If You Give A Teen A Smartphone

If you give a teen a smartphone

When you consider that more teenagers own smart phones than adults and that almost half of all teenagers have smartphones, you begin to understand the weight of social pressure your teen feels to have one. But before you rush to the nearest cell phone store, consider the positives and negatives of adding that extra line.

Positives of Teen Smart Phone Possession

  • In our world fueled by technology, teens with smartphones will have an advantage of gaining more internet skills than those with less exposure to tech devices.
  • Though studies show your teen is more likely to contact their friend than you, having a smartphone significantly increases the likelihood of your teen contacting you daily.
  • Smartphones are especially useful in emergency situations.

Negatives of Teen Smart Phone Possession

  • Some studies suggest at least 60% of teens are addicted to smart phones. Addiction has been seen to increase impulse control disorders and cause withdrawal or difficulty performing ordinary daily activities.
  • There is a correlation between negative academic performance and smartphone use.
  • Teens with smartphones are more likely to be exposed to cyber bullying and potentially harmful images.
  • Increased use of smartphones can be a sign of underlying depression or other negative emotions and can lead to Problematic Use of Mobile Phone (PUMP).

After weighing the positives and negatives, if you decide to give a teen a smart phone here are some things you can do as a parent to keep the potential negatives from spiraling out of control:

  • Establish rules for smartphone use (i.e. no phones at the dinner table, amount of time/ time of the day phones can be used, and types of apps allowed).
  • Consider purchasing software that helps you monitor and filter apps your teen uses. Many of these programs let you customize which apps you block and allow you to set time restrictions. Some programs also allow you to monitor text messages and give you real-time location tracking. One of the highest-rated programs, Mobile Spy, even gives you the ability to look at deleted information from your child’s phone. Other highly rated programs include Mobistealth, PhoneSheriff, and Qustodio Parental Control. Higher-rated software can run anywhere from about $2 to $24 a month. Check out features and pricing to see which is best for your family.
  • Monitor your teens smartphone use. If you notice them spending unhealthy amounts of time on their phone and showing signs of depression, work to increase the amount of face-to-face interaction your child gets and find them opportunities to connect to nature.

If you give a teen a smartphone, you are giving them access to a new world. As they get sucked deeper into their screen, remember you have the ability and responsibility to pull them back into reality.

Sources:

  • Alleviating depression only to become problematic mobile phone users: Can face-to-face communication be the antidote? http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S074756321500401X
  • Smartphone Addiction Scale: Development and Validation of a Short Version for Adolescents. Min Kwon, Dai-Jin Kim, Hun Cho, and Soo Yang. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3877074/
  • Mascheroni, G. and Ólafsson, K. (2014). Net Children Go Mobile: risks and opportunities. Second Edition. Milano: Educatt. http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/56986/1/__lse.ac.uk_storage_LIBRARY_Secondary_libfile_shared_repository_Content_Net%20Children%20Go%20Mobile%20Project_Reports_Net%20children%20go%20mobile%20risks%20and%20opportunities%20%282nd%20ed.%29.pdf
  • Smartphones’ Effects on Academic Performance of Higher Learning Students. Iringa, Tanzania. Journal of Multidisciplinary Engineering Science and Technology. http://www.jmest.org/wp-content/uploads/JMESTN42350643.pdf
  • The Comprehensive Handbook of School Safety. Edited by E. Scott Dunlap. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=PTLOBQAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA59&dq=teenagers+and+smartphones&ots=oTvp9Q82TQ&sig=QR1kX_wyE3Z0HK59gETPI9F9Ph8#v=onepage&q=enagers%20and%20smartphones&f=false

Request Free Admissions Information

Step 1 of 3 - Your Contact Info

Written by Natalie

27 Jan, 2016

Recent Posts

8 Ways to Motivate Your Lazy Teen

8 Ways to Motivate Your Lazy Teen

Sleeping for hours on end, beyond the eight recommended hours, or refusing to get up off the couch to help around the house are almost the hallmarks of a teen. Caring less about their schoolwork or extracurricular activities they once enjoyed may also become a concern...

Understanding Teen Acute Stress Disorder Treatments

Understanding Teen Acute Stress Disorder Treatments

Has your teen recently received a diagnosis of Acute Stress Disorder? This disorder can be overwhelming for your teen to navigate, so you are sure to want to step in and offer them all of the help you can. This includes the right type of treatments and programs....

What is Behavioral Modification Therapy?

What is Behavioral Modification Therapy?

Behavioral modification therapy is a type of psychotherapy that aims to change or modify a person’s behavior. People often use it to treat mental health disorders, such as addiction, anxiety, and depression. In behavioral work, the therapist and client work together...

Common Teenage Addictions and How to Manage Them

Common Teenage Addictions and How to Manage Them

In 2022, it is well-known that teenagers and young adults are more prone to addiction than any other age group. There are many reasons for this, but the most commonly cited one is that teenagers' brains are still developing, and they are more impulsive and more likely...

Why Are Boarding Schools So Expensive?

Why Are Boarding Schools So Expensive?

One of the most substantial benefits of a public school system is that it generally doesn’t bring with it any direct costs for the parent. That said, public school systems are not designed to meet individual students' needs. Gifted students can often see their...

Schools for Emotionally Disturbed Students

Schools for Emotionally Disturbed Students

As adults and parents, we can recall the tumultuous teen years. What is considered emotionally disturbed in a teen? How can you tell that it’s not simply just regular teen angst or acting out? And just how do you know when it’s the right time to get your teen help?...

You May Also Like…

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *