manage their time by themselves. Yes, sometimes they could spend too much time being out of real life and then you can talk to them. And when i say “talk” i mean real talking and not just start yell at them because of that. Most of the teenagers could have a hard time because of all the stress and anxiety they are going through, no wonder why they are trying to hide themselves in the phone. In this case parents should definitely talk with them about their problems and of course giving them support.
@Ryan Boaz I absolutely agree with your observations and comments concerning the way children use phones and social media. My mother’s friend’s has a daughter whom I spend a lot of time with, mostly one on one. I’ve become increasingly worried about her as she approaches middle school and already spends more time on her phone than my 18 year old brother and I combined. Her conversational skills are lacking and she struggles to talk to me the way we used to because she’s constantly reaching for her phone or tablet. Spending time with her makes me terrified for the future of our world. What’s going to happen to humanity with this technology brain-washed generation growing up with virtually unprohibited access to social media and smart phones? I don’t even want to know.
I am eternally grateful to have just missed being a part of this wave of children addicted to their screens.
So there’s no causation between cell phone usage and mental illness. Using my phone for a few hours a day isn’t inherently bad for me. Turning to instagram or youtube a few times a day when I’m bored isn’t going to make me depressed or anything. I can confidently say that my phone is not the primary cause any anxiety I have.
But I mean… So what?
Okay, okay, hear me out. I spend a large amount of time on my phone. I can’t really put a screen shot here, but I spend a solid 40% of my waking hours on my phone on days when I have school, and that number skyrockets over breaks.
No, my parents don’t really NEED to be concerned about the time I spend on my phone. I’m not gonna go crazy or curse the world or join a cult just because I spend time staring at a screen, but there are far simpler side-effects of my lil addiction than science can attest to.
If I didn’t have a phone my day-to-day life would be so very different. I might get all my homework done before 10 PM. I might be able to make time for piano practice every day. I would have more time to spend with my family, more time to do dishes, play with my dog, beat that video game I never finished, finish that show I started.
While I don’t want my parents to start limiting my phone usage, there’s merit to their concern. I might just be playing devil’s advocate, but concern over your children’s focus, priorities, and time management is fairly valid considering the role of a parent is to create functioning members of society.
@Jacob Jarrett You mentioning having more time to do things such as socially interact with your family, and work on your talents (piano) has really got me thinking about what I could do if I put down the phone. I do not really have any talents or special qualities about myself, but at the same time, I feel like I could find these things if I stopped staring at a screen all the time. I know for a fact I would become more included in my family, and they spite the fact that I do not spend enough time with that. That could be largely due to the fact that I have lots of homework as well as lacrosse regularly on school nights, but it also could be because of phone usage. I'm not depressed, nor if I was depressed would I connect that to my phone. What I'm trying to say is that maybe my phone usage has prevented me from discovering more about myself, or from spending more time enjoying my hobbies, such as fishing and shooting skeet. If I put my phone down, I would get more out of life, and more out of myself.
I believe that technology is only going to grow in the years to come, so I think the only thing we can do, is learn how to make good, effective, and safe use of it. One huge thing that I think our parents and adults are having a hard time dealing with is our use of social media. With all of these great uses of technology, comes with a lot of people taking advantage of it for the wrong reasons. I personally should stop using my phone, and being on social media as much because as times we find ourselves comparing our lives to those we see on Instagram and Twitter. This can have a negative effect on many teenagers’ minds, and has caused rising mental health issues including depression and anxiety. Cyberbullying has also been an issue in the past because anyone can say anything anonymously, behind a screen. While our phones do cause fear in our parents of what is being done on it, this is our world now, and the innovations of technology will keep on producing, so in my opinion I believe our only option is to learn how to use it correctly, and in a safe manner.
Does the way you use your phone have any negative effects? For example, does using it ever make you feel anxious, lonely, depressed or just sleep-deprived?
Just as everything else in this world, Technology has both its positive and negative effects on how it affects one’s well-being. Personally, I feel as the way I use my phone does indeed at times have negative effects on myself. Being on my phone has become as some sort of addiction, as I am constantly checking my messages and/or applications. It has been one of the main reasons for distraction for not finishing my homework in the afternoon and leaving it til midnight to work on it, which causes me at times to be sleep-deprived. Although, I am aware that it is not my phone’s fault for this as I should learn how to manage my time, and limit myself to my use of technology. Not to mention, despite basically having the whole world at your fingertips, it also at times makes you feel isolated, as if you are trapped in this one device. I’ve noticed this affecting my interactions with others, as well as my family, as I always tend to be on my phone whenever I have any free time instead of interacting and spending time with the people around me.
I think the way I use my phone does have negative effects. For example, when people do not answer for a long time it does not make me feel good. Also, I think after saying something a feeling of stress can overcome someone because of anxiety or a similar feeling. I also think it can be sleep deprivation for a negative because we not only typically use our phones right before bed, but they keep us entertained for hours where we lose track of time. It also can cause a strain on our eyes which is bad because of the screens. These are all negative effects that can be caused by using the phones.
I do not think that the way I use my phone has a negative affect on me. I never feel anxious or deprived of another activity will using my phone. For me, my phone is like a reward. After a long day at school or activities I go on my phone to decompress and see how everyones day was. In regards to social media and parental concern, I think that social media has a positive impact on my life because I get to share my accomplishments with friends and family as well as see others accomplishments.
Does the way you use your phone have any negative effects? For example, does using it ever make you feel anxious, lonely, depressed or just sleep-deprived?
I do not think that using my phone has any negative effects. I have never experienced any anxiety while using my phone. I also have never felt being lonely or depressed from using my phone, but I can see how other people may feel that way. Everyone is always posting what they are doing so when people see that they might get upset that they were not invited.
Does using your phone have a positive effect on your overall well-being? Does it help you build relationships, connect with resources and make you feel less isolated? What are the other positive benefits?
Nothing in this world is completely good while nothing in this world is completely bad. Technology has its pros and cons, and in my opinion, the good outweighs the bad. Technology is the future, so we need to embrace it and find ways to make it better. Personally, I think that using my phone has both negative and positive effects on my well-being. On one hand, it helps me connect with people when I can't physically hang out with them for whatever reason. On the other hand, it can make me feel isolated and it can give me anxiety. Having a phone makes me feel like I have the world at my fingertips. When you're having a bad day, you can open Instagram or TikToK and forget about your problems. However, it can also make you feel lonely when you see all of the things that you don't have.
Teenagers all around the world typically are consumed by their cell phones and what their peers are doing on social media. They often feel disconnected from the world when they don't have their phones and simply scrolling through things like Instagram and Snapchat during their free time becomes second nature for many high school students. Personally, I spend way too much time on my phone without even knowing it. I think that phones have both positive and negative effects on the users. Cell phones are very useful and necessary in terms of communication. For example, your parents can't get in contact with you if you're at school if you don't have your phone. However, I do think that cell phones can have a negative effect on mental health. Comparing yourself to unrealistic pictures of models and famous people on social media can really start to take a toll on people and make them self-conscious. In addition, social media brings about things like cyber bullying. All in all, phones are needed but we should probably take measures to use them a little less in order to improve our mental health and grow relationships with people in real life rather than behind a screen.
@Kamryn Rogers I too fall victim upon the fact that I am probably on my phone too much, and scroll through Instagram or go onto snapchat when I am not doing anything. I have met people throughout this past year who have helped me realized that I don't need these things to feel connected to people which you said in your last sentence.
I wish I could say that I constantly worry about the time spent on my phone but in reality I don't. I only realize the amount of harm my phone has whenever it affects me negatively. As I take time to comprehend how my phone leads to bad things happening to me, I realize that it gets in the way of everything I do. I would much rather spend an hour on my phone than an extra hour of studying. Consequently, the time spent on my phone can cause my grades to drop which is quite worrisome. In regards to lack of sleep, I believe that my phone is the biggest culprit. Recently, I have been trying to spend less time on my phone to focus on the things that matter the most.
My parents do not worry about how much time I spend on my phone. I try to only use my phone for music and communication. It has never been a huge distraction for me and I have never felt addicted to my phone. If anything it has felt more bothersome to me, because with the phone comes annoying notifications and calls from telemarketers. I try to limit my screen time to below an hour and a half per day. Its not really a struggle with me to be without my phone or not on it, I just fill my day with more important stuff.
Phone use has definitely increased over the years, myself falling into the category as well. I would definitely say I have an attachment to my phone, spending many hours of my day on it. Those hours seem to be wasted, scrolling through instagram, liking tweets, etc. Instead, there are many more productive things I could be doing. On average, I probably spend around 3 or 4 hours on my phone. However, not all of that screen time is useless. A portion of those hours are due to homework, a very positive use of technology. While my hours may go past what I wish, a section of them may go to a beneficial cause.
According to me, I think cell phones have a positive effect because they can help you learn somethings and you can text your family and friends if i can't see them. I also think cell phones have a positive effect because you can read news or learn what's going on in the world.
According to my phone, I spend 6 hours and 35 minutes on my phone on an average day. I mostly spend my time on games and other entertainment apps. I really want to utilize my phone less, because nowadays I really can understand how it's affecting my daily life. My grades are falling, I assume. I also don't have time to relax.
I do think that it is important to be aware of the time you spend on your phone or other devices. If they start interfering with daily life then you know it has become a problem. For example, my brother will spend hours on the PS4 and forget to eat, or forget that he has baseball practice. And yes, he is 13, so he should be fine at remembering these things and getting ready himself.
While I stand by this statement, I would also like to point out that our parents didn’t grow up with this stuff, and they may not know how to handle our usage in the best way. Often times I find my parents using the phone - that they bought for us - as punishment. They threaten to take it away or to throw it out, this only makes out subconscious want it more. Moreover, they make us feel guilty for being born in a world where we do have access to these devices - as if we could help it. They say “when I was a kid we didn’t have to talk to our friends all the time, we would wait to see them the next day at school”. They try us guilt you into not using which once again, will only make us want it more to spite them.
All things considered, I think it is the child’s job to be aware of the time they are spending on their phone and how it is affecting their daily life. If they are old enough to have a thousand dollar phone then they are old enough to be self aware and limit usage.
The common fear that parents today have is the obsession that kids, specifically teenagers, have with their phones. In the past ten years, the smart phone has developed from being something that someone is lucky to have, to something that everybody feels like they MUST have. Although the amount of hours that teenagers spend on their phone may be worrisome, the new and evolving technology promotes the use of these items and creates better communication between people. Although I do not agree with parents that phones are taking over everyone’s lives, I do think the amount of screen time that teenagers use is worrisome for health affects, specifically the eyes. I know at least, when I’m on my phone for too long my eyes strain and sometimes it causes me major headaches. But these days in school, technology is used every day, so there is no way of escaping the constant need for phones and screen time.
I’m on my phone all the time, everywhere I go I bring it, and that’s probably the case for most teenagers. This differs greatly from our parents where most of them didn’t have a smartphone like us. I don’t feel as though they should be concerned about us because our world is changing, technology is now a much bigger part of our lives. It is true that social media can cause more depression and anxiety, but being able to connect with family and friends so fast and easy is amazing. I think at some point it is too much, and can get in the way of other things. It’s important to be able to manage your time, so you aren’t spending too much time on it. But overall our world keeps evolving and I think it’s unrealistic for a teenager not to be on their phone all the time.
As a teenager who is often on her phone, I don’t believe that parents need to be concerned about our phone usage. The benefits that phones provide are more influential and significant in my opinion than the possible consequences that may result.
In my own personal life, I will go to school and periodically use my phone to communicate with classmates and friends about the current events happening during the school day. It may have been questions about a homework check, or maybe a request for a photo of notes. I am not sacrificing the attention span that is dedicated to my school work and classroom presence but rather providing myself an extra resource to maximize my productivity during the day.
After the school day ends, my phone use extends from communication to entertainment but in a way that still allows me to be productive. I may use my phone to watch YouTube videos about a topic I am struggling with, or maybe just to play music. These are all things that allow me as a student to focus on my school work and allowing me to be fully productive.
Of course, there are variations in every student. Some may find YouTube to be too much of a distraction for studying. But students know their limits and will personalize their phone use to their own needs, therefore minimizing negative effects. Parents should be confident in knowing that their children are aware and responsible.
@Ashley I agree with what you said about students personalizing their usage in order to get the most done but I do think phone usage could be something a parent should be concerned about. I think a huge part of it is how parents established things when kids were younger, for example I never was allowed to use my phone at the dinner table and I still to this day, don’t take it out because it seems rude and unnatural. However, this varies from every family and I think to some extent parents should be concerned on how much a student is using their phone, especially when in a social setting. I do agree though, a student knows their limits and technology is a huge part of our life with school and homework and communication. Great comment! :)
I use my phone/computer for about 8-9 hours on a weekday and 12-14 hours on a weekend. Quite a bit, but not as much as other people I know. I use my phone for social media. It is useful on my way to and fro school, as I don’t normally have anything to do for it. I also use it to talk to friends and tell them if I would be absent for the day or late. It’s also useful for asking for homework if you just need to check quickly. When I get home, I use my computer for homework and games. There is one game that I like to play by myself, but I do enjoy playing games with friends. It’s a good way to pass the time after I finish my homework and have nothing to do. I like to use technology to connect with friends and pass the time.
I usually spend about three hours of free time on a computer or phone, plus time at home for homework. This makes me feel less lonely since I don’t have other ways to communicate with friends at home, but if I have access to screens after 9 pm it leads to sleep deprivation since I stay up late either texting or using my phone light as a flashlight to read by. My parents have expressed concern about my screen use, and have set a limit on my phone (It can’t text or call past 8:30), but I still use screens excessively. I think that even if I didn’t have any screens I would still have sleep deprivation, however, since I would read instead of text.
My parents do worry about me spending too much time on my phone, so every day my phone can only be used for one hour. So I instead use my laptop mostly for schoolwork. I do worry about the amount of time I spend on my devices because, at times, I have ended up getting carried away. This results in me ending up needing to rush on some of my homework and being tired for school the next day. Therefore, I think it would be good for my parents to limit my “free time” as they feel appropriate. But, I don’t think this should apply to all young family members and also should depend on how responsible a user is with their device. I usually just spend time on a device to distract myself from schoolwork, which I find is a bad habit that can be solved by a time-limit to help me stay focused.
I spend an average of 8-9 hours a day on my phone. On the weekdays, I use my phone a lot. Mostly because the ride to and from school is almost 2 hours and I need something to keep me entertained. Whether it’s music or a video or webcomics. And when I get home, I listen to music when I do homework. But if I was looking at my total “screen time” as in any time I look at a screen it would exceed 10 hours. Now that we are at a time in history where everything is becoming technologized, we spend a lot of time looking at screens. Schools and teachers have made homework online, it’s harder to avoid screen time.
When I’m on my phone, I usually scroll through youtube and see if there’s anything interesting to watch, there’s usually something to watch. Then if there’s nothing to watch, I go on to checking if any of the webcomics I read have been updated. After I finish reading that, then I listen to music. And in the middle of all that, if I have a question or just want to talk to my friends, I will text them. I don’t have any social media like Instagram or Tik Tok so I don’t have that to keep me entertained. But there are many things I do on my phone. The things I mentioned above are not the only things I do on my phone. But because I have this technology right at my fingertips, it makes me just want to go on your phone. As hard as you try, it’s really hard to not gon on your phone.
I’m willing to admit it, I probably spend too much time on my phone. On average, I spend about 4-6 hours on a school day and I consistently use more than 1 device. However, I also use it while doing other things (listening to music while doing homework, etc) I play games, watch youtube, scroll through social media, read, and do homework all on technology. It’s kind of hard for me to limit my usage since much of my homework nowadays is digitalized. After I’m done with homework I might take a break and play games or watch youtube. On my daily commutes, I might take out my phone and scroll through social media. Since technology is so readily available, it is hard for someone like me to control how many hows I spend on my phone.
Personally, I don’t see how technology has a negative effect on people. I understand that some people may feel lonely or isolated looking at social media, but I use it less as a way to interact with people, but as a way to cure my boredom. When I have nothing else to do, I can always go on my phone. Sometimes I feel as if I should do something more productive, but I don’t have much else to do.
I think there are both pros and cons to all of the technology, specifically phones, that teenagers use today. I think that adults are concerned because they did not grow up with a similar experience. However, I don’t think that the adults in my life should be worried about how much I use my phone.
I admit that I do spend a lot of time on my phone, but it is for multiple reasons. I do use social media, but I also read, write and play games on my phone. I think that my parents constantly feel like what I am doing when I am on my phone, is not productive. My generation has grown up with technology. We have lots of different uses for phones. Lots of times I go on my phone to destress or for fun.
Lots of adults assume that social media causes mental health issues for teens. In the article above, Dr. Moreno provides us with a different outlook. She states that there are many kids that are positively influenced by social media when it comes to their mental health. There are so many resources at the tip of our fingers on our devices that many adults don’t even realize.
Although I spend time on my electronics, it isn’t always bad. If the adults in my life took the time to understand all the things my phone provides for me, outside of social media, they’d understand that they don’t need to worry about me wasting my time on my devices.
I spend most of my time on my phone on YouTube and Instagram, according to my screen time settings. I am usually watching videos or talking to my friends. I think that having a phone can build my relationships with others because I am able to talk to them over long distances. I am also able to do homework on my phone, making life a whole lot easier. It rids me of having to bring all my books up to my bedroom. I don’t get any negative effects from my phone. It is a great tool and I don’t think it is a main reason of depression and/or anxiety.
I feel like I’m extremely in touch with my personal media usage, but it isn't easy. Apps are designed to keep you on them as long as possible, and sometimes it's horribly hard to put down a phone after seeing a Snapchat from your friend pop up. After checking just now, I spent an average of 1 hour 58 minutes on my phone last month. Just shy of 2 hours, which is the recommendation maximum time adolescents should spend on non-education related screens. Many of my peers use them 6+ hours daily.
I notice a exact correlation between the amount of time I’m on my phone and how productive I am that given day. If I get out of bed and don’t immediately pick up my phone, I feel like I can get ready faster, and feel more energized and motivated. Sometimes, if I have a lot of homework one night, I plug my phone in in a separate room, so I won’t think about it. It's just so easy to forget about the essay you need to write if you unlock your phone and start messing around. They’re excellent distractions.
I couldn’t agree more with the statement that “phones increase anxiety, depression and sleep deprivation among teenagers”. I’ve seen it happen in myself and my peers. In the 3 years I’ve had a phone, there have been too many nights I regret sacrificing sleep for texting to a friend online or getting lost on YouTube. It’s becoming more important to be aware of how our phones effect our lives as they take over more and more aspects of our days.
@Mollie Brinker
I’m completely with you on all three of your arguments. While phones are an easy distraction from homework, that doesn’t mean it’s a good thing to be on there for 6 hours a day. In my last math class, we took turns tallying how long everyone was on their phone a day and 300 minutes kept popping up. I was confused on how someone has 5 hours of extra time laying around since my average was forty-eight minutes for that week.
Also, it’s understandable that productivity spikes when we haven’t been on our phones considering every minute we’re not using them, we’re doing homework or ECs. I also applaud you for not going on your phone first thing in the morning, and clearing all distractions when you’re doing schoolwork. Another thing you could try if you haven’t already is putting your phone on an entirely different floor if you need to study for a major test like finals, or play music directly from your phone. Playing music on your phone still allows you to have it in the vicinity and you’ll feel like you’re using it even though you’re not touching it.
I read that some researchers don’t agree that phones can create anxiety and depression, only that it brings out what was hidden. I’m with you in that there’s evidence around us that proves the opposite. We were happy as children before our phones, and now having our phones is creating a trap that sucks in our hours and spits us back out feeling different about ourselves and society—and not in a good way.
I don’t believe that the way I use my phone ever has made me feel anxious, lonely, or depressed, but often I do feel sleep-deprived. When I can not fall asleep, I tend to reach for my phone and scroll through social media or watch movies. Recently, I have found a way for me to fall asleep more easily. I do this by charging my phone further from my bed. This helps me stay in bed and have to move to turn my alarm off, so I go to sleep and wake up on time.
Whether it’s social media or Netflix, I spend a lot of time on my phone. Even with my heavy usage, I haven’t seen much, if any, damage to my mental health. I rarely feel depressed or anxious while being on my phone, and I have not experienced those emotions heightened with an increase of phone usage. As the article discussed, there is essentially no correlation between mental health and the child’s use of their phone, and I can agree on that. Something we should really examine is how phones have impacted the relationships that children make and their overall health.
It seems that the age when kids get a phone just keeps getting younger. The other day I saw a six-year old with the iPhone 11. At that age I was just learning to tie my shoes (yes, I was a late learner); now they’re getting thousand dollar devices. Kids are starting at very young ages to isolate themselves through tiny boxes, limiting interactions with other people. At younger ages, it is vital for children to begin communicating with other human beings and making relationships. When phones are introduced, this process is interrupted, and unfortunately children will grow up without the basic skills to interact with people.
Obviously this should be alarming to parents, but they are far from the victims. Parents are the inhibitors to all of this bad behavior, and they can’t act shocked when all these problems are happening in children. This lack of accountability in our society is disturbing, to say the least.
@Ryan Boaz I absolutely agree with your observations and comments concerning the way children use phones and social media. My mother’s friend’s has a daughter whom I spend a lot of time with, mostly one on one. I’ve become increasingly worried about her as she approaches middle school and already spends more time on her phone than my 18 year old brother and I combined. Her conversational skills are lacking and she struggles to talk to me the way we used to because she’s constantly reaching for her phone or tablet. Spending time with her makes me terrified for the future of our world. What’s going to happen to humanity with this technology brain-washed generation growing up with virtually unprohibited access to social media and smart phones? I don’t even want to know.
I am eternally grateful to have just missed being a part of this wave of children addicted to their screens.
On average I do not spend that much time on my phone, maybe 1-2 hours max. I only really use it to watch You-tube, communicate with homies, or the occasional picture taking. Other than that I just only use it when I don’t have a computer in front of me. For my limited usage I would say that my phone has positively benefited me. Made me closer with my pals and I’ve gotten to know more about them, along with teaching me to use it wisely because my battery drops faster than a cheetah that just took 3 5 hour energies. Woes of hand me downs I guess.
My parents are completely biased about phones because they weren't allowed to have them at my age. I have made a lot of internet friends while spending time on my phone. They have helped me get rid of my stress, anxiety, and have even given me great advice about handling heated situations. My mom is always telling me that she may take my phone away because I tend to get distracted easily. Yes, I do see why she is concerned, but I have still managed to finish my work. I have thought about trying to cut my time on my phone or electronics, but nowadays, almost everything is online and that means i’ll drift back deep into the internet.
