Kids and smartphones

There is an automatic feature built into the operating system on my tablet computer that gives a weekly report on my screen time. I haven’t figured whether it refers only to the amount of time that i am using that device, or if it also is collecting data on the amount of time I use my cell phone as well. I’m pretty sure that it isn’t connected to my computer, because the numbers it reports are too low for that to be the case. I know how to go into the settings and view my screen time on my devices, but it isn’t something that I’ve given much attention. I just checked my cell phone and it says I’ve spent 2 minutes looking at it this morning, which is 2 minutes above my average for this time of day. I think the 2 minutes was all invested in checking my screen time.

The silly thing about the weekly report is that it is somehow set up to make the report at 10 am on Sunday morning, which is right in the middle of a worship service. I use my tablet for all of my worship notes, including music, so I am often looking at the device when the screen time report pops up. I am almost always focused on something else so I click to close the screen without reading it. For my lifestyle, the feature is useless. I’m pretty sure that I could figure out how to change the time of the report, but that in itself would require more screen time.

I’ve been interested in the phenomena of screen time, especially how it affects teens, for some time. I’ve encountered some teens who seem nearly unable to put their phones away. They are constantly on their phones, even when participating in youth events. They use the phone as a medium of communication even when they are right next to another teen and face to face communication is readily available.

There have been a lot articles about teen and addiction. A report released by Common Sense Media found that 72 percent of teens feel as though they need to immediately respond to notifications from their phone, and 59 percent of parents feel their teens are addicted to their mobile devices. The term addition is not really used in a technical sense in the report. I suspect that the number of parents who would say their teens are addicted would be lower if they were probed specifically about the distinction between compulsive behavior and true addiction. Is the young person getting enough sleep? Exercise? Actual face time with family and friends? Is homework being done? Does the compulsive behavior displace other things?

But actual addictions do occur and there is now a diagnostic code for such an addiction: “Problematic Internet Use” (PUI) is recognized by health care professionals. It is related to another diagnosed condition, Internet Gaming Disorder. According to the statistics I’ve seen PLI affects 8% of teens, a far cry short of the 59% of parents who feel their teens are addicted. The big difference means that there is a real problem that is something other than technical addiction.

Last year the journal Child Development presented a study showing that teens today are experiencing a slower path to embracing adult responsibilities than ever before. Researchers concluded that cell phones and tablets are at least partially to blame for the condition. Because social connections are just a few clicks away, teens are less likely to leave their homes and seek face to face connections. Even when they are out in the world, many still experience a difficult time detaching from their devices.

The Wait Until 8th pledge empowers parents to join together to delay giving children access to smartphones until at least the 8th grade. Organizers believe that if at least 30 percent of parents in an area agree to delay smartphone usage the peer pressure on children is significantly decreased. When a cell phone is necessary for safety, a basic phone that just makes calls and sends text messages without a data plan is available form all cell phone carriers.

At least one German legislator has taken this a step farther by proposing a total ban on smartphone usage by children under the age of 14. The ban has not yet been adopted, but serious discussions are being held.

Compulsive smartphone usage is having an impact on childhood. Playing outdoors, spending time with friends, reading books and hanging out with family happens a lot less when children are spending hours snap chatting, instagramming and catching up on You Tube.

Elementary and middle school teachers have noticed that smartphones are an academic distraction. While access to the Internet can promote learning and computers and tablets are being adopted for their educational value, smartphones assume a different role in a child’s education. Phones interrupt in a similar fashion to that message on my tablet that reports screen time during a worship service. They demand attention, when attention should be focused elsewhere. Studies show that children receiving smart phones often have lower grades and test scores. Schools with smartphone bans have demonstrated higher test scores.

Smartphones also impair sleep for children and teens. They will wake up in the middle of the night to check texts or social media. And sleep disruptions in childhood affect diet, immune system, growth rates and mental health.

The list of possible negative effects of smartphone use is long and ranges from cyber bullying to exposure to pornography to increased rates of anxiety and depression in children.

I love receiving pictures and texts about our grandchildren and I am grateful that our son and daughter in law send us updates. But I know that even such positive phenomena can have negative effects. According to Healthline parents sending frequent texts to their children can cause anxiety and interruptions to the child’s day because of a perceived obligation to respond immediately to parental messages. When we send messages, we are rarely focusing on what the recipient is doing at the time and how our message might interrupt important work.

I’ve learned to ignore messages at the time I receive them and respond later. It is just one of the adaptive behaviors I’ve had to employ. Certainly we ought to teach adaptive behaviors in relationship to devise usage as part of introducing children or teens to the use of the devices.

I know it is a problem and I don’t have the answers, but it certainly is worth thought and more study.

Copyright (c) 2019 by Ted E. Huffman. I wrote this. If you would like to share it, please direct your friends to my web site. If you'd like permission to copy, please send me an email. Thanks!