A study conducted by Common Sense Media reveals that an average American teen is on their phone for 7 hours and 22 minutes. That does not include time spent using screens for school or homework. Many studies have found that 50 percent of teens “feel addicted,” to mobile phones. And other studies claim, “One in four children and young people could have problematic smartphone use, according to research that also suggests such behaviour is associated with poorer mental health.” 

This number will only increase in the coming years.

Phones are not inherently good or terrible. It is what you do with them that makes the difference.

Many people use phones to find support and keep in contact with friends and family. They are used to understand what’s going on around the world. And to learn anything you want, with a touch of a button. But some people are consumed by technology to the point it affects them physically and mentally. 

Studies by SCL Health say, “Teens also get sleep deprivation from being on their phones before going to sleep. Because of the blue light that emanates from the screen and restrains the production of melatonin, the hormone which controls your sleep-wake cycle, which makes it even much more difficult to fall asleep and wake up the next Day.” Things like this are crucial for teenagers who wake up for school early in the morning.

Smartphones have been around for only 25 years. The first smartphone was invented in 1992. You can already tell the impact phones have had on our teen population. Things like depression and anxiety have arisen more frequently with teens that have smartphones. This can lead to bad performances at school and a higher dependence on a phone.

This all happens from the misuse of cell phones. 

Teens should limit their time on phones and create healthy habits that will lead to adult life. Keeping these unhealthy habits and bringing them into adulthood would be detrimental to overall health, and by that point, it would be impossible to break them.

That’s why it is essential to make good habits and break the bad habits as a teenager.