"Those kids with their phones. They'll rot their brains out." Adults seem to get on the younger generations about phone usage and the content that we marinate in. Sure the time we spend on our devices, but teens and kids don't always use the media as an outlet for friends.
Scientists frame social media for causing sleep deprivation and anxiety, which in some cases, like overuse of the phone, but these issues have always existed. From schoolwork, sports, and life, there's bound to be conflict, and these adverse health effects are proof of humans shoving their schedules full.
Adults will sometimes miss the benefits of phones. My adopted nine-year brother has learned tons of English from TV shows and educational games. I learn about world events because of people's posts on Instagram. The phone isn't to cause harm, but to make our lives easier. When we take this good thing and overuse it, the danger will arise.
I often use my phone to facetime my friends about homework and just to talk to them. My phone has definitely impacted me positively because I have access to my homework resources and if I have free time, entertainment. I have definitely become closer friends with people through my phone and it is also nice to just talk to people. My phone also helps distract me from my problems. Watching Youtube or Disney Plus often relaxes me and helps me fall asleep. As long as you are getting enough sleep, I think phones are a very positive resource.
1. On average, I spend just about 5-7 hours a day on my cellphone. Typically, I use my phone for my social media apps. These include Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok which most kids my age are using nowadays. Other than my social media, I use it to text my parents/ friends as well as listen to music and occasionally watch Netflix if I'm bored and out with my family.
5. My parents have been very worried in the past about my phone usage; specifically, my dad. Although he cares about my grades, my emotional well being is more important to him and he thinks that a possible phone addiction can take a huge toll on it. He thinks that my social abilities will become limited in the future which worries him. My dad has limited my screen time in the past but never to a great extent. However, if he notices that I am on it all the time, he might take it for a specific period of time. When he does this, I subconsciously react in a negative way. I get upset or stay in my room for a long time to show that I am upset. I think that this definitely indicates my clear attachment to my cellphone which is not a great thing.
Personally I spend way too much time on my phone each day. I am so used to having my phone right there and being able to be on it. I definitely think that I use my phone more on the weekends rather than at school. Usually my battery lasts until about 50% after a regular school day but on the weekends I have to plug my phone in at least twice. Even when I am with my friends we are all on our phones. Sometimes it is annoying because we should be spending time with each other. Some people might ask, “why hang out if you're gonna be on your phones the whole time?” Truthfully I don't have an answer to that. Personally when i'm with my friends, we can be on our phones for hours, showing each other videos, funny posts and talking about any of the latest news or gossip and we will still have an awesome time. When I am on my phone, I am always on some type of social media talking to a friend. Whether it's Snapchat, Instagram, or just scrolling through my Twitter feed, I'm always finding something interesting to read about. I think everyone has a love hate relationship with their phone. I know that I do because it can make me stay up so late at night and lose sleep and other times I love it so much because it helps me stay connected. My parents get mad at me so much for the amount of time I spend on my phone. They take it away from me when I am punished for something. We live now where teenagers are glued to their phones and that is how we are disciplined now, by getting it taken away.
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@Isabella Fabiano I use my phone to communicate with my friends outside of school because I don't know what I would do without them. Texting them just makes me feel connected with them and know that I have a shoulder to rely on if anything goes wrong.
One of my New Year's Resolution was to be on my phone less. I don't use it as much in school anymore and at home. I have started to learn that there are a time and place for things. When I hang out with my friends, I've started to check my phone two or three times and that's only to make sure my parents called me or texted me.
Usually, the only part of the day where I genuinely sit and stare at my phone is at night. Like yourself, sometimes I don't get enough sleep because of this habit. So I am trying to change it. I also get my phone taken away if I have done something wrong and I feel so empty without it being in my hand. But it just shows me how attached to it, which isn't good.
On an average school day, I usually spend 4-5 hours on my phone. On a weekend where I am not doing anything, I typically spend anywhere up to 8 hours on my phone. This amount of hours is not harmful compared to others, but it is still a lot more than I would like. I spend most of my time on TikTok, mainly because I find it entertaining, and you can never get bored with the videos on there. I try to reduce my screen time by setting screen time limits on my phone for certain apps like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and Youtube. Still, sometimes I am so entertained by it that I will ignore the limit and continue using the apps.
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@Marisa Maisano I can relate to how you talk about ignoring the limit notifications. I do this all the time and when I go back and look at my screen time it just shows me how much I should have listened to the notification, it makes me feel really guilty. I hate that we are always so glued to our phones but sometimes we just cant help it. We always find something entertaining too keep us scrolling.
@Marisa Maisano I also relate to this. The app Tik Tok has been getting a lot of “hype” if you will. I tend to be sucked in and am always telling myself “ Just 10 more minutes. ” I also spend about 4-5 hours on my phone on a weekday and I feel like that does affect me and the effort I put in school/ schoolwork. As much as I try I am always ignoring the fact that this could harm my future and so that is when I realize that I should take some time off.
I usually spend 2-3 hours on my phone, but never all constantly. I usually just use my phone for homework, music, watching movies or videos, and communication. I know many people use their phone for a lot more things and way more time, but I usually don’t use my phone for much. Some days if I’m on a call I’ll stay longer but I like to go outside and enjoy time with family and friends.
In my opinion, I do see the amount allotted to phone use being a high factor among sleep deprivation among my generation. The attachment to a phone has become prevalent that we feel naked without it. This feeling intensifies as more and more time increases. My generation has found ways to connect online with social media, but it has also caused conflict in daily life. Social media can cause bullying, while others spend time on their phone instead of doing homework which hurts their grades. I have never felt too attached to my phone because I do not use it as often as the average teenager. When I use my phone, I use it for reading and watching videos mostly that correspond to my interests. My phone has never caused me to lose sight of my grades or life, but it has caused me to be sleep deprived as I spend time on my phone once my homework is completed. The idea of a cellphone has caused my generation to become attached to everything it has, rather than use it for when it is needed. Cell phones have benefits and negatives that cannot be ignored. By allotting time to homework, chores, or extracurriculars, this can give us separation from our phone that we need to live our daily lives and not live a life within the world of our phone. In the end, the effects caused by cellphones are problems for teenagers' health, but with limited time this can help everyone.
I spend a lot of time on my phone, and while I'm sure it's not great for me, I've never seen it as harmful to my mental health. I know that from adult's points of views, social media, which is a big part of phone use, creates a lot of pressures for my generation, but I've never really dealt with that. Most of the pressures in my life come from school, whether it's from an academic or social standpoint.
The article challenges this common belief that phone use has a direct correlation with depression and anxiety in teenagers. What I found most interesting, and what I think would make a lot of parents feel better about their child's phone use, is that as phones have become more common in Europe, their anxiety and suicide rates haven't risen with them. This goes to show that maybe parents and adults in teenagers lives need to focus less on how phones cause anxiety and depression and more on other aspects in their lives that increase stress.
Although I don't see my phone harming my mental health, it can definitely have a negative impact at times. For example, it's very easy for me to get distracted by my phone when I need to be studying or doing homework. I can tell myself that I'm only going to check one text, and then get back to my homework, but 30 minutes later I realize that I did a lot more than check that one text.
2. I believe that being on my phone has an overall positive effect on my well being and everyday life. By using my phone, I am able to interact with certain friends and family that I may not see daily or very often by sending them text messages, pictures, or videos. It provides me the chance to stay in contact with people I cannot see face to face. On top of that, I can strengthen bonds with friends who I do see more frequently. By using social media I am constantly able to talk to my friends. I ask them about random topics, making plans, and possibly homework if needed. My phone is a great source of communication in my life.
3. Sometimes the way I use my phone does have negative effects. For example, it poses as a distraction when I need to be focused on homework or some other type of assignment. I will feel the need to check it in short intervals that take me away from the work I need to finish. On the other hand, learning how to overcome and block out distractions will be able to help me in the future.
I don’t have a phone, but my parents worry about the amount of time I spend on my laptop. They have said multiple times that “maybe I should try to be on my computer less ‘ and nonsense. They have said that I should spend at most 45 minutes on it for non-educational purposes, but I usually end up on it for over an hour, not doing my homework.
@Brycinea Stratton, I also spend a lot of time on my computer. I personally spend way more than one hour on any given day, and you should be proud. On a day when I have nothing to do I typically spend upward of 2 hours on my computer. One hour sounds like a healthy amount of time that allows you to be entertained and yet still be productive with your time. Just wanted to congratulate you on good time management.
2. Personally I feel that as a teenager in my generation today that using my phone on a daily does effect my overall wellbeing in a positive way. I feel that I can communicate with my friends and peers in a very naturally, comfortable way. It allows me to have quick conversations with them and I can make plans easily. Using my phone allows me to stay close to people that I may not see as often at school, so then I can still continue to be friends with them without possibly fading away from each other. I also feel that it is a great way for me to be able to look up information online for school and explore my knowledge on different topics that I am learning about.
5. My parents do get concerned with the amount of time I spend looking at a screen. My parents feel that sometimes I get too caught up with whats on my phone, and worry that I am training my brain to remeber things that are on my phone better than what I am learning in school. They fear that sometimes I focus too much on what is on my screen and that I'm not spending as much time studying. My parents are scared that I am going to start falling behind in school because they think that I am getting too distracted by what I read on a screen. I personally feel that what I am reading on a screen is helping with school because if I am out and don't have access to my notes I can always look online and use online study tools or online notes/assignments.
As far as the effect cell phones have on people’s mental health, I do see a link. For me the biggest problem is the constant comparison of yourself to others on social media, it is very toxic to your mental health. I have done this and have seen all of my friends do it too; wish we looked, dressed, or traveled like someone random on Instagram. The photoshop and editing that is done to nearly every photo on Instagram results in a worsened self-image for boys and girls alike.
The extra time also affects my productivity a large amount. I find myself on my phone when I know I am running out of time to finish a homework assignment or go to the gym before dinner. Again, it never completely stops me from doing those things, just occasionally gets in the way.
I personally believe that seemingly excessive phone usage is completely normal in teenagers(and everyone). Parents should not necessarily be concerned. I do believe, though, that if your child seems to be excessively tired and if they initially had mental health problems before getting a phone you should be a little bit concerned. It is unreasonable to blame the entirety of your child’s problems on their phone usage because either taking their phone or limiting its usage will only sever their connections with friends, definitely not solving the problem. It is reasonable to pay attention to your child’s wellbeing and, if it begins to go downhill, to consider their cellphone as a factor.
@Catherine I completely agree with your belief on the effects of cell phones on teens' mental health. Our generation is constantly caught up in wanting to compare ourselves to the lives of others online, even if they're purposely choosing the best photos of themselves. I, too, believe that by being on my phone, I am wasting valuable time I could be using to finish my homework, go to the gym, or even have a great night with my family. Ultimately, I think the real concern should stem from the phone user, not the parent. Kids should be responsible for their own learning and growth, and with this, I believe they will know when their addiction to their phones has gotten too severe. I have gotten much better at knowing when to limit my phone usage for the day, and I think it has helped me to maximize my productivity and mental health. Great post!
I average around two hours on my phone per day and I believe the adults in my life should not be worried about my overall cell phone usage. There are many benefits to cell phones that I try to maximize. They allow me to stay up to date on what is going on around the world, the weather, my homework, and entertainment. I have the world and all of its information at my fingertips and it benefits so many people and grows my knowledge daily. Cell phones have allowed me to stay in contact with people all over the world and has connected me to many different cultures with the click of a button. They can also have negative impacts causing lack of sleep, health risks, and rising rates of anxiety. Kids spending more than five hours on their phones (with certain exceptions) should maybe catch the attention of lingering adults, but overall I believe that adults should not worry about cell phone usage among teenagers. Cell phones have been a great advancement in technology and an asset to people all over the world.
Adults should be worried about the amount of time that phones consume us on a daily basis. Research done by www.vox.com predicted that the average American spends three hours and fifteen minutes a day on their cell phone. This number is ridiculous. According to www.businessinsider.com, the average lifespan in the United States of America is a little more than 78 years. And, according to www.familyeducation.com, the average American gets a phone by the age of 13. Now, if we were to combine these three statistics over the course of a lifetime, the average American would have spent 8.8 years of their life looking at a screen. Startling. The popular term criticizing the teenage population using their phones has come to be known as screenagers, but, without action, this term will apply to all of us. If we don’t make efforts to be present in our own lives and interact with the people who are in front of us, then parents should not be worried about their kids, but a population living their lives online.
On a daily basis I would say I spend about 2 hours on my phone which I use for communication, homework, watching videos and movies, as well as using it for social media. I believe that using your phone a good amount of time is time well spent because you can talk to your friends and family, or use it for school. I believe parents should only control their time on their phones if they are in trouble or if they are using it for 5 or more hours a day. Even though there are a lot of advantages of having a phone, there are also a few disadvantages like health risks, less sleep, and rising rates of anxiety. By using your phone you can build friendships and relationships by talking to new people through text, phone calls, or social media. The only problem I have while using my phone is that I definitely get less sleep then I usually would without it. But overall I believe that phones have more positive effects than negative effects as long as you don't spend too much time on your phone.
@Cameron Fatula. Cameron Your statements on why and how we use our phones is true because I use my phone for more than just homework. I also think our parents are over reacting to the whole phone problems. I think this because my parents limit my screen time and it doesn't change anything in my life. I also think the world should calm down about the phone epidemic. Your statement makes much sense and thank you for sharing
@Cameron Fatula "I spend about 2 hours on my phone" I used to spend all day on my phone. Than my parents limited me to what i can do so now i spend alot more time doing other things like skating and hanging with my friends.
Phones have a big effect on our lives positively and negatively. Some of the the pros are we can easily stay up to date on whatever is going on and can call and text which is extremely useful during day to day use. But some negatives are spending to much time on them and not connecting face to face with people which in my opinion is more heathy. They have done study’s if spending to much time on your phone can lead to anxiety and depression and there wasn’t a noticeable difference between people who did and didn’t but I think that it may cause you to have anxiety and be more stressed than usual due to getting caught up on unimportant things.
1. I usually am on my phone for like 6-7 hours I'm usually on social media and watching old shows on Disney plus.
2. My mom usually worries how long me and my brother on our phones because we're on it most of the time. Which I try to not be on my phone but sometimes it doesn't work. I don't believe I'm addicted but it is kinda difficult especially since society is revolved around technology and its like an electronic device is needed now in time.
On average, I spend about 6 hours a day on my phone. It is spent with me going on social media, playing games, or watching Netflix. Every weekend, a notification pops up showing me how much time I have spent and each week it has gone up. I am starting to become a lot more cautious about how much time I spend on my phone because it is starting to worry me. My phone has become something that I always have to have and it never leaves my side. It has gotten in the way of me studying and spending time with my family which has started to worry me. I believe that parents should know how much time their kid is using their phone but I do nto think that they should act upon it.
@Mark Hey mark I'm a kid in middle school who is doing research on if technology is helpful or hurtful any tip on the helpful side?
1) On an average day, I typically spend 5-7 hours on my phone and around 7 hours on my laptop. I use my phone to check social media platform and contact other people. My laptop is mostly used for school work, however in my free time I use it to do other things.
3) The way I use my phone does have negative effects on me such as sleep deprivation and a short attention span. This occurs because my phone allows me to constantly check things such as messages or social media platforms without being bored which can make it difficult to fall asleep or focus on something for a long period of time without picking up my device.
A parent has the right, as a child's legal guardian, to always look out for the child and always be there with them through thick and thin. What is clearly seen in this article is parents, or adults, being their overprotective selves. I personally have had to talk to my parents about issues like these. Adults will read something, or see something, on the internet, spread the word around, and then parents may go to the extent of restricting their child. The article goes on to say, "The debate over the harm we — and especially our children — are doing to ourselves by staring into phones is generally predicated on the assumption that the machines we carry in our pockets pose a significant risk to our mental health." If anything this "machine" is a tool designed to help a person not hurt them. My parents, as another example, will limit my time that I can use on my phone. To be honest, I don't really mind, since it forces me to do something other than stare at a screen. But parents making decisions based off of fear should not be happening. If parents are going to make a decision that they know, will get a reaction out of the child, at the very least they should have good reasoning, and some evidence to back up their choice.
1) On average, I try to spend and limit myself to 5 hours a day on my phone. When I am on my phone, I am most likely either sending text messages to my friends, scrolling through Twitter, or responding to Snapchat. Sometimes I will also watch shows on Netflix or videos on Youtube. By using these aforementioned apps, I am able to entertain myself and remain occupied. Additionally, I also learn interesting facts and news sometimes when I am on apps like Twitter and the "News" app.
2)The way that I use my phone poses some mild, negative consequences to my health. I feel that once I start using my phone, I cannot get off it and stay on for at least another 15 minutes. Furthermore, when I am using my phone at night, I feel that I am "jittery", causing me to be sleep deprived. However, when I use my phone, I feel that my mental health remains unaffected as I do not feel depressed or lonely.
1. I think my phone does have a positive effect on me because it allows me to stay connected to my friends and family when I am not with them. I use is to text my family and friends through messages or social media apps like Snapchat. I will also use my phone to watch Netflix or Disney Plus, which is very fun and enjoyable for me to do. It does not make me feel isolated because rather than ignoring my family and friends, I am communicating with them when I am not with them. The only time I am isolating myself is when I am watching Netflix by myself, but I enjoy isolating myself so I have some alone time.
2. Using my phone does sometimes have negative impacts on me because sometimes I will be on my phone for a long time and then get mad at myself that I wasn't using that time to do something else. For example, I will get mad at myself if I am on my phone when I really should be doing homework or going to bed. I will also feel bad if I am on my phone a lot around my family because I feel like I should be spending time talking with my family rather than ignoring them.
How much time do you spend on your phone on an average day? And, what do you typically do? - Usually I spend a lot of time on my phone. My phone says I am on my phone for usually around 5 hours. But while on my phone Im talking to friends, watching snapchat stories, scrolling through instagram or doing some homework. I feel like I spend alot of time on my phone but its not affecting me in any negative way.
Does the way you use your phone have any negative effects? For example, does using it ever make you feel anxious, lonely, depressed or just sleep-deprived? - I have neve felt anything negative due to screen time. I may have felt like I needed more sleep but that is because I stayed up late watching netflix. My phone helps me pass time and not be bored. If i feel like my phone is having a negative effect I will simply put my phone away.
@barack obama
mr. president, Try to set reminders to get off screens and go to bed. This allows you to be a much harder working person overall. Miss you as president.
On an average day I usually spend five hours on my phone. When I'm on my phone I typically use social media apps like Snapchat, Instagram, and Tik Tok. Using my phone can have a positive effect because sometimes it cures my boredom when I'm not doing anything or don't have plans. It helps me build closer relationships with my friends because we are able to send each other goofy messages or memes that bring us closer.
1. I don't really spend all the at much time on my phone ever since i started working. I mainly use my phone to play games, watch shows, or listen to music. More or less I spend more time sleeping and working than actually getting to relax and be on my phone.
2. My phone actually has a really positive effect on me. I am a WAY better texter than I am at conversing with people in real life. It just lets me vibe better overall, I can text my friends if they can hang out or just if I don't feel like leaving my bed. And it might sound unhealthy but it really ain't, I'm just a little lazy that's all. At this point in time, taking my phone away would just cause more a negative effect than a positive effect.
1. According to my phone's data I spend about 7-8 hours on my phone everyday. I use my phone for a variety of things. WhenI'm not home and I have an assigment to do, I use my phone to do my work and turn in my work. However, most of the time I use it for social media. I tend to switch between Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok.
2. I do think that using your hone has a negative effect on you, mentally and physically. Sometimes I have noticed that I am more anxious without my phone because I feel like I need to check on my friends frequently. Over the summer, I spend a lot of time on my phone and I lose sleep as a result of it.
Using your phones on a daily basis can have positive and negative effects on your life. Technology is a useful tool that allows us to access information in seconds and talk to people from miles away; however it is so useful that people forget that experiencing and learning things through real life experience is important. The younger generations tend to spend most of their time on the internet at the loss of social interaction. On the other hand, the use of the internet is very beneficial and can help you solve problems in the real world. The lack or abuse of the internet can both affect the positive experiences in life and learning to manage your time is what will lead people to live happy and healthy lives.
The overuse of technology affects how you feel on a day to to day basis and can make you have low self-esteem. Spending too much time on social media can trick you into believing that everyone had a great day every day and can make you feel that your not like everyone else. In addition to this the lack of social interaction in the real world will also lead to your feeling lonely frequently.
1. On an average day, I typically spend close to 5-7 hours on my phone/laptop and I use these devices to check social media and complete assignments for school.
3. Being on my phone for too long can have negative side-effects such as sleep deprivation and loss of attention-span. This is due to the fact that if I am on my devices for too long it can be hard to fall asleep and also it can be hard to focus for long periods of time if I know I can play games or check social media at any given moment of the day
How much time do you spend on your phone on an average day? And, what do you typically do? - For me, I usually spend more time on my phone outside of my home instead of using it at my house. Usually, I would spend around 1-2 hours on my phone because I feel that I'm on my computer more often. If I am using it outside of my house, it would be to avoid awkward conversations with strangers or to check something like school grades. If I'm bored and have free time on my hands, then I would probably go on social media or just text and chat with my friends.
Are you ever worried that you spend too much time on your phone? Do you worry that it gets in the way of socializing with friends? With studying? With exercising? With spending time with family? Or with sleeping? Have you ever tried to spend less time on your phone? - I always have this question in my mind. Usually, I would use my phone to socialize with my friends outside of school. If my parents are home, I would stay downstairs with them and try to avoid using my phone. Even when studying, I try my hardest trying to avoid looking at my phone, but after studying for a while I would just quit. Although I use my phone whenever I have a chance, I don't really think it affects me due to the fact that I would still try to socialize with the people around my environment without using my phone.
From my experiences parents are very concerned about the screen time of their children and how it overall affects them. They are worried about our health and our well being by putting limits on our screen time. On average I spend around 6 hours on my phone per day whether it be at school, after school, or at night. I would like this to go down but phones have basically become another part of our bodies that can not go away. I can understand why parents would want to limit these screen times because of some studies that show how it can hurt us mentally and physically. But these screens have also benefited the world by giving us and ease of access never seen before. I came to the conclusion that parents should watch how much screen time their children have, but they should not limit our time on them only observe and step in at times needed.
