Teenagers Are Addicted to Their Smartphones

Overtime, teens have progressed to their electronics becoming an addictive source. Teenagers are forgetting about what is going on and happening in the real world because their eyes are glued to their phones. They are continuously waiting for notifications on their smartphones. Teens use their phones as a distraction from what they really need to be focusing on and they see it as a source to not pay attention. They need to be encouraged to put down their phones and see for themselves what they are missing out on. 

Undoubtedly, teenagers have become dependent on their smartphones. Their main source of entertainment is social media and the apps that are built into these devices. It has been recommended from Pediatrics that teenagers should only be on their phones for an estimation of two hours a day. People argue about why teens being on their phones is such a big deal but there are multiple reasons for it. An article written by Amy Mortin talks about the value of putting down electronics states that teens are “replacing face-to-face communication with text messages and social media.” This quote can show how the constant phone use is becoming a serious problem because teens are barley getting the social interaction they need. An important part of being a teenager is meeting new people, hanging out with your friends, and just enjoying life. These teens are missing out on their life and opportunities because of these addictive devices. Would you rather sit on the phone texting someone about their day or go outside and talk to them face to face?  Teens are unable to see how much of an issue this is until we put it in this harsh way. 

Evidently, reporters have interviewed teens about their obsession with their smartphones, and as it turns out, some teens agree that they are spending way too much time on them. An article that shows evidence of teens agreeing states that, “According to the surveys behind the report, 95 percent of teens aged 13 to 17 say they have a smartphone or access to one, and 45 percent say they are online almost constantly.” The fact that teens are aware of this, makes it easier to help them put their phones down and live in the real world. Does this mean that teens should never use their phone or get time to post on their social media? No, but teens should not have their head buried in their phones at all times. Like stated above, a good two hours a day on the phone is sufficient, teens shouldn’t be constantly scrolling through different sites and platforms because this is how an obsession starts. 

Certainly, phones may be used as a distraction and a coping mechanism. Although the use of technology can be harmful, often times it can be convenient, especially in the world we live in today. People tend to use their phones as a way to deal with stress or other feelings. Some experts say that teens will go onto their phone during the day and scroll through their social media to release their anxiety or depression. These are all accurate reasons to use the phone but when it becomes overused, it becomes an issue. The screen times of high schoolers are skyrocketing as more students are signing up to various social media sites. Could this be because students need a distraction from their work or are they just becoming addicted to the social media platforms? These are bad habits that can come into place. Teens do not want to be obsessed with their phones, especially when trying to juggle school and other activities.

Surly, some teens may not even see that they have an addiction to their smartphones. In an article by Martin Preston, he suggests that people are unaware if they are addicted to their phones or not, it states that, “As well as putting a physical barrier between yourself and whoever you’re with, an obsession with wanting to compulsively check social media, sharing pictures of food, holidays and yourself, can mean you become more connected with your online world than the real one.” Teens may think they are using their phones so much, but they don’t see the problems are come to a concussion about it. Social media has become people sharing their everyday lives that it questions when they even have time to put their phone down.

Social media apps, like TikTok and Snapchat, intentionally implement features to keep users interested in their network. This often leads to an addiction, which is becoming increasingly common in young people. To help teens break the habit of checking their smartphones and using the platforms constantly, there are other ways to communicate and interact with people. The main reason teens use their phones is to interact and see what other people are doing. Activities and sports are a great way to stay busy and also keep in touch with friends and other peers. This can be so much more than a phone distraction but can also show that teens are able to interact with each other face to face rather than texting on devices. These days teenagers are so used to connecting online and posting pictures that they miss out on all of the reality. When they go, they take pictures to show off to other people, or they continue to hide in their phones. 

Ultimately, teens spending an inordinate amount of time on their phones is what leads to this addicting habit of never turning off their phones. Teens have becoming dependent on their devices and use it as a source to get away from their problems. They use interaction on social media to not talk to individuals face to face. They continuously ignore the problem when they know they are spending too much time on their smartphones. Soon enough, teens will realize that they’re wasting their time and not enjoying their life in the real world.  

References

Mortin, A. (2021, March). How Much Should You Limit Kids’ Screen Time and Electronics Use? Verywellfamily. https://www.verywellfamily.com/american-academy-pediatrics-screen-time-guidelines-1094883#:

Eng, J. (2019, November). Teens Agree — They Spend Too Much Time On Phones. ParentsTogether. https://parents-together.org/teens-agree-they-spend-too-much-time-on-phones/

Preston, M. (2021, December). Am I Addicted To My Phone? Delamere. https://delamere.com/blog/am-i-addicted-to-my-phone