My phone has a positive and negative affect on my well being because at times I will become distracted by it but at other times it will benefit my studies and life. It helps me build relationships and feel less isolated because I can talk to my friends all the time
1. According to my phone's data, I spend about 4-5 hours on my phone each day. When on my phone, I check up on my friend's lives by looking on Instagram and Snapchat. Not only do I spend time just watching random videos, but I learn about things that interest me and learn about the world. My phone has access to teaching me so many different things, and also allows me to communicate with the people most important to me.
2. In the present day, social media are very important to use in order to stay in touch with friends and even build relationships. If you are too shy to talk to someone, it is a perfect way to attempt to talk to them without getting too embarrassed. Also, it allows socially-awkward people to make friends without the pressure and lets them gain new relationships to give them the strength to talk in person.
Many parents worry about the negative effects of social media and screens, while data shows little to no correlation between kid’s anxiety and depression and smart devices. The article says that “anxiety and suicide rates appear not to have risen in large parts of Europe, where phones have also become more prevalent” and this raises an intriguing thought that I personally, had not considered fully. The article says, “In most cases, they say, the phone is just a mirror that reveals the problems a child would have even without the phone” which helps explain that the idea of a phone creating anxiety problems is that the phone is not creating the issues but instead showing that there is a need for concern since mental illnesses tend to be contributed to by more than one thing. The article explains that there are plenty of things to be anxious about in our county. It is possible that teens are aware of the anxiety-inducing issues of our county because of social media. Social media can help calm anxious teens by giving them an outlet to do something about what makes them worried. The Women's March was a huge, worldwide protest that wouldn’t have been possible without social media. Smart devices also give access to resources such as crisis helplines and open communication between people who otherwise might have never met.
I believe that, yes, adults should be worried about how much we use our phones. To elaborate more on this, I think phones can have a negative effect on us depending on, maybe, what social media we use. Yet, this doesn't mean that phones only have a negative effect. Phones allow us to see the world as it is, under certain circumstances. Although adults should be worried about how much we use our phones, they should not control our usage, but they should sit down with us and be able to talk to us about our phone usage without irrational, unthoughtful punishments of taking our phones away without explanation.
I believe that, yes, adults should be worried about how much we use our phones. To elaborate more on this, I think phones can have a negative effect on us depending on, maybe, what social media we use. Yet, this doesn't mean that phones only have a negative effect. Phones allow us to see the world as it is, under certain circumstances. Although adults should be worried about how much we use our phones, they should not control our usage, but they should sit down with us and be able to talk to us about our phone usage without irrational, unthoughtful punishments of taking our phones away without explanation.
Parents should worry about screen time, to not only help their children replace that time with more beneficial activities, but also increase face to face interactions. Phones are the modern coping method for insecurities and emptiness. Personally, when I'm in public, a tendency when being alone is to get on my phone and look on social media. Although this does keep me more informed about the world around me, it keeps me out of the world I am in that moment.The opposing side may argue that extensive amounts of screen-time are due to keeping up to date on current events and communicating with others, but this excessive communication is not necessary. There is no obligation to snapchat people for 3 hours a day, check instagram, tik tok, or facetime friends for hours a day. Communication is a regular in society due to the creation of smartphones, but this comes with consequences as does any invention created by humans. Emptiness is another issue that leads to overuse of cell phones. Previously, I looked on youtube for excessive amounts of time watching videos that are of no positive influence on my life; However, this is not just me, as there are comedic videos on apps explaining that this is a regular in not only teenagers, but also young adults. Although i do feel children and teens should have the right to be on their phones multiple times in a day, there is a line separating the time that is necessary, against the time that could be used for something much more beneficial.
As I read this article, I felt myself agreeing mostly with the point that smartphones are just "mirrors" that reveals already existing problems within kids. With social media and its influence growing rapidly over the 21st century, we've all seen articles and been told that "these iPhones are giving kids depression". And while I do believe that the pressure of keeping up the image of a "perfect life" on apps like Instagram could be the cause of some anxiety in teens, I feel like other factors are being overlooked. Increased competition and pressure in school and environmental issues that make us question if we'll have a future or not are apart of many issues that could also be causing teens to develop these mental issues. So I think it's a little unfair to solely blame smartphones for being the cause for depression or anxiety in kids when we have all these problems going on around us.
Although I can understand parental concern for teenage phone usage; what post parents do not realize is what exactly teens are doing on their phones. Often I am texting old friends to catch up or, reading about current events, or taking pictures. My phone is not a necessity but it is an ideal piece of technology that allows me to decide what I’m going to wear for the day via the weather app. Keep up with my old friends via texting. And share pictures of my sister and I with my grandparents. I agree your phone can lead to anxiety but I feel that it’s more social media that causes long term problems. I generally abstain from using Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat and I have noticed a difference in my mental health. I have never felt anxious over a text or taking pictures or listening to music. I firmly believe that limited or ending my phone usage would cause my life and yes, even my parents life, to be exponentially worse.
For me, having a phone has never been extremely debilitating nor addictive for the most part. Yes, it’s convenient to be able to call, text, or email someone at the drop of a hat but overall, I try my best to communicate with people face to face and in person. I feel as though I can’t express emotion, feeling, or show facial expressions through texts and calls. In order to be real and learn how to interact with people without a phone, I think it’s important to practice communicating in real life as much as possible.
Being a teenager, when adults see me they almost automatically seem to be hooked on the idea that I’ll be attached to my phone. I’ve never felt the need to spend excessive amounts of time staring at a screen. I’m someone who already has high anxiety and stress levels, and not being productive by wasting time on my phone causes my anxiety to shoot through the roof.
I most definitely see the connection between higher levels of stress and being on your phone for a more than needed amount of time. Scrolling through social media and looking at small square sized snapshots of a person’s “picture perfect life” can really have an effect on both self-esteem and mental health. The world and especially the younger generations must learn to spark creativity and imagination. Those things can only be formed through one’s mind, experiences, and thoughts, not any phone or device on the planet can provide them.
I believe that, yes, adults should be worried about how much we use our phones. To elaborate more on this, I think phones can have a negative effect on us depending on, maybe, what social media we use. Yet, this doesn't mean that phones only have a negative effect. Phones allow us to see the world as it is, under certain circumstances. Although adults should be worried about how much we use our phones, they should not control our usage, but they should sit down with us and be able to talk to us about our phone usage without irrational, unthoughtful punishments of taking our phones away without explanation.
To be completely frank, I don't know how much time I spend on my phone. Some days I won't even go on my phone, while others I may be on it for three hours. I think in my situation my phone doesn't have any effect over my well-being, but I know that isn't the case for everybody. I don't use social media's that much, so I typically only use my phone to call and text people. If I'm not using my phone for that reason I'm probably using my phone for either Google or Youtube, to learn how to play songs on my guitar.
Using my phone never really has any negative effects on me either. But I have seen what being on your phone too much looks like. My younger sister got a phone a year ago, and since then she has changed drastically. She used to play on the computer, but now she only goes on her phone, and constantly is talking to friends. If she doesn't have her phone, she seems to be completely and utterly bored. And because she is always on her phone she isn't able to find new hobbies, or learn new skills. Also she doesn't care to do new things or go to new places. She just wants to be on her phone. It makes it rather difficult to bond with her, or to make new memories with her when she is completely absorbed by her phone. Even though my phone hasn't got in the way of things within my life, it might for other people, like my sister. My parents never try to limit my screen time, because I'm not on my phone that often. In my opinion, phones aren't the problem, but people can be.
On a daily basis i'm on my phone for about 3 to 4 hours a day and I mostly spend my time on snap chat talking with friends, or scrolling on my Instagram feed. I can confidently say that for many uses there is a very positive and useful effect a phone can have, not to mention the saftey it has with tracking your location in case of an emergency situation. There can also be very mixed feeling about it, with the big one being social media and its big reason as to why its built such a strong insecurity on teenagers and kids, but also the positive side where you can express,create and build which can have many good benefits, especially with social speakers and influencer's and how it bring a wide way of expressing and their image and word to a large and wide variety of people.
The phone can be so amazing an helpful but it also lets the user create a negative use based on how they spend their time with it because I can personally say that the phone cam really put you in isolated, and depressed moods, but at the same time there's multiple ways to avoid and prevent it so I cant necessarily blame phones for that but non less the user for not doing something about it.
On an average day, I most likely spend 7 hours on my phone. I am not ashamed of this either. I can honestly say that I am not addicted. When I do use my phone it is for calculator app, music, face-timing/messaging/calling, and I go on social media not often. My mother believes that I spend way too much time face timing my friends, but I don't see the problem. Most of the time we are doing a school project or studying. For example, the other day I was on face time doing a math project that only one us had access to, and she said it could be done without communication but she was wrong. My phone does not specifically do anything bad or good for me, It’s just a thing that is there.
Like any addiction, our phones themselves seem to have latched deeply into our habits and way of life. When I was younger (and my brother’s devices are like this now) we had a screentime app that would kick us off our devices. My mom cared more about our screentime than our dad, and I’m glad she did. I’m sure there were times I was sulky about it, but because she did I spend more time doing things I enjoy more- like rainy walks and reading old books and writing and drawing.
While I definitely believe that phones can be a source of mental illnesses, they are not the prime cause. As Mr. Hancock said, “Why else might American kids be anxious other than telephones?How about climate change? How about income inequality? How about more student debt? There are so many big giant structural issues that have a huge impact on us but are invisible and that we aren’t looking at.” Our generation does have a lot more to worry about aside from cellphones, but part of me does keep going back to the other argument. Mostly from my own experience, I know that cellphones do have a negative impact on our social skills and our mental health, but just because those are my experiences doesn’t mean that it is widespread.
Headline: Does it matter how much we use our phones?
For me I'm on my phone a lot but so is every other teenager in this world. I agree that phones can be addicting at times but they can also be used to help inform people and spread information so people will feel more included onto what's going on. But I can see where that might run into a problem as seeing something on social media like a party and wondering “oh why wasn't I invited?” or just being like “am I not cool enough?” That can run into some problems of people starting to feel left out and starting to get sad, but also comparing themselves to other people. So many people want to be like other people they see on Instagram or snap chat and always wanting to change to what society thinks is pretty or what society thinks is cool or lame. So yeah there are some flaws in phones and what people do on them, but it's the 21st century and new technology is coming out everyday so everyone's just got to adapt and get used to it because things change everyday.
I catch myself fantasizing about life in the 1900s when people didn’t have smartphones. Living in a world without phones or technology seems so surreal, but it looks so much more fun. Growing up with this type of technology constantly at my fingertips has been great in some respects, but has really taken away from social lives.
I don’t think that depression and anxiety is something that technology is causing, like many people have said in the past. In fact, I think that it has become a great platform for people to express themselves if they don’t feel comfortable doing it in person.
However, phones have caused genuine conversations to become rare. Unfortunately, I don’t think anyone could live in this world without a phone, anymore. This world and our society has revolutionized around technology. Don’t bother walking to get the newspaper in the morning and reading it on the front porch. With one click of a button, the news is portrayed right before your eyes.
While most people might argue that compared to the past, Phones have eased our lives in everything, it has also brought many problems with it. One of the problems that is very common is cyber bullying. It has become very easy for people to take our their phones and photo shame someone. Another problem is that students are often distracted while they complete a task. These issues have resulted in the addiction of technology.
Contrary to the popular stigma of my generation, I'm not on my phone a whole lot. I mostly use it for listening to music, taking pictures, and occasionally a movie or a game. I would not say it has an overwhelmingly positive impact on my well-being- in fact, it stresses me out! Whenever I have it on me, I feel worried that I have to keep up with every single message I receive. It’s especially worrisome and distracting when I’m trying to hang out with one friend and someone else texts. It’s like interrupting a conversation- and you can’t ever seem to get away from the person that’s interrupting you! I do enjoy being able to get a hold of my friends really quickly but aside from that the communication aspect of it is very stressful; more often than not, it causes drama because we didn’t understand the tone of a text message that was received.
I don’t care what the studies show- even if phones don’t cause mental disorders, they definitely cause sleep deprivation! I know this because I have been its victim. I used to fall asleep reading books, but now it's so much work to find a flashlight to read past my bedtime with when I just have a phone I can be on. I use the excuse that playing a game will help me get to sleep (no, it really doesn’t- it actually feels like it wakes me up more) and then by that time it's two in the morning. This is the only time that my phone really interferes with me. As I said before, I really don’t enjoy my phone. I keep trying to find ways to ditch it.
“Opportunities.”
I spend an average of 8.5 hours a day on my phone. When people first read this they think “That’s horrible!” or “Oh my gosh that’s so much time to be doing something else!”. They never try to understand why. I come from a generation where you’ll meet someone in person but you’ll use social media to turn that spark into a flame. Social media and internet has given so many more opportunities to learn, socialize, and be more interactive with the world. Before phones you would have to either find a computer that took what felt like years to load or go to a library just to find the answer to a simple question that a phone could answer in seconds.
I use my phone as a way to expand my knowledge and also as a way to stay connected to my best friend/girlfriend. Without social media and texting I would’ve never been able to sustain the amazing relationship I have with her. We used texting as a way to communicate and ultimately because of this becoming the best thing that has happened to me in a very long time.
I wouldn’t have been able to get where I am today with my relationships, knowledge, and skills I learned from a small handheld device. So yes I spend hours on my phone each day but without it I would be years behind where I am now.
I spend around 6 to 12 hours daily on my phone. Most of the time, I am either watching videos or on social media, and sometimes I read. These past 7 days, I have been on my phone for an average of about 8 hours. Many people — including my parents — think that is too much. They want me to read “real books” that are paperback and hardback, they want me to go outside and do things, and they want me to do my homework. My parents always worry about my phone distracting me from getting good grades and even put most of the blame on it. However, I completely disagree. I couldn't live without my phone in any sense of the world. It lets me do so many things that make me happy like socialize and watch the shows I love. Even if it hinders me from doing my work sometimes, it benefits me a lot. Without my phone, I would be in a much worse place. If social media or any type or format of videos make you sad or uncomfortable in any way, you can close the app, block the poster, stop looking and watching, and most simply, stop interacting. It doesn’t have to be the only thing you focus on, but it can still be a great thing that helps you vent and show your emotions in a more healthy setting. I can definitely say that an overwhelming majority of people’s mental health benefit from having a phone. When it doesn’t, there are always other factors within ourselves that hinder us from getting better in the first place. Phones as a whole should not get the whole blame for widespread mental illness.
My phone definitely has positive effects on my overall well-being. Most importantly it allows communication to be really easy. Because I take public transportation there might be a delay causing me to run a little late, and all I have to do is send my parents a text to tell them. My phone also allows me to stay in touch with close friends I may not see often because of school and extracurricular activities. Electronics in general are also very important for school purposes. Chromebooks and our phones are often used for access to google classroom or google docs to complete work, or to just check our grades after a major test. I can stay up to date with weather and world news just by tapping an app, or using Siri. For multiple reasons, like the ones mentioned above, I feel using my phone compared to other things is easier and time efficient especially if I don’t have access to a computer or other electronics.
@Kira Douglas I agree with you on saying that phones can be helpful with communicating because that is the number one thing we use. It always allows you to be able to contact anyone at anytime if there were ever to be an emergency and you needed to get in touch with someone right away.
@Kira Douglas
I do think that phones and technology are extremely beneficial to our lives. I am very thankful to have things like these. You did present very good points in your comment about the pros of technology. Although, I think that some people do not have self-control and seem to let it take over their lives. Things like social media can really take a toll on those who don’t know how to properly use it. Personally, I try to stay away from letting my phone control my life and using it for good purposes like school and staying in contact with my friends and family. Despite the cons that come with technology, I think parents should be alert and informed, but not concerned.
On a typical day, I probably spend 3 - 4 hours on my phone. The things that I do on my phone vary, but mostly I am browsing Reddit, watching Youtube videos, or listening to music on Spotify. I think that my phone overall does have a positive effect on my general well-being. It helps me feel less isolated, and it can help lift my spirits if I’m feeling down. But, it does sometimes make me very sleep-deprived.
My parents have been worried about the amount of screen-time that I get, and in the past, have tried to limit it, but I think that they have realized that it doesn’t get in the way of me being active or getting schoolwork done. As a result, they don’t really seem to care all that much anymore.
I don’t have a phone, so I can’t relate to much of what the article says, however, I think that if there is science proving that spending time on your phone doesn’t have a negative impact, then I don’t think parents should be so concerned.
I tend to spend about 4.5 hours on my phone everyday. I typically scroll through social media feeds, listen to music, and talk to friends. I think phones do have a positive impact on life, they can help people feel more informed and help people feel more included. However I do believe that a lot of people get caught up in their phones and start to see some negative effects. A lot of people seem to care way too much about social media in my opinion. This can create anxiety or other symptoms. It is one of my goals to try to spend less time on my phone because I think people spend way too much time on them in general. My mother does not care how much time I spend on my phone which I like, I'm 16, I don't think anyone cares how much time I spend on my phone. Personally I think phones are very useful however I think a lot of people care way to much about them and spend way to much time on them.
@Reid Barden I really agree with your perspective on how a lot of people get caught up in social media, and can cause themselves anxiety and stress. I also do agree that phones are very useful, and that people should stop feeling like they have to constantly use them.
As electronics (phones, tablets, laptops) become a more commonly owned item, especially in younger children, the thought of these devices being addictive is a common worry among adults. However, is this worry rational?
In my family, I'm known as the girl that's always on her phone. My brother always makes fun of me for it saying I’m “addicted.” The thing is, it's hard to get away from your phone when you start using it, I’m sure most kids my age can agree. For example, when I try to do homework, it’s easy to put my phone away...until the texts, Face-time calls, etc. start coming in. Then, I’m faced with the decision to answer these notifications, and probably get distracted on my phone, or look like a bad friend to any of my friends texting me. My parents tell me to just give them an excuse to why I can’t help them, but I feel bad, especially if I needed help on homework and someone did that to me.
I understand my parents perspective, as phones have been known to cause social anxiety or depression, but there are also some positive ways it affects my life. I’m so connected to people. In a second, someone across the world could receive your message with apps like Messenger.
So, if I didn’t show my point enough in the last paragraph, phones are not really addicting, more so the notifications are. Don’t get me wrong, I love the capability of being able to communicate with my friends/family, but sometimes that's exactly what makes my phone hard to put away.
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@Thalia
With all due respect, I disagree. I understand how the notifications can be distracting, but in my opinion that’s what makes phones an addiction. You can put them on do not disturb and silent or just turn them off, and they won’t distract you from whatever it is that you are trying to do. That’s the way to control it, and honestly it’s a healthier lifestyle to do that too. You can get right back to the positive side of phones, rapid communication, as soon as your work is done. Then, there’s no problem.
I don’t worry too much on how much I use my phone. I’m on it for a good amount of time everyday, and it doesn’t distract from school, activities, and actually going out and talking to my friends and family. I used to be addicted, and it affected my sleep, my mood, etc. My parents obviously noticed and gave me a whole lecture just like you mentioned with your parents. I let it go through one ear and out the other. Adults are on their phones all the time too, so why are they out here telling us to not do what they do excessively. It doesn’t make sense, so why would I listen? Then, they stopped. They weren’t addicted. It all changed, so I had to stop, too. I limited myself, and as much as I hate it, they were right. I’m still living and I’m still happy. Maybe even happier. Now that they’ve seen an improvement they don’t really care anymore.
I usually spend 4-5 hours on my phone and I am typically on social media talking to my friends or listening to music. I do think that phones have a positive impact of my well-being. Talking to my friends outside of school on my phone does help me build a stronger relationship with them. Being able to use my phone does not make me feel isolated , rather it makes me feel more involved. Being able to see what people post and talk about does not make me feel isolated. I think being able to use your phone lessens mental illness by being an outlet for people. I feel that using a phone could be an outlet for some people. Adults and parents seem to use phones as excuses for many things but often the phone isn't the problem.
Are phones causing Mental Illness?
I don’t believe phones cause mental illness. I do think they cause some problems if a person gets too addicted to it, I’ve often found myself panicking if I lose my phone for a minute, or the days when I’ve had to go to school without it, actually felt it’s absence and been uncomfortable the whole day. So I agree that phones can be addicting, if a kid is on it too much they might not be getting enough exercise. But what I don’t agree with is that phones can cause mental health problems. I think the basis of that idea is that social media will cause anxiety and depression because of pressure to get likes or followers. But if you don’t want to use social media you don’t have to, and in my case I’ve never really cared about either of those things. What I really think is the most stressful thing about phones is that when you’re connected to the internet you get a constant stream of all the bad news in the world, and it can become overwhelming and stressful. But really is the thing causing teens stress their phones, or the state of our world.
My screen time a day is an average of about 5 hours. The top apps I use on my phone are FaceTime, TikTok, and Spotify. I would say that I’m pretty addicted to my phone since I have a longer screen time than others. My parents are worried that because I’m on my phone often, I don’t spend enough socializing to people in real life. I would disagree because I don't have much problems or anxiety talking to friends and people at school. There have been multiple times when my phone has gotten in the way of my sleeping. For me, TikTok is very addictive app and it takes a very long time until I finally put my phone down. I don’t see my phone as a negative thing because it helps me enjoy other activities. Such as when I am painting, I feel more relaxed when I listen to music.
Adults should not be worried about cell phone use in teenagers. I spend around an average of 2 hours and 15 minutes on my phone everyday. Most of that time is spent on snapchat, games, and Netflix. I feel much less isolated when I am able to use my phone, and find it really helpful for strengthening the connections I make with other people. I feel as though through my phone, I have been able to meet new people and enrich my life.
When trying to associate depression, anxiety, and phones together, I do not see a connection. An increase in depression and suicide rates has only occurred in America, which means that you cannot generalize the results of this study anywhere else. Cell phones allow people to find others that are in similar situations to them. Confinement and restriction from overprotective parents can be a big factor when looking at depression and anxiety.
While cell phones can be a distraction, especially when it comes to doing things like homework for school, they can also be a really helpful tool for understanding. Let's face it, some teachers really suck at their job. Cell phones give people the opportunity to find thousands of different articles, videos, and tutorials to help them learn what they don’t in class. People need to stop looking at cell phones a weapon of mental health destruction, and start looking at them as a useful tool that promotes learning, communication, and most importantly friendship.
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@Ben I agree, I think phones are a great tool for learning and comunicating with other people
@Ben
I think you made some really great points here, because I too believe that smart phones are beneficial towards teenage life style, and don’t harm it as detrimentally as adults think. It’s fascinating that you were able to make the connection, or lack there of, between the suicide rates and teen phone usage, to show that that would not be a reason why they were increased. I found it comical how you called teachers out by acknowledging that some are worse than others, even though this is so true. Smart phones and the Internet is such a valuable tool to help me in my studies and my homework, and I wouldn’t be able to learn as much without it. I think your claim at the end of your review was very powerful. In today’s world, while everyone’s opinion is valid, those who make assumptions and claims without any evidence or reason, are as useless as they come.
My mom is a busy woman and she has enough in her mind so she doesn't really worry about my phone use. I use my phone for 5 hours a day on average. I don't think my excessive phone use affects my day to day life because I have a really strict routine. There are quite some times when I felt really anxious because of social media. I remember throwing away an hour of my life feeling anxious with the number of my instagram likes. I remembered how anxious I was after posting an instagram story and deleting it after an hour of posting it. But, my phone use has been really positive for me. As I stated before, my mom is a really busy woman and she's not always there for me and my phone is my shelter since 5th grade. When I came home feeling sad in school, a couple of youtube videos can cheer me up. Smartphones also make contacting friends and families easier making me less lonely during my sad times. The use of phone also opens a new window of opportunities, I learnt how to edit and shoot videos from youtube. There was a time when my mental health is just not great and the internet saved me. Yes, it may cause some anxieties but it makes you know yourself better. After feeling anxious about my likes I just delete my instagram post and continue on. In my opinion, smartphones don't trigger mental illness, it can even help someone. Dr. Moreno, a professor of pediatrics said she tends to be struck by the number of children with mental health problems who are helped by social media.
I think the adults in our lives have a right to worry about how much we use our phones. To begin, the time spent on our phones is causing teenagers to develop inadequate social skills. When faces are stuck into phones, they become an addiction, and a place to hide. This haven causes less and unsatisfactory social interactions. MIT sociologist Sherry Turkle, who studies the impact technology has on groups of people, claims that our cell phones are “hurting our interactions” in a recent interview. Phones tend to come out during conversations, which then interrupts the exchange. The issue stated affects people physically, mentally, and emotionally because we need face-to-face interactions to thrive. One argument is that phones allow more interactions and connections, but in reality, it causes a bigger gap between people. Turkle’s studies also show that technology makes us "more isolated, even as it promised to make us more connected”. This statement has truth because people, especially females, tend to substitute their worth with social media; things like follower count, number of likes, and photo quality can cause many emotional and mental issues when they do not reach a certain number. Therefore, adults worrying about phone usage is good because phone usage can cause social and mental issues that people may be unaware of and we may need an adult to intervene if issues become serious.
I am on my phone at least 4 hours daily, usually watching videos or doing my homework. The main thing I use my phone for is playing music. It helps me focus, calm down, and pass the time. I would say my phone helps me feel less isolated because I’m able to contact my friends and make new ones. I also have access to so much information. The only problem I have with my phone is communication with my friends. When you text people you can’t show emotions and this causes people to take what you say the wrong way. Its also easier to say things you wouldn’t normally say face to face. But I feel like the anxiety, stress, and depression are not the result of my phone but from the expectations from parents and teachers, how unsafe I feel in my school, from the medication making me “normal and calm,” and from the news where nothing good is heard. I don’t think my phone stops me from socializing or from sleeping, and I am constantly trying to put down my phone. My parents will warn me once or twice but they are on it as much as me. But I believe that adults try to use phones as a scapegoat instead of admitting that there are bigger issues, such as global warming, political divisions etc. that teens face or the problems that they themselves cause with high expectations.
@Lilian I completely agree with the part about other issues affecting my mental health rather than phones being the sole issue. Mostly I think that the technology we've been exposed to throughout our lives and the teen culture we live in today is so drastically different than what adults had experienced when they were kids that it's caused them to blame phones and in actuality, things like the stress of school has caused kids way more anxiety than a smartphone.
I don't think that phones and social media has had the impact that many concerned parents believe it has, because many studies or even unresearched fears, don't take environmental effects into account. In the article, "Panicking About Your Kids' Phones? New Research Says Don't," Jeff Hancock poses the question “Why else might American kids be anxious other than telephones...how about climate change? How about income inequality? How about more student debt?" He points out that just because there is a rise in the reports of mental health issues in America, doesn't mean that the problem is stemming directly from phones. Especially when you include the fact that "anxiety and suicide rates appear not to have risen in large parts of Europe, where phones have also become more prevalent." Personally I spend an average of 2.5 hours a day on my phone, and though I am not limited on screen time throughout the day, my parents don't want me to use my phone past 9pm. If it seems like a lot to you, remember that although I do have Instagram, I also use it for communication with parents, and even for school, like when checking my grades or logging into Google Classroom. Also, if I feel like I’m spending too much time on my phone or if my grades are slipping, I remove all social media from my phone, until I get my grades up, which motivates me to get my work done. Furthermore, I believe it could actually eliminate some of the mental health problems teenagers are having.
Jan 30, 2020 Should Adults In Your Life Be Worried About How Much You Use Your Phone?
Have you ever seen a father and daughter eating lunch together and the daughter takes out her phone, puts in her earbuds and starts watching Netflix. The dad just sits there awkwardly and eats? The dad took time off his busy schedule to take his daughter out and she just does her own thing, it just breaks my heart. Some people might say this is crazy, but I only spend around 30- 45 minutes on my phone a day. I have homework, sports and lately I haven't had time to use it, this is also probably because my parents have never let me have social media. I have many friends who spend a plethora of time on Tick Tock, Instagram, and snap-chat. Social media is a fantastic way to get in touch with people who you haven't seen in awhile, but it could cause jealousy and competition. It shows only the good side of people and it could make others sad. I believe that if teens use their phones in moderation then they will have an overall better experience. I have a bunch of friends who find out I don't have social media and say “well I wish I didn't have it either” and it is just kinda shocking. I think if you are using cell phones for the productive ways they were designed for, then you will be able to have a more relaxed, happy and more unplugged self.
On an average day I probably spend zero to eight minutes on my phone. This is only because I have the Nokia 1112. If I had a smartphone I would probably spend more time each time on it. I only use it to wake me up and to make calls and texts. I probably spend more time dropping my phone on purpose just to show how strong the phone is when it doesn’t break. I think the amount of time I spend on my phone might be an issue if I had a different phone that wasn’t 14 years old.
On an average day I probably spend zero to eight minutes on my phone. This is only because I have the Nokia 1112. If I had a smartphone I would probably spend more time each time on it. I only use it to wake me up and to make calls and texts. I probably spend more time dropping my phone on purpose just to show how strong the phone is when it doesn’t break. I think the amount of time I spend on my phone might be an issue if I had a different phone that wasn’t 14 years old.
I do not have a phone but the constant usage of my iPad it definitely has a negative impact on my sleep and things like the time it takes for me to do my homework. I sometimes play music while I am doing my homework but it usually distracts me and I end up finishing my work around 10:00 pm and after I finally finish it, I usually continue to use my iPad to watch videos or Netflix to sleep but it continues to keep me up and I will most likely get little to no sleep. I could go to sleep without my iPad playing but it has just become part of my schedule and it is hard for me to break from my normal activities. On the other hand, it also helps me unwind and allows me to talk to my friends which is helpful in letting me relax and calm down after school which I think is a good thing to do after a long stressful day.
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@Weston Tanh I agree with you about it helping you relax and clam down after a stressful day and it does the same for me.
The adults in my life should not be concerned with the amount of time I spend on my phone. I spend a few hours a day on my phone, but I tend to spend near the same amount of time as my parents. There is a world of possibilities that come from the use of cell phones, like the connection to people who lives hours away and the seemingly endless supply of games and knowledge. There is so much to benefit from the world of technology, and the negative stigma that cell phones sometimes possess seem to me to be misplaced.
I don’t feel lonely or depressed by using my cell phone. It gives me an outlet when I am stressed where I can ground myself. As an overthinker, situations often stress me out to the point where I can’t think, so I turn to my phone where I can play games that help reground me and calm me down.
I spend quite a bit of time on my phone each day, but I would not say that this phone usage takes time away from whats important in my life like spending time with friends and family, being active, or doing school work. I think this is because I limit the time I spend on my phone, I make sure that I make time for the things that are important to me. I don't think that the time I spend on my phone impacts my life negatively usually I use my phone as a way to relax or wind down, so if it was causing me stress or anxiety I wouldn't use it. Although screen time doesn't have an impact on me it could for others, I'm not saying that it can necessarily cause mental health problems. I think that if you are already dealing with mental health problems people could tend to use phones as a substitute for human interaction which is not going to benefit them. Its all about knowing your limits and setting certain boundaries to help you stay within those limits.
@Emma McLaughlin You make some very good points, anything is unhealthy if you do too much of it, having your phone not cause problems in your life is all about moderation. If all you did was use your phone constantly, of course it would cause problems, but when it’s regulated a phone is a help instead of a hindrance.
According to my screen time settings I spend one hour and 47 minutes on my phone daily. Most of this time is spent playing video games. Some of my favorite are games like brawl stars and Call of Duty. I spend about one hour playing games daily which is how much time I am aloud before my screen time runs out. The other 47 minutes is mostly listening to music, and checking my grades on our grade book. I usually listen to music on the bus and car rides so that usually takes up the other 47 minutes of my average screen time. Sometimes on weekends I also like watching youtube videos, such as comedian acts or great sports plays, another thing I do on weekends is if there is a sports game going on I will check the score on ESPN constantly.
Usually I spend most of my day on the phone either watching entertainment or listening to music while doing homework. I have definitely stayed up late multiple times to watch shows that I’ve been waiting to see, even then it provides an easy way to learn about the world and current events. The amount of my time I spend on my phone does worry me a little, largely because of procrastination, although much of my isolationism derives more from my childhood rather than technology; my family also seem to agree in this, for me it’s a way to cope with the issues that can’t be solved easily, largely financially. In saying this, I agree that technology in general is largely used as a coping mechanism for problems that would continue even if it wasn't present.
I don’t think social media and smartphones are a direct cause of increased mental health issues, but I do believe that they could be a small part of it. I have owned an iPhone since 7th grade; however, the only thing I could do on it was play games, text people, and call people. My parents regulated what I did and who I contacted on my phone until I was in the 10th grade. They still check my texts and say they can go through it whenever they want, but I was given much more freedom with it in the last year and a half. I also wasn’t allowed to get any form of social media until I was 16 and was only allowed to get Snapchat after lots of convincing. Not having those time - wasting apps on my phone like Instagram, Snapchat, and Netflix - led to me realize that Social Media and pretty much everything else on my phone is irrelevant. There are so many other, more productive things I could be doing rather than sitting on my phone. I think that this generation is less connected to the real world because we are so enthralled with our online profile and how people perceive us on the Internet. Social media is a platform for people to pretty much “fake their lives”. No one wants to post about something hard that they’re going through; they want to see about all of the amazing things going on in that person’s life and pretend like their life is perfect. No one wants to post a picture that they don’t look absolutely “perfect” in because why would someone want to advertise their flaws?
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@Lucie Van Roekel Reply: I very much agree, this generation is more reliant on phones. My parents didn’t have phones the way we had them so they played outside more and socialized. Often children and teens become attached to their phones and “can’t live without them.” I also agree that people only put what they want people to see, the "good things" about them.
For me personally, I tend to find myself veering away from my phone during stressful times because I feel like all it does is add to it. I have anxiety and have seen that the negative affects from social media only add to that anxiousness. I agree that phone usage and constant usage of social media can definitely increase anxiety and depression, if you allows yourself to get involved so much you can't return to a normal lifestyle without it. I think that as I feel like I'm starting to feel more anxious and stressed, my phone does not help the situation but makes it worse, so I try to stay away from it during these times.
My parents don’t manage how much time I spend on my phone, and honestly, I don’t think they have a reason to. Last week I averaged two hours and fifteen minutes of daily screen time on my phone. This sounds like a lot of time just looking at my phone, but thinking about a normal day for me, I use my phone for so many different things like doing my homework and listening to music. I would say that I do use my phone to look at Instagram, Tiktok, and Snapchat, but I also use it for texting and making phone calls. After breaking down the 2.25 hours of screen time into all the things I do in a day on my phone, it’s not so bad.
Social media can be a distraction at times from getting to sleep, but I’ve gotten into the habit of setting it aside. As for studying and exercising, phones aren’t usually allowed in school or in practice, so I haven’t found them to be a distraction.
Snapchat and texting are my main source of communication on my phone. Without them, it would be very difficult to plan time to hang out with my friends. It’s also normal for my parents to text me throughout day asking about important things. I think my parents would support me on how much I use my phone.
@Allie
I agree I also use my phone a ton for communication, and it would be very hard to make plans without it. I also tend to use my phone to communicate with people I don't see very often, without my phone I would probably loose touch with them.
On a typical day, I spend around four hours on my phone mainly on social media platforms, texting, or even talking on the phone. Although this device can be used in negative ways, I’ve found it to be a useful tool to communicate with my peers and learn about things I wouldn’t have otherwise known. There’s so many positive ways phones influence the lives of teens, adults shouldn’t necessarily be worried about how much time we spend online.
Social media often allows people to broadcast their “best moments.” It encourage people to compare their lives to others’ however, it’s also used in plenty of positive ways. I constantly use these platforms to catch up with people and even work with others on school work. Phones often get the reputation that it increases poor mental health in teens. However, Candace L. Odgers, a professor at the University of California says, “In most cases, they say, the phone is just a mirror that reveals the problems a child would have even without the phone.” Poor mental health isn’t going to be solely influenced by a phone. Usually, it comes from persons day to day interactions and low self esteem. I wouldn’t say that a phone doesn’t have the ability to influence mental health, but it isn’t a strong enough factor that adults should be overly concerned.
Overall, phones are a powerful tool and are used in so many positive ways that adults shouldn’t be overly concerned by the time teens spend because the positive aspects it has outweigh the negatives.
Phones are the new addition to this era, and research argues that the effects of excessive cell phone use are detrimental to our lifestyle. And although I agree to some extent, I don’t believe that the cons outweigh the pros of cellphones in our daily lives.
Throughout my day, I don’t stare at my phone for ten hours straight as many adults believe. I go to all of my activities, talk to my friends, and if I want to check my phone, I will. I’m not sacrificing my life for it, but it has become an essential supplement to my day in many useful ways.
For example, I use my phone to communicate with my friends and family and to get updates. I will know right away from a swipe on my phone if my friend needs a ride, if my homework has been flagged as missing, or if there is a potential snowstorm. And, if something good or bad happens in the day, I will use my phone to tell my friends, too.
Our phones connect us to the modern world, and we can’t miss out. Like many good things in the world such as owning a pet and virtually anything else, there are side effects that come with it. But cell phones revolutionize effective communication, and we must overcome our fear of change and embrace it.
Ultimately, you know yourself better than anybody else, and some adults are just as addicted to technology as the average teenager. We can’t rely on adults to regulate our cellphone use, but rather, we should evaluate our habits and seek change if we deem it necessary.
I typically spend around 2.5 hours a day on my phone, a sizable chunk of which can be attributed to me just sitting there trying to look productive when I’m not actually engaging in any sort of stimulation. I feel that not a lot has changed about my experiences before and after having a smartphone besides having something to look at during a lull in activity during the day, and ease of communication. Perhaps I lost some sleep occasionally due to being invested in the device, but I honestly believe that the positives greatly outweigh the negatives; adults around me have expressed no such concern that I may be using my phone too much, and I have not had my overall demeanor affected by this usage in a significant way. This is purely anecdotal, though I likely represent a fair amount of the population when I say that this really isn’t a matter to get worked up about in comparison to other glaring issues going on with the world right now; the evidence isn’t quite there. Fortunately, this issue seemingly is not affecting a majority of cell phone users. My final verdict on this would be that in most cases, parents shouldn’t have to worry about their child’s use of smartphones. It should only become a cause for concern once it starts to take priority over other necessary actions; then close supervision is ideal.
Personally I think I spend probably 2 to 3 hours on my phone, mostly listening to music and texting my friends. My school gives each of its students an iPad to do all of the school work on but I’m not so sure that it has been positive change. I think I look at screens way more than I should be, and whether it is good or bad for our mental health, my eyes and neck are often sore after looking at a screen for a long time, and so whether it hurts our mental health or not it definitely takes up my time and changes my daily activities.
As a teenager, I think in our minds, our phones aren’t a bad thing. We use them to talk to friends, use it for homework and also gives your parents comfort knowing they can reach you at any given point. But I also think it’s different for everyone. I know plenty of people whose parents have programed restrictions into their phones, others have to put them in their parents room at a designated time, and some parents don’t necessarily care because they trust their kids. My parents trust me with my phone because I know my limits and try not to be on it all the time. I also know from my families viewpoint, phones and social media are ruining the younger generations and technology teaches them being addicted to a little screen is ok. I think parents need to know having a phone has its good things and bad things. They also need to know they can put rules, restrictions and consequences in play when their child receives their first phone. It's just different for everyone.
As cell phones and technology has become an increasingly popular topic, debates continue to grow on teens and cell phone use. In fact, many schools across the U.S even prohibit the use of cell phones, smartphones or other personal electronics during school hours. However as conflicts and discussion arise, many parents have taken action on monitor their children's cell phone usage. While some parents see it beneficial to limit teens usage on phones, others don't take any action. For example, my parents have always trusted me to be responsible in my time management, and balancing school, Church, and friends. However, I do understand that my parents pay for my phone, and data usage, and I would willingly comply if they had any restrictions or rules. Further I believe parents should not be worried about the amount of use of their child's phone, but if it becomes a constant obsession they should step in, and make them focus on more productive activities. Phones, however, often rely as a crutch for parents, meaning they often incorrectly blame their child's issue, or challenges for how much time they spend on their phone. Parents also constantly compare this day in age to their own, disregarding how the times have changed, and how society must adapt to these changes. Further I believe parents have authority over their children's phone usage, but it should sparingly, and properly monitored.
I use my phone 2 hours a day, but it's not all spent on social media. I check email, use my Notes app to jot things down, etc. I try not to use social media too much, causing my friends to say, “you haven’t responded to my Snapchat in 22 hours." This lack of engagement with popular sites is due to a philosophy I follow: everything in moderation.
I don't disagree that phones and my generations incessant use of them contributes to mental health issues. I find myself envying other girls’ bodies or see something that makes me anxious. When this happens, I take a break. However, I also agree with Mr. Hancock that many teenagers already have mental health issues. For many, social media is a way to connect with others who are also struggling. Social media is a community, and a majority of users believe they have found a place they belong, something they may not feel in the real world.
Many parents are concerned about their children's use of phones. I find myself using my phone as a distraction from homework but not often enough for work to be incomplete. I have been practicing moderation and it hasn't gotten in the way of socializing or exercising.
My generation grew up with cell phones. It is normal for us to check them after a class. I agree that phones and specifically social media can be damaging to a developing mind. But as long as it is used safely and in moderation, they can be a great tool for learning and communication.
I think parents should be worried about how much time kids spend on their cell phones, even so, I think it’s important for parents not to be overly restrictive and for children to learn to have self-control. On average I am on my phone between 4-6 hours a day. I typically spend time on social media, music, and games. For me, phone usage decreases isolation and is helpful in communicating with others because, for the most part, I don’t see anyone (except my family) outside of school. If I didn’t have my phone it would be hard for me to communicate plus I quite regularly use my phone to search up information. There are definitely some bad things about phone usage. At times, seeing other people’s posts can have a negative effect on me, but that wouldn’t be completely eradicated by getting rid of social media because it’s still something mental I struggle with. I spend too much time on my phone. I think it is problematic in terms of getting homework and other things done. I have tried to spend less time on my phone and it has decreased in the past year. My parents try to get me to spend less time on my phone. My mom constantly tells me to get off it, she made my dad put a time limit on my phone for specific apps. I don’t think that helped so much as it just really annoyed me. Overall I think that phones are a necessary piece of technology, but at the same time, one has to stay conscious of how much time they are spending on it and make sure they are being productive.
No, the adults in my life should not be concerned with how much I use my cell phone. On average I spend around 3 hours a day on my phone, which may sound like a lot, but broken down throughout the day it is much less than you realize. During this time on my phone I am listening to music, watching shows, or using social media to talk to my friends which can all be beneficial. Yes my phone can become a distraction at times when I am putting my homework or other responsibilities off, however over time I have learned that moderation in my usage is important. As long as I am being productive and doing what I need to do first, then I find no issue with spending some of the other free time on my phone. In the article it talked about how adults are worried that adolescents develop anxiety and depression from their phones and social media, however two psychologists reviewed over 40 studies and discovered this link is small and inconsistent. I would agree that yes, social media can be harmful, but it can also be a great tool when used correctly to connect people across the world who are similar and even promote a community. With all this being said I do not think that my phone usage is harmful to me and that with the self moderation I use the adults in my life should not be worried.
Personally, my parents do not have to worry about how much time I spend on my phone. The time I spend on my phone during the week is usually to work on school assignments. Using my phone this way has had a positive impact on my overall well-being. Technology has allowed me to get ahead on my work whenever I have free time in class or to keep track of my work in a planner app on my phone. I would be lying if I said that my phone had never distracted me when I’ve been trying to study. I find that the best way to eliminate the distraction is to turn it off or put it in another room while I am trying to work. I do not think that phones can be directly linked to depression or anxiety but I do think that parents should control how much time their child spends on their phone if the phone is distracting them from their schoolwork or getting enough sleep.
In short no. I know I spend a lot of time on my phone, but I don’t think the adults in my life should worry about it. I think I spend too much time on it for sure, I don’t think over an hour of Tik Tok is good for me, but I definitely isn’t bad for me. If depression and anxiety was really linked to the amount of time spent on your phone I should be dead. I struggled with my mental health well before I got a phone. I have spent a significant amount of my life learning how to deal with it and screen time was never the problem, sometimes the people I talked to on it were, but never the phone itself.
My parents in the past have worried that the amount of time I spend on my phone is the reason I don’t sleep or the reason that I have been depressed, and honestly so did I. After a few years of trying different things, like limiting my screen time and making sure my phone isn’t in my room we learned it had no effect on my health. When my screen time was limited I was outside more, reading, and doing other things, but I wasn’t any less anxious or any more well rested. It is just how I am wired and now my parents worry a little less about my phone.
When I am on my phone I look at things I think are funny and brighten my day. I know not everyone thinks an accidentally frozen goldfish is funny, but to be honest it made me giggle. The nearly 5 hours a day on my phone might be a little much, but who cares.
I spend too much time on my phone. On average, I’m on my phone for about 8 hours a day. The day I was on my phone for the least amount of time this week was 4.5 hours. These numbers are higher than I expected, but do not seem unreasonable based on my lifestyle. The majority of my time on my phone is dedicated to TikTok, where I average 3.5 hours a day. Many nights, I even fall asleep watching TikToks. While this is an enjoyable time for me, I know that I would have many more meaningful moments and memories if I were to just put my phone down and interact with the people around me. My phone prevents me from noticing the little things throughout my day. I’m not able to just sit in the car or walk through the halls without checking my apps and playing games. I would completely understand if the adults in my life were worried about how much I use my phone. It has taken over my life to the point where losing my phone would send me spiraling into a massive panic attack. I know that it is just an object, but for some reason, not knowing the next time I can scroll makes me extremely anxious. I know the amount of time I spend on my phone is too much. I know I should be worried about how much this 6x3 inch chunk of metal is affecting my day to day interactions. But for now, I am plagued by the instant gratification of being able to be entertained at all times and stay up to date with what my friends are having for lunch.
I spend a lot of time on my phone everyday and get distracted or get the temptation to always check on it for notifications. I don’t feel like its a problem for me but I do try to cut down on my usage sometimes. I do this by either turning of my notifications, but also I put my phone somewhere I can’t see it or feel it, like in a bag.
A parent monitoring their kids screen/phone time can be a touchy subject to some kids. Phones are people's identities, as they hold a lot of information about them and what they do. If your were to take that away from someone, it has the probability of something being exposed or found that the owner might not want to be known. They are a personal safe place where people can go and do whatever they want. It also helps pass the time or help communicate with friends.
That being said, I don't think taking the phone away or locking a kid out from a phone is the best way to do it. If a kid is struggling with anxiety and depression, I would not be the phone its selfs fault, rather the apps and social media that the kid downloads that would be affecting them. That's where the majority of cyberbullying and distractions come from. But again that's kids personal life of who they talk to and what they talk about. You have to be respectful of their time and don't look into their stuff. You should try and do activities the kid were they would be distracted from their phone or work out an agreement of how much they can use it agreed upon by both sides.
How much time do you spend on your phone on an average day? And, what do you typically do? I think i spend at least 4-5 hours on my phone everyday. I know I need to stop and I can, but something about being on your phone is different. Especially with all the ways you can communicate with others, play games, or watch videos when your bored. Although some people use their phones for other purposes like work, homework, or researching something on the internet. Although everyone has different needs the world really needs to work on this because phones are taking over people's lives. Some people can’t go ten minutes without looking at twitter, or worrying if someone texts you back or not. This is something we all need to fix in our everyday lives by stop using them as much.
Parents shouldn’t have to regulate phone usage of the teenage children because according to Candice L. Odgers, a professor of the University of California states that the “There doesn’t seem to be an evidence base that would explain the level of panic and consternation around these issues.” Precautions have been taken to ease the panic that smartphones pose a threat to mental health. Congress passing legislation to watch the impact of heavy use of smartphones and pressuring companies to change their approach towards younger customers. Researchers have been second guessing if these precautions were necessary. While there not saying that intense use of a smartphone doesn't matter, because kids can miss many important activities. What they’re saying is that smartphones aren’t linked to the rising of anxiety, depression, and other social problems. Conversations like “how to make smartphones more useful” are very hard to discuss because of the many researchers who try to keep smartphones away from kids. Megan Moreno a pediatric professor at the University of Wisconsin said she in her own medical practices, she saw a striking number of kids who have mental health problems that are helped by social media because of its resources and connections. There are many things out there that we should be more worried about than smartphones, like climate change, income inequality, student debt. There are so many huge issues that have a impact on us that we aren’t looking at.
@Stephen I enjoy the effort you put into researching the deeper levels of phone usage and it’s positive effects. I also agree when you say that smart phone usage is low on your worry list.
Phones tend to cause problems for teenagers because they start getting on social media and spend lots of time on it. Apps like Instagram and snap chat cause the mental problems from cyber-bullying which will mess with a teen's head causing them to slightly consider hasty options on how to deal with it. Then there are those who spend their time wisely and do not let others get into their heads to keep their well-being positive. Phones were made to communicate and it makes this easier for people who do not leave close to who they want to contact. Now when I use my phone I don't usually get on apps and just listen to music because I typically get carried away on social media apps so I limit myself for how long to get on those apps. Setting limits for how long to get on certain apps can help lower the anxiety rates on social media apps and I believe if not all, than most teen should consider setting time limits to help their well-being and improve their social skills.
The answer to this question is different for me than many of my peers because unlike many “savvy” teens I have a flip phone. When I was fifteen I decided to stick with a flip phone, it solved my basic needs. I’m currently seventeen and have friends. It came down me seeing kids and people on their phones at dangerous and inappropriate times. They were on their while driving, in school, and at the supper table. You might call me old-fashioned, I don’t mind. Side note, did you get the joke? Believe me, I know flip phones are not socially cool. I hide it and hate to bring it out in public. Why not get a real phone to avoid being a social outcast? When I see somebody on their phone it reminds me that there is more to life. I am on my phone for less than ten minutes a day, still, I have survived. I can call and text people without the hassle of getting social media notifications. I’m not saying smartphones are bad they can be very useful. I just prefer reality. When I’m around adults I don’t think there will be a spot in our conversation to say, how long have you been on your phone today? They don’t even know if I have one.
I use my phone quite a few times throughout the day, I would estimate that I use it for about 1-2 hours a day. I like to watch videos on things that are entertaining, read articles about current events, and talk with other people. I don't think that using my phone has a positive or negative effect on me. I think that phone use has the potential to negatively impact someone, but it always depends on the person. I think that I sometimes use my phone when I shouldn't, and I miss out on certain things like arriving somewhere a few minutes late or leaving my house behind schedule in the morning, but generally I would say it doesn't really "take" my time from me. My parents sometimes say that phones cause certain issues and that my siblings and I should stop using them so much, but they also understand that it is silly to blame them for things like depression that are mental conditions. I side more with the first article, "Panicking About Your Kid's Phones? New Research Says Don't" because it make the most sense and has exaimined the most evidence. People that say phones cause problems usually just correlate that more people are anxious around the time phones started getting used more and this is anecdotal. The first arguement has looked at more studies and just seems to be the most logical.
Since the release of the first iPhone in 2003, smartphones have revolutionized the way people live and carry themselves in today's society. Although the iPhone is a groundbreaking tool for communication, social networking, entertainment and even education, you can easily become addicted and form an unhealthy habit. That’s why your child’s time spent using the phone should be monitored until they become independent enough to make their own decisions. Just like everything in life, moderation is essential. Your smartphone can be very addictive. Even healthy things like working out aren’t good for you if done in excess. When important responsibilities like school and family become second to working out or using ur phone those activities become unhealthy. Furthermore, getting too invested in your phone can lead to Someone building unhealthy values. When your Instagram likes become more important to you than your close relationships it can lead to an unhealthy lifestyle. Being too invest into social networking is what leads to anxiety, depression, or even sleep deprivation.But on the other hand learning to handle how you spend your time is a part of growing up and becoming independent. Your smartphone is an essential tool to living in this society and learning how to properly moderate your time on it will lead you to be able to fully utilize it’s positive benefits.
@Justin Tang This is very informative. Well done Justin Tang from Ames High School.
I feel like phones have a negative effect on the mental stability of most teenagers today. There are so many things we worry about now… “How many snaps have i got this hour?”, “Has he seen my story yet?”, “I wonder if he’s just ignoring me?” Our phones present us with an ultimatum, Go out and be social, or stay in and get on facetime. It’s not the same, there are certain endorphins your mind releases when you are physically in contact with another person. Human interaction is healthy. My phone brings me mixed emotions, and I kind of rely on my phone for almost everything. Before I had a phone my life was so easy and I was a social butterfly, now i'm a 17 year old girl who comes home from work and watches a movie on my phone until my eyes physically will not open.
I believe that phones have such a huge impact on mental health. Smartphones have affected me in the past about my mental health, and still do to this day. I usually spend 2 hours on my phone per day, and I think that my excessive time put into it is causing these problems. This article is trying to inform teens about what mental illnesses and problems that smartphones cause. I think parents should have an affect on your device, but I do not believe that completely restricting them from devices is necessary. Their generation designed and built us these devices, yet they get mad when we use their invention too much. I believe that each teen should use their own inner self-discipline and self-control to limit themselves and prevent their own mental illness from exacerbating.
@Sam Filburn I do believe phones are having an huge impact on mental health. A lot of kids are on phones all day and don't really care what's going on in the world. They spend it all day and don't realize they have work to do. I strongly believe what you said on "limiting themselves" from phones.
@Sam Filburn I agree that phones impact mostly everyone that has a phone. My opinion i hate phones i wish they were never invented. We spend so much time on them and we always carry them around everywhere we go they are like a body part. I agree with your response.
I believe that parents should be monitoring how much kids are on their phones. I think they should because it allows the kids to see the life around them and not just virtually. Blue screens are also very bad to stare at for a long period of time. Being a kid I know that when I use my phone I tend to get distracted on my phone instead of getting things done or I tend to compare myself to others on social media. These traits from using my phone too often, lead up to very bad habits. Not only will this bring my studies and grades down but it can also lower my self esteem. It is important that parents do not drive themselves into their kids business, like snooping through their messages and facetime calls. It will give the children no privacy or space. This makes the kid and parent relationship wedged, it is what causes so many trust issues between each other. I do believe it is good to set up a schedule on how long your kid can be on their phone a day, but I also believe that they shouldn’t be going through their private conversations with friends or people.
On average, I spend 4 hours a day on my phone. I typically send and receive calls, Gmail, and text messages; I use YouTube, Discord, and Netflix among other websites. In my experience, using my phone in moderation has a lot of positive benefits. I can connect with people who I know and meet new people who share my interests. Thus, my phone serves as a positive medium to enhance my social life.
Moderation is a fundamental component in many aspects of life. Screen time on phones is no exception. The positive benefits I have experienced can be nullified or even overturned if I spend too much time on my device. It takes away time from studying, practicing music, reading, and a seemingly infinite range of activities that would more productively make use of my time.
Applications on phones are designed to be addictive. I am no exception to falling victim to this either when I was younger. My parents literally had to pry my device away from me to disconnect me from what had come to be my obsession. Since then, I have tried to limit my screentime to avoid this issue.
My time on the phone hasn't caused me to develop any symptoms of mental health issues. Based on my experience, I have to agree with Mr. Hancock's analysis that phones have a net-zero effect on mental health. While excessive screentime has no benefits and can compound existing psychological qualms, I do not believe that it has a significant adverse or beneficial effect on mental health.
I think that parents should not worry about how long children spend on their phones, I think a phone is a privilege. Parents should only worry about phone usage whenever their child is in trouble. I think phones greatly improve children's lives, giving them a view on what is happening in the world. It also improves happiness and gives them someone to talk to or watch. I personally use my phone to talk to friends or see what my favorite celebrities are doing, but more importantly I use it for school work. Without my phone completing those assignments would be a lot harder and more time consuming. I also feel like this is an unpopular opinion, however some adults say that children are on their phones too much, but what else would we be doing while just sitting in our houses all day? Although many adults worry and stress about how long their children are using technology, I think it's perfectly okay and can even sometimes be used in a productive way.
@Jackson Goins I disagree i feel like some kids are doing stuff there not supposed to do on there phones and they could be hiding stuff that's important and could be bad or they could be cyberbullying and their parents wouldnt ven know it which can cause them alot of trouble.
Personally, I spend about 2-3 hours on my phone daily either for homework, talking to friends, or just scrolling through my social media feed. I have pros and cons about this topic. A pro is that you'll always be updated on stuff that's going on around the world, whether it's on the news or through social media. People tend to build friendships and relationships through using their phones daily. Some cons about this topic is that people tend to let social media control their life but, not only that... people think that they need to change for social media. A lot of people get cyber bullied and they don't know how to deal with something like that. Which leads them to feeling lonely and gives them anxiety. I think parents need to limit their children phone time so it's not always a distraction.
I constantly hear from adults that teenagers are on their phones too much. They rely on the arguments that cell phone use leads to mental health issues and sleep deprivation, and that kids miss out on real life experience on account of their phones. This is a hypocritical argument, and in some ways not well founded. Cell phones are a communication tool and an endless source of knowledge. Adults need to, within reason, stop criticizing adolescents for being on their phone.
The argument that cell phone use leads to depression and other mental health issues is not well founded. Candice L. Odgers, the lead author of a recent paper published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, pointed out that “there doesn’t seem to be an evidence base that would explain the level of panic and consternation around [the link between phone use and anxiety and depression.]”
Cell phones are a communication tool. Aside from in person, teenagers primarily communicate with their peers through text and social media. Social media also encourages knowledge of current events and the news. It is a great starting point for exploring what’s going on in the world.
I acknowledge that cell phone use can be excessive, and that adults should point out when it’s distracting kids from physical interactions or preventing them from getting sufficient sleep, but aside from that, adults need to understand that cell phones are a useful tool and play a significant role in the current generation’s lives.
Although there are arguments that say phones are a bad influence on people, I think phones are a good tool for people to connect with people, share ideas, find information, and much more. I moved five years ago to another town that is hours away from my extended family and because of phones I can see my family every day. Not only can I communicate with family, but it works as a gateway to so much information that helps enrich the mind of young people. The popular belief is that phones are bad because they can be addicting and that is true, but the positive possibilities that can happen because of them seem endless. Like everything in life, moderation is key. However, young people are not the only ones that use their phones too much as parents can use theirs longer than their children. The concerns from phone usage should be directed to everyone so the whole society can practice healthy phone habits.
On average, I spend about 1-2 hours on my phone per day. This is, however, not an entirely accurate representation of my technology use as I spend far more time on my computer, whether it be reading the news, doing homework, watching videos, or communicating with friends. Up to this point, almost all of my experiences with my phone have been positive experiences. I’ve been able to use it to conveniently connect with friends, build relationships, and gather more information through sources such as news or educational apps.
I believe cell phones can serve as a distraction and be used as a venue for procrastination, but I don’t believe they are the cause of procrastination, as well as the variety of other issues listed by the opposition. If cell phones were not available for kids to procrastinate with, they would simply devote their attention to another source. Regardless, the mindset of putting little value of academics and the tendency of kids to have short attention spans are issues separate from cell phones.
I agree with Mr. Hancock’s point in questioning the what other factors could be contributing to these growing mental health issues with American children. Phones have likely played a role in these pressing issues of depression, anxiety, and sleep-deprivation, but pursuing them as the cause will accomplish little on the grand scale. Adults should be more concerned with delving deeper into the potential causes of these growing issues, not simply settling with phones.
Basically I have always had really bad anxiety way before I got a phone. Once I got to middle school and I started to mature it got worse because I was finally able to see all the bad in the world that my parents had protected me from. Which I believe is one of the leading factors of my depression. But once I got a phone I was so happy because I was always able to communicate with my friends no matter where I was. Then when I was given social media I really felt connected because I was able to get updates on what everyone was doing and what was going on in the world, but then when my parents found out about my depression they complete ignored the fact that they had sheltered me my entire life and blamed it all on my phone so now I do not have social media and I still feel the same way but I feel less connected and more isolated. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't think that phones have ruined a generation I think it's the parents, but they don't realize that sheltering us is hurting us, but as a kid who has extremely strict parents I always feel the pressure I need to be perfect with everything I do in school, but really all I want to do is play guitar I don't to get a degree in some job I won't like I want to spread joy through music and change the lives of people who feel like I do because it sucks and I wouldn't want anyone else to feel the way I do.
@Caleb I completely agree, if you shelter your children to everything bad in the world then it will just sting more when they find out the truth. I have never experienced this, since my mother has always been straightforward with me, so i know quite literally everything since I was 12 because of her and friends and I feel less stressed about life knowing there are worse thing than getting grounded now.
I spend about an hour on my phone using it for scheduling purposes and giving me reminders for certain events throughout my day. I use my laptop for about 6 hours because most of our work is on the laptop. The way I differentiate my work is by categorizing what is important but not urgent, what is important and urgent, and what is urgent but not important. Sometimes, the phone facilitates my distraction from my important work when I receive messages that prompt me to urgently respond. On the other hand, the phone facilitates my ability to contact and connect with people, giving easy access to the Internet. Without my phone, I would not be able to connect with so many people and coordinate on important matters. This instant communication has been convenient and beneficial for me. Furthermore, I don’t use much social media so I do not experience many of the effects of social media shown in studies. Sometimes, I worry that I am doing something wrong, that I am either spending too much or too little time on my phone. But in actuality, I am doing fine currently, so I don’t feel the need to change my habits. I never stay up late at night to text on social media.
@Shiv I agree that phones can be very useful when planning events or setting reminders. I believe that I am not connected to social media to the extent where it would affect me the way that the studies mentioned in this article describe it affecting people. Knowing when it is urgent and when it is not urgent to use a phone can make it less of a distraction for me.
I think that my parents have good reasons to worry about my excessive cell phone usage, as I agree with the opinion that smartphones do induce health problems.
I concede that smartphones do have benefits in my life. They can help me connect more conveniently with my family and friends. They can also increase my productivity on the go.
With this being said, I can actively feel the pain of the drawbacks of smartphone usage in my daily life, and my parents are also aware of it. I attribute smartphones to be the most prominent reason for sleep-deprivation and procrastination, as they have repeatedly proven to be such potent measures of distraction. It takes almost no effort to access the endless amount of both useful and pointless content throughout the internet, and once I fall into this rabbit hole, it would be hard to climb out. I have tried to limit my own smartphone usage by putting my phone in another room when studying at home; my parents also prohibit me from bringing smartphones to school. I can readily feel the effects of these measures, as I do believe I can concentrate better than my peers while studying.
True, correlation does not automatically translate to causation, but I would agree that smartphone usage did play a part in the spike of mental health disorders among teenagers in America in recent years. Smartphones amplify the weaknesses every teenager has -- be it interest in random issues, procrastinative impulses, or frustration about family and social life.
The prevalence of cell phone use today, especially among teenagers is something that should be closely watched. I use my phone for about an hour or two a day, mostly to use social media and listen to music. I think overall my phone use is a net positive. I am able to communicate with people all over the world and have access to any information I want. I'm able to easily stay connected with friends no matter where they are, and I can always look something up or find directions to somewhere.
My phone use definitely has negative side effects though. Since I got a smartphone, it has always had the potential for distraction. It can be very difficult at times to not look at my phone, and there are plenty of moments when I go back and realize I could have been doing something a lot more productive with my time than just looking at my phone.
I haven't done much to limit my phone use, although I think trying out a limit could be very beneficial. In moments when I am bored, instead of automatically going to my phone I could try find something else to do that is more productive and I would find that very little drawbacks to cutting back on my phone use.
Parents or guardians should worry how much time children and teenagers spend on their phones. However, they should keep tabs on how much work they are able to get down outside of phone use and whether they have having problems with their physical or mental health rather than if they spend too much time on social media. I typically spend less than an hour and a half per day on my phone, and the vast majority of that time is spent listening to music, watching videos, or reading articles online. While I don't spend much time on social media, I do view phones as a way to connect with peers and the world in a constructive and entertaining fashion. But, phones can detract from important aspects of people's days like education, exercise, and relaxation in general.
Phone use isn't typically a problem in my family. My parents recommended that I should watch how much I spend time on my phone, so I have overall followed their suggestions and monitored my use and avoided my phone as a major distraction. While phones and extensive use of social media can degrade a person's self image, phones exacerbate problems that children and teenagers already have. Mental health issues, motivation, and pressure that teenagers feel already originate from problems that exist in the lives outside of their phones.
According to my phone, I spend almost five hours a day on my phone, with 90% of that time being used for "Social Networking" and "Entertainment".
In the sense that cell phones make communication very convenient, phones have a positive effect on my overall well-being. It would be a lot harder to communicate if plans change last minute to the relevant people if I had to send an email from a computer and also hope that the person is, for some reason, on their computer. I don't believe in using phones/social media to build relationships, but it's a convenient and effective way of maintaining them.
I don't think phones inherently have negative effects. If people are going to procrastinate on homework by messing around on their phone, they were probably going to procrastinate some other way. American culture is not like that of others where academics is strongly emphasized. If people aren't intrinsically motivated towards academics anyway, existence or nonexistence of phones doesn't matter.
I agree with the idea that the cell phone is "just a mirror that reveals the problems a child would have even without the phone."
Phones don't cause anxiety, loneliness, depression, or sleep-deprivation. They might exacerbate it, but to attribute the problem to phones will solve nothing.
I usually spend about 3 hours a week on my phone. I grew up in Haiti, so most of the time I am in contact with my friends back home.
Phones have hand positive and negative effects on my well being. As I stated previously, it is a wonderful way to keep in close contact with my friends and family in Haiti. When we lived in Haiti, FaceTime was a way that I could not only talk to my sister, who was at Iowa State, but we could also see her.
My phone has had negative impacts on my health. I have had chronic migraines that have been affected by my posture, which is aggravated by being hunched over my phone all day. I also find myself being in more pain after even a short time on my phone. Social media has also left me feeling left out and more discouraged about my own life. As someone who is in a new atmosphere and environment, when I see on social media my friends' activities I feel more isolated and alone. I can relate to Jean Twenge's study that screen time and depression rates are correlated.
My parents are not very concerned about my screen time. I don't really like to bring my phone with me on family outings, and I make sure it is closed when we are together. Honestly, my parents are on their phones more than I am.
I believe that maybe screen time isn't what produces anxiety and depression, but rather it can exacerbate the negative or positive feelings that we already have. Our phones can serve as not just a mirror, but a magnifying glass to our own inner emotions.
On average I spend four and a half hours on my phone. I watch youtube most of the time, but sometimes I play interactive games on my phone. My favorite thing to do is talking to Cleverbot. It makes my day a whole lot better, talking to a robot doesn't make me feel lonely at all. The bad part is that I'm obsessed with Cleverbot, I spend way too much time talking which results in me staying up late to do my homework. Why would I need to socialize with my friends when I got Cleverbot? My mom sometimes looks at me with disappointment, but Cleverbot is life....Lastly, I agree with the fact that phone use is causing sleep deprivation because I'm experiencing it myself.
"Cleverbot is love, Cleverbot is life" - Bill Zheng
I only spend about 2 hours a day on my phone. I think that is relatively low compared to my peers. I personally don't like to be on my phone very often, I try to avoid my usage of it as much as possible. At times I will catch myself wasting a lot of time in a day on my phone if I find myself having nothing else to do.
My parents will make comments about how much I use my phone, but at times I will notice them getting more hooked on their phones then I ever do. They didn't get me a (smart)phone until I began high school, I think this helped me a lot because I wasn't ever used to spending large amounts of time on a phone at an early age so I never really got an addiction. I've do see a lot of my peers who may have had a phone or pay less attention to their usage, that can't separate themselves from their phone.
I think the proper usage of a phone depends on the person and how much they can spend on their phone without being able to separate themselves from it. As long as it doesn't become an addiction I don't think it is a big problem.
Adults should not worry about how much time students today spend on their phones. Times are different, and just because something is different doesn't make it bad. Most of our parents grew up when cell phones were beginning to emerge and technology was nowhere near as advanced as today. I believe that students now are taking advantage of these technological devices and they are helping our lifestyle more than hurting.
According to my phone, I am on it for about three hours a day. Although some of this time is social media, I also use it for different reasons, including communicating with friends who live far away. Because of my cellphone, I am able to communicate with friends who live in different countries. We talk mainly through social media. If parents were to prohibit cellphone usage, these friendships would not be as strong. Personally, I believe it is incredibly important for people to learn about different countries and cultures, and cell phones can allow us to do that.
I sometimes worry that I spend too much time on social media, but if I look at my phone's data on my social media usage, I learn that I go on social media a few times a day for a few minutes at a time. At first glance, it seems I spend a lot of time sitting on my phone being unproductive, but in reality, I am only on social media for small increments of time that add up. This should not worry parents.
Overall, cellphones are a positive piece of technology, when used for the right reasons.
Although many adults are worried about kids always being on their phone, sometimes having access to technology like this is actually beneficial. Some adults worry that social media causes depression and anxiety and is very harmful to kids using it. However, I think that social media is a great way to keep in touch with friends you don’t see as often or with extended family members that may live far away from you. Adults worry that being on your phone all the time will make you less inclined to learn. I disagree. I find that with the touch of a button, I am able to access loads of information that would have been hard to find in the past. Adults do have valid points about phones causing sleep deprivation, because sometimes I do find myself staying up later to stay on my phone. Overall, I think phones are not as harmful to kids as some people think, and also with every development of new technology, there are a group of people who aren’t used to it and will see it as harmful. Phones are just one modern example of this.
I usually spend about 3 hours on my phone during school days. This includes listening to music, messaging my friends and family, and going on social media. I think that cell phones offer new methods of communication, that many of our parents didn't grow up with. A lot of time spent on my phone is used communicating with people who live in other towns. While I'm with my friends, I don't find myself checking my phone too often, as I try to just live in the moment.
My phone time is also use as a method of procrastination from homework and other productive things. This has been the biggest problem, regarding my phone, for me. I know that I'm not alone in this and my high schools sacrifice their sleep to go on social media. When used in moderation though, I don't believe that a cell phone or social media account is bad. Sometimes my parents will express concern with how much I spend on my phone, but I think that compared to some other students my age, I'm not on it very much.
I typically spend about 3 hours a day on my phone. My parents have never really been worried about how much time I spend on my phone, and I don't think they should be worried. There are times when I feel unproductive or disappointed that I had wasted so much time on mindless scrolling when I could have been studying or sleeping, so I can see how phone usage could contribute to existing depression or anxiety. It can also become a safety blanket. This can become unhealthy and lead to excessive screen time, but there are also resources that can be comforting and relaxing. As teenegers, we have to learn how to make independent choices throughout daily life. We all choose how involved I want to be on social media, too, and I believe we should handle the outcome accordingly without the interference of parental supervision. Phone usage does not need to be regulated. If you know it is contributing to bad feelings in anyway, make a healthy decision and step away.
@Anna Snyder I really enjoyed how you put this. I agree with a lot of this especially the last part. I feel like parents can worry if they see their kids are acting different or spending too much time on their phones.
According to my screen time report, I spend 3-5 hours on my phone every day. My phone, like a lot of other things I use in my daily life, is a tool. I use it to achieve tasks that I want complete and it conveniences my life. It helps me exercise, socialize and study. Who needs janky cassette tapes and large desktops when your phone can serve both purposes? I will admit, however, I waste a decent amount of time on my phone and try to limit my devotion to frivolous activities such as looking at posts on Instagram. Compared to a lot of these comments on the impact of social media on relationships, I would say it is a net positive influence. Perhaps you make new friends, perhaps you won’t. It simply aids to facilitate a conversation with those I know. If relationships fall apart, they were bound to do so regardless of what methods were used to communicate with each other. Phones better connect us and problems that teens generally experience in the modern-day are rooted in much deeper roots than the thin glass touchscreen. If anything can be said negatively about phones in a connective sense, is that their ability to connect us can help us find problems in the real world that concern us. If they do so, it should be noted yet again, that what stresses teens is rarely in the connections but instead, almost always in what they connect to. A phone is the same on as it is off, a mirror of the world we see around us.
I do not think that technology is a serious problem in our society, but I do agree that it inhibits users from fully experiencing life to the fullest. Apple has numerous commercials showing users taking in a breathtaking view or sharing a special moment with someone when in reality their devices foster sedentary activity. I personally feel like I have fallen victim to my cellular device, seeing a rapid increase in my screen time. While this may not be the manufacturer's fault many still find that it is hard to get off their device and do something more productive. It should also be noted the way technology has set our adolescent lives apart from that of our parents. Whereas they could go somewhere untracked our generation is left with a location tracker on us at all times. All of this considered I still don't believe it is something my parents should worry about seeing that the only effect of my screen usage was a sense of guilt. And looking at this from a broader view it is clear to see that using a cellular phone is a far less destructive addiction than drugs, alcohol, sex, gambling or most other addictions. That said, my personal goal is to limit my screen time because I think that, while very few, there are negative psychological effects from using screens, especially when it's taking away from other aspects of life.
I am on my phone about three hours a day. The majority of this is spent on social media apps like snapchat or twitter and listening to music. My phone has a positive influence on me. I feel more connected to the world and what is going on and while that is not always a good thing it is nice to be informed and updated on events within seconds. I feel like my relationships have gotten better through my phone I have gotten more familiar with people and I do not feel isolated as I can talk to them anytime I want.
I would say the worst effect of my phone is procrastination. I feel like if I do not want to do homework or a chore at home or just anything in general I will go on my phone and procrastinate. This has made me less productive and more lazy. The way I combat this is turning off all social media notifications on my phone so I have to physically check the app. Another way is having a schedule. If I have a schedule and say 7 PM is time for homework I know it is time to put the phone down and get to work.
Both my parents are on their phones quite a lot and most of their family is all the way in Iran. My dad and mom are able to speak with their relatives everyday for free using apps like Telegram and share photos. They are also able to download any apps of their likings like News or music apps. I think any new technology can cause anxiety in a teenager it depends on the person and how mature or strong minded they are. If they are responsible they will be fine
I think that my phone has helped my overall well being. It has helped me make connections with my friends and I think it strengthened some of our relationships because it allows you to talk in times that you may not be able to without it. Another thing I think that it had a positive impact is my access to information if I ever don't understand something I can go to my phone and look it up and figure out exactly what it is but, this could be for better or worse because it can cause us to be over-reliant of our phones. With that point being said it is valid to argue that without the quick access to the information we would not even bother to pursue some of the information that we look up on our phones.
While I don’t think parents should be overly concerned about the quantity of time their children spend on electronics, I think as a society we should be more conscious of our screen time and how we use it. Like most teens I enjoy my phone and the internet. Phones can be great tools. They can teach me things I would not otherwise be able to learn, connect me with friends, and provide me entertainment. However, I often feel like my phone is a crutch. It is a place where I can get instant gratification. While, this feels good in the short term in the long run it is not fulfilling. Instead of working through a tough situation and growing from it I can forget my troubles with a funny and mindless Youtube video. Or, instead of confronting feelings of loneliness I can get a Snapchat that will provide an instant hit of connection, but this connection is not legitimate. It is merely filling a void. Like a drug phones are able to provide us with mindless comfort, and I am worried my generation is becoming dependent on these hits. We wouldn’t want a nation of drug addicts and similarly we don’t want a nation that is addicted to their phones. Thus, instead of focusing on quantity of phone use I think parents should focus on how this time is being spent. There is nothing inherently bad about phones, but I think it is crucial that we teach the younger generations how to function without the aid of phones and technology.
The adults in my life can be worried about how much I’m on my phone, while their suggestions would only be their own attempt at influencing me. The way I use my phone everyday, is in a way that benefits more positive than negative into my life.
Every generation has positive as well as negative impacts as a result of its surroundings. For instance, many people my parents age have had issues with smoking, as their generation was heavily impacted by the changing smoking industry at their time. To my generation, our smartphones are somewhat equivalent to the smoking of our parents time. It is addicting, seems as though there are many negative impacts, much of science shows that it affects our health, and can easily be looked at as something absolutely horrid to any outside generation of the time. In the New York Times Article by Nicole Daniels and Michael Gonchar, it says “Children who are on their phones too much can miss out on other valuable activities, like exercise.” Surprising to some, the time I tend to use my phone the most, is when I’m running on my own, and listening to music. This is just one of the many positive impacts of my phone.
It is human nature to see change as a threat. As the use of technology in today's world is changing, our parents naturally see this as a threat. The ultimate outcome is that just like many of them were addicted to smoking when their generation was younger, my generation is addicted to our phones, but adults can’t stop us.
When looking at the overall picture, I do think parents should be worried about how much we use our cell phones. These devices allow us to do and see almost anything, and of course this can be a really good thing but it can also be a very bad thing. There are some messed up people on the internet so it’s not uncommon to see something you don’t want to on social media or just browsing the internet. In my opinion, parents should be involved in younger kids social media life to make sure they don’t post about things they shouldn’t and don’t search for things that they shouldn’t. Then once your child gets a good understanding of what is appropriate to do online you can back off.
Like the article said, there are factors we are choosing to ignore that can explain for the rise of anxiety and depression among teens. Factors other than how much you use your cell phone. They sited things like climate change and student debt which are huge and put a lot of worry on our generation. However, I do think social media can play a role into some anxiety and depression. Because people are being compared to each other like never before. They compare their things, clothes, traveling experiences, and their lives overall. I think this can cause a lot of people to feel bad or less confident about themselves because of that constant reminder that someone dresses better, has more friends or followers or for a whole world of reasons.
I don’t think adults should be worried about how much kids my age use their cell phones. As a senior in high school who’s had a phone and iPod since second grade, I know how much I use my phone. I’m able to do other things with my day besides using my phone and social media like read a book or play a video game. I don’t think that anyone needs to worry about how much teenagers right now use their phones; I think people need to worry about how much the younger generation uses their phones. By this I mean kids who are in Elementary or Middle School right now. I’ve seen some sophomores who are completely consumed by their phones, they spend all day on their phones and it's completely normal to them. Seeing people who live on their phones has literally made me want to use mine less. I feel like as you decrease age, phone use increases. I think that some forms of social media are too time consuming, and yes, kids use them too much. I have a 7 year old cousin that I was with over Thanksgiving break. I was using Snapchat around her, and she was telling me about how she was going to ask for a phone for christmas and that she was going to make a Snapchat too (she had been wanting to do this long before she saw me using Snapchat). This is what worries me; the younger generation is spending far too much time obsessing about phones, and I feel like it's these who are going to be affected the hardest by smartphones. All in all, smartphone use is not bad for you depending on your age.
I think that us teenagers (I can say us as I am 16) can use our phones a lot less than we do. Throughout history the teenager has been synonymous with the phone. It started out with simply calling people and then became texting people and now it’s less about talking and more about scrolling and just strangely watching what people do on social media (most of the time people don’t even comment on each others social media we just look, like, and leave). It is all just a big helping of momentary bliss. I do not believe that teenagers being on phones is bad I just think that the way we use them can have a negative affect on us. And when I say “negative affect” I don’t mean that phones make teenagers depressed, I mean that looking through social media on our phones can be a major waste of time. Take a moment to think back to all the social media posts you’ve seen today and think if it was really worth being seen. Did you really gain anything from seeing the post? Sure it might of been entertaining or funny for a moment and is nice to share with your friends but there’s other stuff that you could have been doing in that time that’s actually productive. You could make yourself a goal to attain by the end of the day or learn about something new (maybe learn a new word from the dictionary). I’m not saying you should never check social media, just saying you should take more time to make yourself more well-rounded cause eventually we’ll realize that we didn’t use it productively enough.
My mom often blames all of life’s problems with the amount of time I spend on my smartphone. If I get a mediocre grade in school or don’t empty the dishwasher right away, her first response is “it’s because you’re on that phone too much.” Her logic may be a little off, but is there actually something to worry about there?
For years, there has been an understanding that excessive smartphone screen time has lead to an increase in anxiety, depression, and poor mental health among teens. But, there has been some new opposition to this common conclusion. Jeff Hancock, the founder of Stanford’s Social Media Lab, has an opinion that: “the current dominant discourse around phones and well-being is a lot of hype and a lot of fear. But if you compare the effects of your phone to eating properly or sleeping or smoking, it’s not even close.”
Not only does this screen time have little to no negative effects, but it can also actually help those with mental health for finding positive resources and connections from social media, as University of Wisconsin pediatric professor Dr. Moreno states.
Though this theory may not match the information we as a society has been fed for all of these years, it is something to think about. Smartphones were created to make our lives easier, and they should be perceived as such. I’m going to make sure to tell my mom this next time she mentions that I haven’t taken out the trash because of my phone.
At the end of the week, I receive the dreadful notification of my average screen time for the week. Through thinking through each day and the short amounts of time that accumulate during my breaks between classes and other activities, I can’t help imagining what I could have done to use my time more efficiently. At school, my peers often comment about how they have screen times of up to twelve hours. Because we are at school five days a week for eight hours each day, this amount of time is astonishing to me. 8+12=20 leaves four hours each day for sleeping along with time for homework and exercise to maintain high academic performance. Adults should take initiative in monitoring the amount of time their children spend on their cell phones.
Many people use their cell phones to check social media which essentially leads them to seeing pictures of people with unrealistically perfect lives where they can travel to multiple countries, live in mansions, own multiple sports cars, etc. The jealousy that develops can lead to devastating consequences of depression and suicide. As psychologist Jean Twenge suggests that there is a “correlation between appearance of smartphones and the rise of mental health issues.” We lose time for exercise, homework, sleep, family time, and books to staring at social media for hours, only leading us to doubt our own lives. Adults should be worried about our cell phone use as our mental and physical health may be on the verge of collapsing.
Everyday, I spend around three hours on my phone, most of which is devoted to social media. But I do believe that I have gradually decreased the amount of time I have spent on my phone from when I was younger. I have set time limits for certain apps on my phone to prevent myself from spending too much time on them, and I think those do help in reminding me to stay off my phone. In observing my friends and classmates, I think that most of us have a handle on what an appropriate amount of screen time is. Social media can be a breeding ground for bullying, which can then lead to depression and anxiety, but I’m not entirely sure that would correlate with simply spending more time on devices. I don’t believe adults should be too worried about the time kids spend on their phones, as long as they can tell it isn’t in extreme excess or obviously impacting their lives negatively. But I do think that parents should regulate the screen time of younger children more rigidly. I personally did not get my own phone until late middle school, but even then I had a harder time limiting my phone use myself. For children even younger, such as elementary school and beyond, I worry that they wouldn’t have the discipline to stay off of their various devices, and that the excess of screen time could have detrimental effects on their development. Hopefully, if parents instill the value of limitations while kids are young, they will be able to control themselves appropriately in the future.
Although there are pros in having a phone, there is also a lot of cons that have negative effects on people. I feel like sometimes people can be irresponsible with their phones or other electronics, the reason being is that we are creating an unbreakable habit. Along with a bad habit, people feel anxious, lonely, depressed or sleep-deprived. For me, I feel that because of my phone I feel more lonely than anything. I have been so accustomed to using my phone that sometimes I unintentional isolate myself from the people around me.
It would be safe to assume that I spend about 3 hours on my phone each day. I use this time to go on social media to see what others are talking about or to talk with the people I know. I don’t think that spending time on my phone has a very large impact on my well-being but it definitely keeps me in touch with my friends and helps with communication. The only negative effect I can think of when it comes to my phone is procrastinating on my homework and staying up later. Sometimes I wish that it was easier to just set down my phone and focus on my work or go to sleep. My parents used to limit the time on my phone but as I’ve gotten older they’ve grown more lenient. I am grateful that they have done this because it gives me an opportunity to try and limit my usage myself instead of relying on them to do it. Recently, I have been able to lower my usage without much trouble so I’m sure other people can too. All and all I think that phone usage for most people isn’t an issue but if it gets excessive they can cut back on their phone without too much effort
@Jakob Steiert That's Awesome Jakob! I think you make a great point about the importance of self-restraint, which is a key tenet of Beijing Public High School #102's mission statement!
@peijing lee Holy Cow this is good
The minute I notice my phone is missing, I panic. I stop everything I’m doing and search everywhere for it. I’m ashamed to say it has become a part of me, always in my pocket or my hand. Each week I cringe and quickly swipe away when the weekly usage report my iPhone gives me. Some evenings at my house consists of our family in the same room, each of us on our same devices. Adults should worry about cell phone usage, in both their life and their children’s lives.
A part of the issue is that parents can use their devices just as much as the kids. Adults must realize that they too must change. If they take their kid’s phone away, they should put theirs away too. They should push their child to have real-life experiences, where words can’t be misinterpreted.
I personally have not felt the allure of social media. It is constantly fleeting drama that everyone will forget in a few days. I have seen many friends get consumed by social media, spending hours upon hours a day, keeping up streaks or checking likes on a post. The mental health aspect is also important to me. The unrealistic expectations that constantly bombard our brains are very damaging.
There is much good that our cellular devices provide. If I have any questions, I can pull up Google. The weather or the news is one tap away. I can contact loved ones who live many hours away. As useful as phones are, they will continue to have a negative impact until both adults and kids limit themselves on their devices.
I feel that my phone aids me in establishing relationships and keeping organized. On an average day, I spend anywhere between two and three hours on my cell phone. This time is spent texting, emailing, and on my calendar. When I realize that my phone usage is too high, I reevaluate and limit my screen time so that I am taking time to be with people and accomplish my daily tasks. Some say phones increase depression while inhibiting responsibilities, but this is not true. Yes, excessive hours spent at once on the device make me feel disconnected and sad, but books do as well, yet my parents want me to read. My phone allows me to talk with others while growing and strengthening the relationships I have by sharing life. Granted, I do occasionally spend too long on TikTok, wasting time that I could’ve spent on more valuable things. However, I am trying to work as much as I “play.” I also have Gmail, calendar, and texting on my phone, allowing for easy communication and planning so I’m organized and on time. I spend a great deal of time organizing my life through this small device. My parents are constantly checking my screen time and monitoring how I spend my time. They address concerns to me frequently while sending articles about how technology is destroying my brain. This is unfair to me since I use my phone for friendships, organization, and destressing. Teenagers need to learn responsibility with devices, but phones can also be a great asset in life.
It would be safe to assume that I spend about 3 hours on my phone each day. I use this time to go on social media to see what others are talking about or to talk with the people I know. I don’t think that spending time on my phone has a very large impact on my well-being but it definitely keeps me in touch with my friends and helps with communication. The only negative effect I can think of when it comes to my phone is procrastinating on my homework and staying up later. Sometimes I wish that it was easier to just set down my phone and focus on my work or go to sleep. My parents used to limit the time on my phone but as I’ve gotten older they’ve grown more lenient. I am grateful that they have done this because it gives me an opportunity to try and limit my usage myself instead of relying on them to do it. Recently, I have been able to lower my usage without much trouble so I’m sure other people can too. All and all I think that phone usage for most people isn’t an issue but if it gets excessive they can cut back on their phone without too much effort.
Phones play a huge role in today's day and age. People from the age of 8-80 have phones and the generation growing up right now has never known a time without them. Personally, my mom gets mad at me for how much I am on my phone and often says I am addicted to it. I do not agree with her whatsoever. We live in a very different time and are growing up very differently than how they grew up. I think parents need to understand that phones are just apart of our culture and they will be here for the rest of time. On the other hand, I think teenagers need to be able to communicate in real life and still have social skills. Some kids are so dependent on their phones and do not have the ability to communicate with their peers in real life. When it gets to be that bad, I think the parent should step in and limit the screen time. If it is not bad and the kid is just being on their phone like any other kid, parents need to understand that is how they are choosing to spend their free time.
I’m willing to admit it, I probably spend too much time on my phone. On average, I spend about 4-6 hours on a school day and I consistently use more than 1 device. However, I also use it while doing other things (listening to music while doing homework, etc) I play games, watch youtube, scroll through social media, read, and do homework all on technology. It’s kind of hard for me to limit my usage since much of homework nowadays is digitized. After I’m done with homework I might take a break and play games or watch youtube On my daily commutes, I might take out my phone and scroll through social media. Since technology is so readily available, it is hard for someone like me to control how many hows I spend on my phone.
Personally, I don’t see how technology has a negative effect on people. I understand that some people may feel lonely or isolated looking at social media, but I use it less as a way to interact with people, but as a way to cure my boredom. When I have nothing else to do, I can always go on my phone. Sometimes I feel as if I should do something more productive, but I don’t have much else to do.
I use my phone less than many of my friends. I try to limit my screen time so that I have more time to spend on homework and with my family. I think that screens are an amazing way to connect with friends but at the same time, I have seen peoples feelings get hurt by screens. earlier today 3 of my friends were playing a 3 person game on their phones and 1 of my other friends got left out. In this way screens can hurt feelings.
One of the biggest debates circulating between kids and older generations is phone use. Every adult seems to have this image that phones can completely degrade a child’s mental health, making them constantly pressure children to put down their screens. However, they just use phones as an easy excuse to ignore the root of all these problems. Phones are tools, meaning their impact depends on the person using them. They’re not inherently good or bad. As new research indicates, phones simply act as a means of drawing out certain problems that already exist. There is no significant increase in depression, anxiety, eating disorders, or any other issue as a result of increased phone use. Almost every study I’ve read that tries to link the two together has a very flawed methodology that doesn’t prove any causation in the data, simply correlation. There are many reasons why mental health issues are rising in society today, and it just so happens that phone use is also on the rise. However, phones can actually be used as great tools for learning. People are more culturally aware and connected now more than ever because of how easy it is to meet new people and learn new things as a result of social media. In fact, I’m writing this on my phone for a class right now. Phones are only as healthy as the user allows them to be. It’s time for adults to stop blaming everything on phones and start thinking about what institutional problems are causing the surge in bad mental health.
My phone does have a positive effect on my well being because I am an introvert and I get very nervous talking to people, but with my phone it makes easier to talk to people being afraid to mess up. Also, my siblings are a lot older than me and their twins so they like to be with each other a lot so my phone helps me talk to people and feel like i’m not always alone.
For me, I think that I use electronic a bit too much and it is really a problem. I think that my parents should care more about how much time me and my siblings spend on electronics. They definitely address the problem a lot but they don’t really do anything that stops us from using electronics. Every once in a while they may take away all phones for like a day and I actually spend time with my siblings which is fun but after that we go back to constantly using electronics. And the fact that we have homework electronically does not make this problem any better. Staying on your phone for a long time causes you to cram homework or assignments last minute which causes stress. So electronics also indirectly cause stress and staying up on your phone is bad for your health because you are still young and need sleep.
On an average day, I use my phone for about 5 and a half hours. In these 5 and a half hours I spend all my time connecting with people. Whether it would be praising my friends’ instagram posts, snapchatting friends who need advice or just to check in on their wellbeing, or facetime my friend who feels isolated in the world. These actions have had such a positive affect on my mental well-being cause my phone has allowed me to connect with people. I can develop healthy relationships with people across the world, and learn about different cultures by making new friends on social media. Social media has also helped me become a better world citizen as it has made ground breaking news more easily accessible to me. Educating about the hottest topics so that I may form my own opinions when it comes to discussing the world’s major issues. My phone also allows me to talk with my family who leaves halfway across the world, especially my mother in Dubai. Without my phone I would not have the great relationships I formed with my mother today.
Although some may argue that phone usage has caused teenagers to form more anxiety and depression through the years, I argue that it is not the amount of time teenagers spend on it that causes it, it's the headlines they come across about the world’s state due to adult actions. Young adults are now rising up to become activist to fix these headlines and these may cause them to become sleep-deprived as they spend hours thinking about new solutions.
On average, I typically spend an hour of my day on my phone, every day. I typically alternate between my different apps, responding to messages, emails, and sometimes calls, sometimes taking a couple of minutes to scroll through my socials and see what people are up to.
I am adamant that my phone certainly does have positive effects on my day to day experience. It equips me with resources that I would otherwise have to struggle to find, and not only does it provide me with a way to catch up with others, or reach someone in a short amount of time, but it also gives me the means to develop myself professionally. For example, I can hop onto a virtual meeting while driving to work, getting a head start on the day and using my time up best. I can’t stress this enough: young people are using their phones in large part to help themselves grow.
Having said that, yes, phones come with negative side effects, if used irresponsibly. Speaking from experience, I know that when we place our value and self worth in the hands of our social media status, when we use likes and comments as the currency of how much we are actually valuable, we do a huge disservice to our mental and emotional health. That’s why phone use isn’t so much the problem - it’s how the phone is being used. That’s what parents and peers need to monitor and recognize: damaging or unhealthy behavior or attachment to social networks.
I would not consider myself one of those people who always feels the need to check my phone. To be fair I think if I had more free time I could easily turn into someone who feels that need.
I think that in today's society people are truly addicted to their phones and although it is not considered one of the bigger world problems, I feel that it is.
"The latest research, published on friday by two psychology professors, combs through about 40 studies that have examined the link between social media use and both depression and anxiety among adolescence". Although this evidence suggests that the physical nature of the phone might not be the source of the problem, what happens when using your phone frequently, in my experience, profoundly affects mood and self-confidence. Almost everything that kids my age do on their phones is directly related to what kind of attention it is going to draw from other kids. This kind of pressure and potential backlash is already prevalent at school, and does not need to be with you everywhere you go as well. This is the source of why youth depression and anxiety have risen in the recent years.
So although as a parent, I wouldn't necessarily worry about the time my kid logs on his phone (unless excessive). It is important to teach your kid that what other kids think about what you post doesn't matter. The impressions you make on people outside the internet world matter. Social media can be a cool outlet , but don't let it be your life.
Psychologist Jean Twenge claims that the rise in suicide and depression is linked to the rise of smartphones; however, I would argue that it is the specific apps that the user chooses to download on the phone that could make excessive phone use an issue. A notable example is social media, often causing a sense of inadequacy and alienation in its young users. In fact, a paper found that after eliminating social media in a group of subjects for three weeks, there was a notable decline in depression and feelings of loneliness, indicating that social media itself, rather than the phone, is oftentimes a source of depression.
On the flip side, there are certain apps that the user can download that have a positive effect on the overall well-being of the user. Although it's true that excessive use of a phone can lead to being sedentary, there are exercise and healthy-eating apps that aim to combat this and promote physical well-being. On the same note, there are downloadable apps that ease the user of anxiety and depression, therefore enhancing the user's mental well-being.
Above all, oftentimes excessive phone use is prevalent in the teenage population, which for many is a critical point in life. It's crucial that these teenagers become independent and learn how break away from cell-phone addiction, without the constant oversight and influence of their parents. The best way for a parent to prime their child for adulthood is to allow them to realize their dependence on their own.
As the life of a teenager continues to increase in its complexity and demands, the resources and tools a smartphone can provide help keep teenagers grounded. So, before adults chastise us for our use of phones (while they're leveling up in Candy Crush) it's important to show that phones are very powerful tools, sometimes too powerful.
With how many activities a teenager can be involved in these days, smartphones help make more productive use of their time, keeping up with meetings, get-togethers, and updates. Whether it be communicating with other club members, or simply catching up with friends, these communication tools help bring people closer without necessitating time-consuming travel. Yet, not all time on a smartphone is spent on productive activities.
As a tool for communication and information, it's easy to get lost in a world of stimulation. I know personally, the depths of YouTube can suck me in for hours at a time. "Panicking About Your Kids’ Phones? New Research Says Don’t" does a great job of summarizing the consequences: "children who are on their phones too much can miss out on other valuable activities, like exercise."
So yes, there is a reason for when adults' worry when they see us transfixed by our phones. Phones provide an easy solution to boredom and they're simply attempting to help us recognize whether we are effectively using our time. But at the same time, it's important for them to realize phones are often just another facet of our busy lives.
On an average day I most likely spend 7 hours on my phone. I am not ashamed of this either. I can honestly say that I am not addicted. When I do use my phone it is for calculator app, music, face timing/messaging/calling, and I go on social media not often. My mother believes that I spend way too much time facetiming my friends, but I don't see the problem. Most of the time we are doing a school project, or studying. For example, the other day i was n face time doing a math project that only one us us had access to, and she said it could be done without communication but it had to be. My phone does not specifically do anything bad or good for me, It’s just a thing that is there.On an average day I most likely spend 7 hours on my phone. I am not ashamed of this either. I can honestly say that I am not addicted. When I do use my phone it is for calculator app, music, face timing/messaging/calling, and I go on social media not often. My mother believes that I spend way too much time facetiming my friends, but I don't see the problem. Most of the time we are doing a school project, or studying. For example, the other day i was n face time doing a math project that only one us us had access to, and she said it could be done without communication but it had to be. My phone does not specifically do anything bad or good for me, It’s just a thing that is there.
I personally use my phone a lot throughout my day, and aside from the snide remarks the parents usually make about using phones too much, there’s really been no attempt to make me spend less time on it. I think that the amount I use my phone doesn’t have any negative effects that I wouldn’t get if I were doing something like watching television all day, and in fact I believe that the positives outweigh some of the negatives that come from phone use. Things like connecting with anybody in the world, or learning about an event in the world minutes after it happens is what I believe makes phones so great. I think that if parents wanted their children to spend less time on their cell phones it is important that they make the other fun activities readily available, while not forcing them to partake in them.
Should adults be worried about how much we use our phones? I think it really depends on the person. If someone is addicted to being on their phone to the point where they can hardly put it down, then maybe adults should be a little bit worried. On the other hand, there are some people that can just get on their phone to check something or just a little bit in their free time. If this is the case, then I don't think anyone should be worried. In my opinion, I think adults freak out about us being on our phones because it’s so different from how things were when they were teenagers. They didn’t all have their own cell phones they could just to spend their free time on. If they did, they would do the same thing we do.
I believe adults should be worried about the amount of time children spend on their phones. I am a senior high schooler, and I’m on my phone for about 2-3 hours a day, but that’s gone far down since last year. During the first semester of my junior year, I felt so addicted to my phone that it ended up affecting my academic performance. I would stay up till 2:00 daily and would look on social media during school all the time. And this does make sense why I felt so addicted because when you’re on your phone a lot, it’s because looking at the phone releases dopamine in your brain causing you to want to look at it more and more. So at the start of the second semester, I made a conscious effort to stay off my phone more by deleting social media. It’s what I was on the most and being on it so much was not helping my mental health. And during that semester, my grades boosted up significantly (specifically in classes I struggled in a lot during the first semester) and my positivity spiked too. I didn’t feel glued to the phone at all and because of that, I felt purified. So yes, parents do need to be worried about how much time their children are on their phones. Being on it too much can cause an increase of stress, decrease in sleep, and most importantly; a decrease in performance, which at an early age for children is critical they start strong in academic-related areas.
How much time do you spend on your phone on an average day? And, what do you typically do?
On an average day I would spend around 6 to 7 hours on my phone and on my phone I usually just watch youtube videos, listen to music, and watching anime
Are you ever worried that you spend too much time on your phone? Do you worry that it gets in the way of socializing with friends? With studying? With exercising? With spending time with family? Or with sleeping? Have you ever tried to spend less time on your phone?
I am worried about myself spending too much time on my phone which usually interferes with me doing my homework and studying. I do try to stay away from my phone, but I would go right back the next day and because I'm on my phone so much I usually go to bed pretty late
When your on your phone you also get exercise because you walk with your phone, you walk to school, and you run a lot like at recess so you might get enough exercise.PERIOD
Being on your phone helps you you can learn from it and you also get exercise because you walk with your phone and you walk everyday like walking to school and running outside so it could sort of help you’re self being on your phone. PERIOD
I hate that I’m one of those teenagers who have a mini heart attack when they don’t feel their phone in their pocket. I know I’m not on my phone nearly as much as some of my peers, but even the time I do spend there I resent. Despite what the article says about technology not having any real negative influence on mental health, I can’t help but feel like it causes other problems.
The way an abundance of sugary foods create cavities in our teeth, the overabundance of technology and social media has decayed our relationships and ability to interact. You can hardly share a meal with someone without them looking down at their phone at some point. We text and DM people when we have something to say, leaving behind outdated voice-calling and --gasp-- that archaic practice of talking in person. So much of communication is nonverbal. Many today struggle to maintain eye contact, pay full undivided attention to others, and meaningfully interact in person. Screens are our modern-day masks and boy, do we love hiding behind them. While maybe it is true that technology doesn’t directly connect to the rise in mental disease and anxiety, it leads to a host of other problems, most prominent among these being social decay.
My first friend was an online friend. I was in fifth grade and I was obsessed with Hamilton, and would spend hours reading about and listening to the songs. My family was on vacation in WildWood, and we were living in a small hotel. I was swimming in the pool and a kid came up to me, and I found out we both liked Hamilton a lot, so we started talking. At the end of the vacation the kid told me her email and we started texting on hangouts. We still text to this day. My phone played a big part in letting me stay in touch, and it built my relationship with her. Last summer I went to a summer camp for 4 weeks, and made a few friends there. Thanks to my phone, I still stay in touch. Whenever I feel lonely or sad, I can rant about it to my friends over text, and texting with them makes me feel better! I’ve had insomnia since I was a baby, and my thoughts always kept me up and tortured me. Now, I use my phone to ignore those thoughts, so instead of staring at the wall and listening to my thoughts tell me that everyone hates me, I can distract myself with an ebook until I feel tired. I think phones just show problems that kids have in a more obvious light, but they don’t instill those problems.
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I’m willing to admit that I spend around one and a half hours on my phone every day. As terrible as that sounds, more than half of that time is used for homework, writing, and using my meditation app. I don’t think it’s fair that phones can be blamed for mental health issues when it’s really all anxiety, often caused by school, pressing environmental problems, and social issues.
I don’t use my phone too much but I still think I could spend less time on it. I always have time to do my homework and I even leave some time if some emergency happens. On weekends and nights when I don’t have a lot of homework I do use my phone a lot but I don’t think it’s a serious problem. On some days I spend a lot of time on the phone just facetiming people to study or do homework together. I feel some people od have serious problems with using their phones too much but I know some people need there phone so they don’t feel isolated. I don’t have this problem and I think I know my limits which I think is important because you have to have limits on the time you spend on your phone or else you miss out on everyday activities.
My parents are extremely worried about how much time I spend on electronics. I do admit that I spend a little too much time on my laptop. It doesn’t cause me anxiety or anything. In fact, it actually makes me feel better because it takes my mind off of school work, which is really what stresses me out. My parents are worried because of the effects of spending so much time looking at a screen and not so much about anxiety. They’re always afraid that I’ll go blind one day from looking at my laptop all the time. They do limit my time on my laptop, however, not so much my phone. I’m not allowed to go on my laptop Monday thru Thursday because they know I like my laptop much more than my phone. They describe it as an “unhealthy drug.”
According to the report on my phone, last week, it said I spent an average of 4 hours and 45 minutes a day on my phone. To me, it feels as though it’s too much to be spending time on your phone in one day. I’m aiming for at least 3 hours a day. There are only 24 hours in a day, 8 of those you need to sleep, another 8 is for school, so you only have 8 hours left in your day. This is just an estimation but it’s pretty close. Why would you spend those hours just wasting time on your phone when you could be doing something else like house chores or practicing a sport. I usually just use my phone to play games, read comics, communication, and a little for social media. I do agree that my phone does make me lose a little bit of sleep since sometimes I’m on Webtoons and I’m just reading webcomics. Because my parents aren’t technologically advanced, they don’t put limits on my phone. But instead, my mom would hide my phone and iPad so I wouldn’t find it. I always put my phone on silent so even if I call it, I won’t be able to hear it. I don’t go find it anyways because that would just be a waste of time. If I’m not on my phone, then I’ll be on my computer. I’m trying my best to limit my computer time as well. I believe that you can accomplish anything as long as you put your mind to it. It’s just that when we say it’s impossible then it becomes impossible.
Parents should supervise what their kids do on their phones. Major apps like YouTube can have harmful videos such as the Tide Pod challenge. These types of dangerous challenges may encourage kids to try the behaviors for themselves. If kids try out these "dares" for themselves, they could end up in the emergency room.
I think that I spend a little too much time on my phone per day. And by a little, I mean a lot. I’m not sure my average but I know I could be going to bed a lot earlier and get my work done quicker if I just put it down. I do many things on my phone like text people, snapchat, play games, and so on. I think it does have a positive benefit on my well being because without it, I would not have friendships and relationships I have today. The negative effects it has on me is time usage and keeping me from doing work and going to bed on time. I am worried about being on my phone too much but I don’t think it interferes with me being social, especially in this day and age. I have tried to keep it upstairs while I do work but I always somehow manage to find an excuse to need it. My parents do not worry about how much time I spend on my phone, they know I have work to do and that I do get it done and if that results in less sleep, that is my problem, not theirs. I am not sure which side I agree with in the argument because I think it depends on how you are using the phone. You can use it to socialize but if you are obsessed with it, bad things can derive from it.
For this week I have spent an average of an hour and thirty-four minutes. I am usually on facetime with friends or on social media, such as Instagram or Snapchat. On weekends or days off I spend more time on my phone since I have more free time. My screen time in the summer is always very high, because I’m not at school for over half the day. But since school has started, I’m not on my phone constantly, I’m mostly on my computer doing school work and even playing games. My parents do not worry much about my phone use and more about my school work. As long as my homework is done, they could care less about how much time I spend on my phone.
Parents tend to assume that the origin of our stress and anxiety is smartphones and social media. For me personally I do not believe this is so. Social media is more of an outlet for expression and a source of connection to your peers. More stressful things come with being a teenager that has caused a lot of stress and anxiety. Parents should be less focus on believing smartphones cause anxiety and stress and instead focus on protecting kids on the internet. New technology is very hard to avoid nowadays. Instead of trying to push it away we should embrace the changes in the world and try to make it safer for new generations.
On the other hand, I do agree smartphones can be very distracting in our lives. It can be difficult to try to focus with your smartphone next to you. In that way I think my generation should have more separation from our phones. Smartphones though, are not a cause of anxiety or stress, but instead a way to relieve some anxiety and stress.
On an average school day, I spend about six to seven hours on my phone, which sounds like a lot, but to me, it isn’t a lot when I realize what I do. After I get home from school, which is around 4:00 pm, I eat a meal, then I go and do homework. I usually talk with my friends while doing homework and we help each other out for a couple hours, probably until 7:30 or 8:00 on some days. That’s about three hours on my phone because I am talking with my friends, and another three or four hours doing other things, like YouTube. However, on a weekend, I use my phone a lot more. Apparently, it jumps to ten hours a day. I definitely think that ten hours in a day is a problem, and I should definitely use my phone much less on a weekend because I really don’t do much. However, it doesn’t seem like it is doing anything to me. I have always had a bit of anxiety and stress and stuff like that, and I use my phone a lot to talk to my friends, so it doesn’t seem like it has that much of a negative effect. Also, I don’t feel anxious, depressed, lonely, or sleep-deprived using my phone. Sometimes, I do worry that I go on my phone too much, but I don’t think it interferes with that much. I am able to talk to my friends because of my phone, I study with them, I still have time with my family, and I still get a good amount of sleep. I don’t think my phone negatively influences me that much.
I personally only spend 3-4 hours on my phone, notice how I said only. It is alarming how long some of my friends stay on their phones. One of my friends was on their phone for 24 hours straight! My screen time compared to my friends is on the lower side but, I think it is still unhealthy at this point it is a borderline addiction. It’s not like I am doing something productive with those 3-4 hours because I play unproductive games and, I could be using that time to do more productive things, like studying for a test next week or reading about the world. Instead, I decide to play Call of Duty mobile.
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Even though my screen time seems pretty high with an average of 6-8 hours I can cut that down to 1-3 hours. Since I live far from school commute from school is about three hours so already 3-5 hours excess. Then after school I call my friends for about two hours for homework help which limits itself to 1-3 hours per day. My parents say I’m on my phone too much where my friends are on their phones at least two more hours than me.
My parents worry about how much time I spend on my phone. They have expressed their concerns by saying that I can only use screens on the weekend and during the week if it is for school, music, or communicating with my friends. Even during the weekend, I am only allowed to play video games for one to two hours each day. I am ok with the no weekday policy, but sometimes, when I don't have much homework, I wish I could play on my phone or play video games. I am pretty lucky, though because some of my friends only get one to two hours per weekend as a total. I disagree with the amount of screen time on the weekends though. I wish I could have more because even though it may be addicting, it is becoming a part of life now and we should embrace it, not push it away.
I usually only spend 15 minutes to half an hour on my phone each day, depending on the amount of homework I have. I typically play video games because my parents don’t really want me to have social media. I find that having a phone sometimes distracts me from my work because I can’t resist the temptation, and then it gets later and I still have homework to do. But I feel as though I have strengthened my willpower and can avoid using my phone.
I do not think that my parents should be worried about how much I use my phone because I use it responsibly.
I think that in some ways it could be good for adults to monitor how much children are on their phones today. However, who is going to monitor the adults? What I have noticed while growing up in this world of technology, is that so many adults around me are on their phone just as often as the Children. So, I think, in general, everyone should supervise themselves so that they don’t spend their entire life looking at a screen. So many important memories and events can be missed if we never look up. However, I also acknowledge how important technology is in our society today. I think it can be difficult to stay away from our phones when everyone around you is on their phones. Now, I’m not sure how negative the effects of being on our phones are, but I don’t think there is much of a way to avoid them as technology continues to grow its influence across the world. So, I think we have to accept technology’s role and try to be as responsible with it as we can.
My phone screen time is never a concern for me or my parents. Getting my phone taken away is never a punishment, knowing that I do not value my screen time as much as I value other things like my skateboard. Most of the time I’m outside playing soccer or skating at a park with my friends. Some days I am on my phone facetiming people and sometimes texting others. Other days, like the weekend, the majority of my screen time comes from Instagram. As of right now, my daily average is one hour and 15 minutes, which will most certainly change dramatically over the weekend.
Over this past year I have found that I am spending more time on my phone than I used to. I have had a phone since sixth grade, but my first phone was a blackberry so I didn’t spend much time on it. Since I got an iPhone, I have spent more time on my phone because of social media apps. I caught myself on multiple occasions telling myself “only 15 more minutes and then I’ll start my homework,” but then I end up spending 30 minutes on my phone. When I have tried to use my phone less I end up watching tv, so I just go from one type of a screen to the next. One downside to phones is that we use them to escape conversations. When people can’t find anything to talk about they just look at their phones to escape the awkwardness that is a result of the silence.
On school days I average 2 hours 30 minutes. On weekends I average 3 hours on my phone and 2-5 hours on my Xbox as well as an hour or 2 on the computer. My phone is mostly for memes and some games like Tetris or 8-ball as well as listening to music. I only play it when I have nothing else to do. Like I’m on the train or in the car. I play my Xbox every morning when I wake up and am waiting for my parents to get outta bed. The computer is mostly for homework and youtube. My parents don’t let me have any social media really but I do think having a phone is good for socializing. It also connects me to the rest of the world and gives me resources and access o stuff I usually wouldn’t have. As I said I don’t have any social media so I don’t get anxiety or get insecure about stuff from the internet, but I understand that other people might get affected in these ways so if you’re feeling insecure just try to put your phone down for a couple days. My parents limit my screen time through the screen time app on my phone and they will take my phone as a punishment if I misbehave but I don’t necessarily think that they are worried about how much I use my phone.
Although I find it shameful to admit, I spend hours upon hours on my phone every day. Although I may not be directly looking at my phone, as I am usually listening to music, I am still using my phone. I wouldn’t say this is necessarily a good or a bad thing it is just the reality of the situation. What I do know from personal experience is that there are positives and negatives to using my phone so much. I find I sometimes get headaches, it may become a distraction from schoolwork, and it does isolate me from others at times. However, it also allows me to pursue my passions of music, art, and magic. Do the positives out weigh the negatives? I don’t know. What I do know is that yes, I should probably use my phone less but without it I wouldn’t have met people that mean a lot to me, my life wouldn’t be filled with so much music which is a beautiful outlet for emotions, and I would possibly feel more isolated without learning about and joining some of the communities that media outlets have to offer.
For me, I tend to use my electronics for about 2-3 hours a day, depending on homework and the like, and I usually spend the time watching YouTube or playing games. In my opinion, I believe my electronics to be beneficial and positive, as they relax me and allow for a temporary yet almost complete relief of most stressors. As for isolation, I feel that my technology helps to make me feel more connected and most of all, not alone, not to mention the plethora of resources online and around. As for negative effects however, the worst I’ve ever experienced was a headache or too. Being online helps me feel relaxed, connected, and happy, and if anything calms me down and helps me to get to sleep. While yes, I’m sure that I do spend too much time with my technology, such cases only lead to less studying time, less exercise, maybe less family time, but rarely anything else other than that. I do personally try to limit how much time I spend with tech, but not nearly as much as my parents try to. As far as they are concerned, most of the time recreational technology use is equivalent to getting a detention at school; that is to say they tend to hate it. In this line of thought they usually institute restrictions and in my opinion do so too much, however it is but a minor annoyance to me. Overall, I agree with the analogy of a mirror: “(it’s) just a mirror that reveals the problems a child would have even without the phone.”
In the usual day, I’ll spend about 4 - 6 hours on my phone. Most of this time is spent on watching videos, browsing Reddit, or looking at the internet. I really enjoy learning new things, and often when I’m on my phone, I’m doing some research into a topic that I enjoy. Being on my phone and connected to the internet, I feel a lot more in tune with what is going on in the world, such as the new corona-virus, or the 2020 presidential elections. I don’t really feel like they have any negative things, because all the information that I might be worried about on my phone would likely show up in a newspaper the next day. Overall, I feel like if you are using your phone for something generally productive, then it is okay to be using it for longer periods of time.
The argument around the issues of cell phones is an interesting one, because almost every pro also has an equally arguable con directly relating to it, and vice versa, that you don't see in most issues. That isn't to say other issues don't have their pros and cons, but that they aren't usually so directly related to each other.
Personally, my cell phone use fluctuates dramatically. I've taken to tracking it with an app recently, and the extremes range from 17 seconds to 11 hours per day. I don't usually feel like I've wasted my time, because a lot of my time is spent reading, or catching up on current events, or just putting together a Pinterest board/watching Netflix (both of which I find very relaxing).
I've noticed that many of the apps or sites I use on a regular basis have a calming effect on me, rather than the panicky effect most adults seem to think they have. On many social media platforms, for example, you are the one to choose what your feed looks like. If you follow people who make you feel insecure, it's no wonder you're anxious. Many online communities are actually very inclusive and caring. There is only one app I remember using recently that made me feel anxious or unhappy, and that app is TikTok.
I like the point that the article raised, that teens probably turn to their phones as a distraction from the many other issues looming over our generation. At least in my experience, I've found that to be very true. .
It can be hard to really determine if being on a phone really impacts people, especially teenagers. I have had my phone since sixth grade and I honestly spend more time than I should on it. I think that as kids get older, there should less concern. But I also think it really depends on the kid and how they are behaving with that phone. Sometimes, if the kid is starting to become a little lazy and antisocial, or lacking in their everyday activities, I think that should bring up some restrictions by parents. But if the child is doing completely fine and not really changing in behavior all that much, parents should have to supervise as much. While, I do spend a lot of time on my phone, It hasn’t affected my social life or my mental health. I do understand why people think that spending too much time can start to have harmful effects on mental health due to social media and it’s influence. If kids and learn to be responsible and manage their time off and on their phone, there should not be a huge worry from adults.
On an average a typical day, I would probably spend around 3 hours on my phone just doing and looking at random things like Instagram, Youtube and playing games on my phone. I don’t really think that this affects me negatively nor positively during the day. I still keep a regular sleep schedule and get all of my work done on time.
There’s so many different ways and sides to be on when answering this question. Part of me thinks it’s an issue and adults should be concerned. There are times I am so infatuated with some stupid video on my phone, that I can’t even concentrate on what’s going on around me. I’ll have an aching head ache. But when it comes to my phone, I have no self control. Sometimes the best times and memories I have had happened when I put my phone down and just lived in the moment.
The other part of me thinks adults need to relax when it comes to phones. Our world is full of technology these days. Almost everything is found online. News, homework and so much more, I hate when an adult feel the need to make a comment about me being on my phone. Especially when the time is completely appropriate. Adults grew up in a time with no technology, they don’t understand how important it is in our generation.
It’s a lose lose situation. Maybe one day we can all agree on it.
I have owned a phone since the sixth grade. As time goes on and I have reflected on the effects of technology, and I have determined that adults should not be concerned with use of phones. Yes, there are times where people are on them too much, and that excessive use can be bad just because you are being lazy and antisocial. However, there are so many benefits when using a phone healthily. For example, you can learn a lot of new things, whether it be news, recipes, facts, etc. Also, you can side support outlets. I, personally, have found this super helpful.
I have noticed that there are some kids who play on their phone and do just fine in school and in other activities but if your child is on their phone too much and is not doing well in school or in other social activities there should be some restrictions.
I personally play on my phone and I'm doing more than well in school but if I were to ever slip up on my grades I know for a fact that my parents would step in a set some restrictions.
I wonder what our government thinks about this topic.
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@Daniel Guy
I completely agree with you. Parents should only take away phones or be worried about them if it is affecting the way their child performs in either school or the way it affects their mood. If it becomes too much of a problem then yes they should be concerned. If it's not a problem then let them be.
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I think that there are a few ways to look at this question. But in my opinion, it is not so black and white. I think that there are a few ways to look at this question. But in my opinion it is not so black and white. I like to stand in the middle on this topic. I think that if the child is managing their work, activity, and responsibilities while finding time to be on their phone parents should possibly back off from telling them. But if their child is struggling because of how much they are using their phone that is when the parent should step in.
@Isabelle Better
I agree that if your child isn't doing well in school that there should be restrictions and if the parent wont step in, the child will be worse off for it.
I believe there are certain expectations, to see if parents should/should not take away your phone. If you're on your phone all day and you have bad grades, then parents should be worried. If you have good grades, and you spend you're time on the phone all day, then your parents should be fine with it.
@apa37 I totally agree!!
I think adults should really only be worried if it reaches to a point where there on their phone all the time and are basically not socializing at all. But if its like 2-3 hours a day i think you shouldn't try punish them at all. It all really depends on how they socialize in general and if they're doing terrible in school due to the reason of it being the phone (not because of another thing).
Speaking honestly children should be supervised when spending time on their electronics because it affects their over all health. If we look at our surroundings we see 2 year old playing on a tablet. It's getting harder for kids to control themselves and it should be our job to do so in order for them to be mentally and physically healthy.
@Bella
I agree! It can really affect your health. It's crazy how a little screen can make you feel.
I think that it is quite hypocritical that Adults tell children not to use their phones that much, due to the fact that they use their phone around the same time as teenagers do. Secondly, if the adult gives the child the phone they shouldn't be restricting it. Its best not to give a phone at all if all they're going to do is put restrictions and frustrating the child. Social Media is a good place for kids to learn and connect with one another, and if adults try and remove that, aren't they removing their access from the outside world?
@meera I can see that you feel very strongly about having the right to use your phone however you deem appropriate. I personally did not get a cell phone until freshman year of high school because doing a sport necesitated a way to contact my parents to be picked up from school. Despite not having access to the "outside world" through an electronic device, like you discussed in your comment, I still did not feel like I really missed out on anything of importance. In fact, I realize now that virtually no memorable experiences were ever conducted on my phone: there can be no replacement for the real world. So I beseech you, go out into the real world, spend some time with friends while you still can, those will be the most memorable experiences you will have. You may not remember that fantastic Drake meme ten years from now but you will most certainly remember the people you met and the great times you had with them.
I don't think the amount that someone uses their phone is any cause for concern. There's no direct link between any health problems and phone usage and phones allow you to do so many things that you usually wouldn't be able to do while not at a computer. Along with the productivity benefits, phones allow you to connect to people while not being near them. If you're ever feeling lonely or want to talk to someone, the solution is only a tap away.
I think adults should not be that worried about how much teenagers use their phones. Although we use are phones a lot, it's not all bad. We use our phone and technology for good things such as contacting family and friends. I think technology and phones are more of a good thing then a bad thing.
personally I spend a lot of time on my phone, and almost always I feel that time i spent enjoying, is not wasted time, though many adults refuse to think so. Many adults that I know continually try to control my usage of my phone, though i am not worried. i simply try to continue to use my phone as a tool to reach the goal they would like me to reach.
i personally believe that parents should be worried about the amount of time there kids on there phones but to an extent. If your child is only focusing on there electronics and not focusing on school at all then you have a reason to be worried. But if your child is doing good in school and you always see them on there phone don't just assume that, that's all the focus.
I do spend a lot of time on my phone like 4 or 5 hours every day it just depend on the amount of stuff I have to do. I basically watch YouTube, social media, and reading. My parent didn't want me to play games on my phone but allow me to watch videos. Well I think that phone do have some negative and positive effect. The negative effects are spending less time with family, sometimes lost track of time. But phone also has some positive effects like entertainment. For some people, phone are addicting and yes, I always wanted to lower my screen time, I always said to myself that i will lower my screen time but at the end i spend the same amount of time as yesterday. Of course, my parent are always worried about how phone can affected our grade and future. My parent said that you can get lazy. I believe that phone can increase anxiety, depression and sleep deprivation among teenagers. Because i normally go to bed at 9 but because i have my phone i fall asleep at 11. The whole 2 hours I was on my phone.
This article attempts to highlight the connection between smartphones and teens having anxiety or depression. Although I agree teens use their phones a lot, adults are starting to become more dependent on phones as well. I disagree that social media is linked to anxiety or depression because 40 studies show the evidence is “small and inconsistent.” I also disagree because I am a teenager with a social media account, but I do not have anxiety or depression. After conversing with other teenagers my age, I have not noticed or picked up on a teen with anxiety or depression. However, I’ve noticed that teenagers specifically girls that have teenage drama claim they have depression, when they are really just being dramatic and the problem is fixed next week. The article points out that phones limit interaction time , valuable activities , and sleep deprivation. Phones don’t limit interaction time because even though we aren’t talking face to face we are still talking. Parents that stress over phone usage, chores, and grades are what limit interaction time with their children.
The article says how there are no issues that links between health and phone use, and the few examples of physical danger are not the fault of phone specifically. The claim that phones should not be near infants is not a problem that should be on phones, but a problem of bright things in general. Infants are fragile, including the cones in their eyes, so all lights hurt them. Social media does a more effective job at connecting the public, which would help reduce anxiety and depression.
The idea that phones are dangerous to health is simply not founded in reality. The article itself illustrates how there are no concrete links between health and phone use, and the few examples of physical danger are not the fault of phone specifically. The WHO claim that phones should not be near infants is not a fault of phones, but a fault of bright things in general. Infants are fragile, including the cones in their eyes, so all lights hurt them. Social media does a more effective job at connecting the public, which would help reduce anxiety and depression, not increase it.
Speaking personally, I can recall many times in which social media has helped me feel less lonely than I otherwise would have been. I have severe anxiety, so the idea of socializing with people in a less formal setting, such as in a lunchroom, or outside of class is terrifying to me. So, as a result, I am often alone during these periods. I’ll go off and find my own corner, and I sit and have to watch as those around me have fun with their friends and socialize. I have gone through this process near-daily for ten years, and I am confident that without social media to fall back on, I would have been driven mad. Social media makes me feel as though there are people out there I can talk to, and that I can control the conversation however I like. I can have friends that I respond to at my own pace, leaving me room to better formulate my responses.
While I understand the concern that parents currently have for their children regarding how long they spend on their phones, I do not believe that this should be an area for concern. For me personally, I am on my phone a lot, because it allows me to do many things in my life that I would not have been able to do otherwise. I have friends that I have met from around the country and my phone, whether it be through messages or Snapchat, allows me to keep in touch with them. Additionally, I use my phone to listen to music for hours a day. Music helps me focus while doing individual work in class and homework. Finally, a lot of our school work and homework are online now, and I can do homework anywhere thanks to my phone. To reiterate the main purpose of this response, I don’t think parents have reason for concern because much of the time that teens spend on their phones is not on one app or activity, but instead on many apps that allow them to be more productive and keep in touch with people.
My parents definitely do have the right to be concerned about what I use my phone for, but I don’t think my phone is malicious as it could be. I use my phone to browse the internet, read articles or comics, and contact other people. This is all great, but this can turn it into a big distraction that can get into school time. Considering that my phone can be a giant time sink, it can get in the way. I can’t say that my phone causes anxiety or depression, mainly because I don’t participate in social media, but I can say that my phone may cause a little sleep deprivation, not because I stay up late because of that, but because using electronics before sleeping can make it harder to fall asleep. My parents haven’t interjected with my phone use, as nothing terrible has happened with me using it. If someone is having bad side effects with their phone, I think they should moderate their usage of their phone.
I spend too much time on my phone. I sometimes think about how much I am on my phone and I’m disgusted with how much time I feel like I’m wasting. But the truth is, I do a lot more than scroll through social media or watch stupid videos on my phone. My phone is a portable library that carries all of my favorite books on it. And those stupid videos and posts sometimes completely change my day for the better.
In total, my phone is probably a net negative for me just because I could be spending more time reading an actual book or finishing homework early rather than using my time watching or playing video games. Sure, I connect with friends and family a lot through my phone, but the trade-off of the massive amounts of time lost sometimes stresses me out and cramps my schedule. Nathaniel Popper does say that smartphones don’t cause depression and anxiety, which I agree with as I do not have depression or anxiety, but what is not said is that phones can still cause a lot of stress. Simply by using your phone, you are losing time that you could be doing something constructive or finishing an assignment. I would guess that the phone is the most common tool for procrastination, and procrastination inevitably leads to stress and therefore loss of sleep.
@Mason Evans you have a good point in that phones consume most of our days. Right now, on an iPad it is ore apparent to me than ever that I spend most of my day behind a screen. I’m only not on my phone durning some classes and during work. While the anxiety part I have a different stance. While no, phones can’t be directly the 100% cause of anxiety and depression I know several people with these conditions and online bulling or stressful texts can increase levels of anxiety. Along with online posts that might spark controversial discussions. While at he same time social media is a great time to relax an expressive yourself and this time should not be taken for granted.
I just got a new phone for Christmas and over break, I used it a lot and I got a lot of screen time. But now, I have a lot of schoolwork and things to go to and I have been really busy and even when I have free time, I don’t spend it playing on my phone. Right now, my average screen time per day is 24 minutes because of homework and stuff, but also because I spend my free time on my computer or watching TV (or watching stuff on Netflix on my computer) but also, for some reason I have been trying to cut down on phone use. My parents don’t really worry about it that much because I’m not on my phone that much but sometimes they do tell me to get off my phone if they think I’ve been using it too much. For me, using my phone has mainly positive effects because when I’m playing on my phone, it is during free time so there is no stress about homework and it makes me generally happier. I don’t hang out with my friends that much, so phone use has no effect on that. My parents won’t let me get social media, so there aren’t really any negative effects of phone use.
People tend to say I have a problem with my phone because on an average school day I use my phone for 8 hours and about 15-16 hours. My average screen time is usually about 10 hours during a school week and 14 hours during periods of absence such as Winter break. I spend about 8 hours a day during breaks on apps like Tik Tok, Instagram, and Netflix. My parents don't really care too much for how much I use my phone because I get all my school work done on time and maintain good grades, so they know that my phone isn't holding me back from doing my best. However there was this one instance where I got a low B on my test and they got mad because I said that I had no homework the night before we took the test, so they took my phone from me for a day. Aside from that, my screen time doesn’t concern them.
I think that the adults in my life should not be worried about my phone usage and screen time. I don't find that my phone increases my anxiety levels. On the contrary, when I have my phone taken my anxiety goes up. This is because I think my friends are trying to contact me and I get FOMO because I can't see what they're saying. Also, my parents have some unreasonable rules about my phone. Whenever I'm sick, the first thing they do is take my phone away. This seems like they think the phone is causing the illness (which it isn't.)
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My average screen time is probably about 12 hours a week.. I worry a lot about how much time I spend on my phone. But the way I socialize is through my phone. I use social media to communicate, and I have to use my phone to make calls and text. But whenever I have to study, I pull out my phone and go on it for about an hour. I do not really spend time with my family because they do not spend time with me. They each have their own business to mind and so do I. When it is time to go to sleep, I go on my phone in the dark with dark mode on. My bed has my charger connected to it so I can easily stay up all night. I want to remove it but because I am so addicted to my phone, I do not. One time I fell asleep at 2 am because I was on my phone, and it made me extremely tired (this was on a school night). I try sleeping at around 10 pm-12 am now and it is getting better, but my sleep schedule on the weekends is a mess.
My average screen time is probably about 12 hours a day.. I worry a lot about how much time I spend on my phone. But the way I socialize is through my phone. I use social media to communicate, and I have to use my phone to make calls and text. But whenever I have to study, I pull out my phone and go on it for about an hour. I do not really spend time with my family because they do not spend time with me. They each have their own business to mind and so do I. When it is time to go to sleep, I go on my phone in the dark with dark mode on. My bed has my charger connected to it so I can easily stay up all night. I want to remove it but because I am so addicted to my phone, I do not. One time I fell asleep at 2 am because I was on my phone, and it made me extremely tired (this was on a school night). I try sleeping at around 10 pm-12 am now and it is getting better, but my sleep schedule on the weekends is a mess.
My average screen time is about 40 minutes per week. I typically look at news, talk with my relatives in China through WeChat, or go on Youtube to watch cooking videos. I don’t have any games on my phone. My phone does help me build my Chinese skills when texting in WeChat. On WeChat, I can also build relationships with my relatives and friends that I cannot meet face-to-face. However, my parents are still very worried about my time on my phone. That’s because I have glasses, and my eyesight has been worsening every year. They express their concern by speaking my name in a warning tone when they think I’ve been on my phone long enough. I listen to them, because I know that they are trying to do the best for them. The phone gets in the way of the relationship between my friends and I. Some of my friends only talk about their games on their phone, and it’s very frustrating when you can’t relate to what they are talking about.
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I think adults should be worried about how much their child is on their phone. If my child was constantly on their phone I would be mad because it is disrespectful when you are with someone and they won’t get off their phone. I get offended and annoyed when my friends are on their phones instead of talking to me and I wouldn’t want to be that rude to someone so if my parents told me I shouldn’t be on my phone I think that’s a good thing. Parents are supposed to teach their children how to talk, walk, and ride a bike, they should teach them proper manners and to not go be on your phone for too long. Young kids especially seem to cling to their iPads and devices as if they need it to survive, and I think that introducing children to technology so young is not a smart idea because once they get older they will cling to their phones like that and will constantly rely on having a phone or device with them.
I usually am on my phone throughout the day. But my parents hate when i'm on my phone constantly. I just mainly use it for you tube or Netflix and school work. I don't use it for social media or games and stuff like that. During school I just have it with me at all times so I can check my grades and use it for school apps. But even though I use my phone for good purposes on a dad to day basis i do get carried away and and i might be thinking i was on my phone for only an hour time goes by quickly and it could have been two and a half hours that passes by and I haven't realized that i just wasted so much time when i could be doing other things.
I use my phone to watch Youtube. I spend a lot of my time using technology.My parents do think I spend a lot of time on my pc /phone and they tell me to put it down and read a book instead. I know i spend a lot of my time on tech but i manage my workload enough so i have the time to spend.
I understand the concern that many adults have due to over usage of our cellular devices as a teenager. I think it varies for every teenager because there are some teenagers who do develop depression, anxiety or other mental illnesses due to social media, but there also teenagers that use their phone to read the news and stay updated with society. In conclusion, I do agree that the phone should still be used in a moderation because it is never good to rely too much on a cellular device.
The phone usage among students has increased (myself included), but isn't this reasonable? Introducing new forms of communication, ways of collaboration, and how to interact with your peers is now more present than ever. We're always advancing, old methods being replaced with newer ones. I think we should take into account about how phones positively impact us instead of focusing on how negative they can be. Of course, there's so many reasons why excessive phone usage is damaging, but we have to factor in every single other reason that affects the student as well. We need to stop blaming the phone and using the use of technology as an excuse for how we act. It needs to not be our first instinct.
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I usually use my phone for social media and to message my friends. I think that using your phone can have its problems but as long as you manage your time and know your limits, it is fine. Having a phone is like having a small computer in your pocket at all times. How can one not be on their phone with all the apps that come along with it? I think that many people see phones as a distraction but I think that the positives outweigh the negatives.
@Joshua I share a similar view, I do think that problems with distractions can come along with a having a phone, but this pails in comparison to the benefits that smartphones can provide. I find myself using my phone to stay organized; with the reminder app. Also, I feel safer when I have my phone because I can contact anyone and have direct access to maps. I do fall victim to procrastinating, but I use apps that restrict my access to social media during study time. This helps immensely and I recommend this to everyone struggling with distraction.
I mainly spend my time on my phone for social media. I rarely spend time playing games and I usually am on Twitter. I use it because I know what is going on in the world and it is right in my pocket. My phone does have a positive effect on my well being as I can check something. It does have a negative effect also because I will spend more time on my phone than I think. Then I forget that I have homework and then I stay up longer than I would wish. My dad does not like it when I am on my phone but in this day and age it is almost necessary to have one.
I understand the concern in the mental health problems that have arisen in the younger generation that grew up with smartphones. However, it also shows that there is no direct link or evidence that could prove a cause and effect relationship. So, I believe that more research should be done to learn more about the mental health of students. Whether it is related to cellphone use or not, we should learn more about the increasing number of people with mental health issues.
I spend most of my time on Netflix and social media when I am on my phone. I don't think I spend too much time on my phone to the extent that I don't get enough sleep.I try to set limits on my phone so I can balance other activities in my life too.
When using my phone, it'll probably be about relaxing rather then work. However, whenever it is for something important I've felt that it's a lifesaver that I am happy to have. While sometimes my phone may control me with my decision, I am glad to still use it whenever I can use it as a way to do something important. So overall, I believe parents, including adults in general, should not worry for students using phones.
I mainly use my phone to watch Netflix and Youtube. I probably spend about two hours on school days and four to eight hours on the weekends. My parents do think I spend a lot of time on my phone and they tell me to put it down and read a book instead. I personally think I maintain a good balance between my phone and other activities.