Disconnection is just one of many complex issues that parents and young people face when it comes to phones. By the time children enter their teenage years, they often have their own devices and even social media accounts. According to Pew, 95% of teenagers have a smartphone.
“These aren't just issues for teens; they're issues for families and parents,” said Monica Anderson, lead author of the report and managing director of Internet and technology research at Pew Research Center. Stated.
Lawmakers and experts are sounding the alarm about child safety online, especially on social media. In February, the Senate held a four-hour hearing questioning tech company CEOs about child sexual abuse material (also known as CSAM), bullying, drugs, deadly virus trends and mental health issues. A number of bills have been proposed aimed at protecting children online, but none are close to passing.
In most cases, parents struggle with how their children use their technology while helping their children use their devices safely and wisely (technology that is vastly different from what they were exposed to in childhood). We will support you. Almost half of parents say they spend too much time on their phones, and 38% of teenagers say they spend too much time on their phones.
About half of parents said they spy on their children's smartphones, but the survey didn't say whether they manually monitored their children's devices or used parental control tools. They are more likely to look into the devices of younger children, ages 13 and 14, than older teenagers, Pugh said. On the other hand, children reported being equally aware of how much attention their parents received.
The main issue is how much time children spend on their phones. Just under 4 in 10, or 38%, of teens and their parents reported arguing about the amount of screen time. A majority of parents said tracking screen time is a priority for them, and about half said they actively limit their teens' screen time. . Similar to surveillance, screen time enforcement is higher among teenagers and decreases with age.
Wealthy parents reported having more difficulty managing the amount of time their teens spend looking at their phones than parents in other income brackets. Parents with higher incomes were also more likely to say they used their devices too much.
Despite the belief that they want unlimited screen time, many teens are aware that cell phones can have a negative impact on their lives.
Most teenagers (about three-quarters) said that being away from their smartphones led to more positive emotions, including feeling “happy” and “peaceful.” 44% of teens said being away from an important part of their social life can also cause anxiety.
The study found a gender divide between teenagers and smartphones. Girls are more likely to use a variety of social media apps than boys. They are also more likely than boys to admit that they spend too much time on their phones, to express loneliness when they don't have their phones, and to say they have taken steps to reduce their smartphone and social media use. .
Teens don't hand over their phones right away.
For the most part, teens still think the device is a good thing. 70% of teens say smartphones have more benefits than harm. Most people say their phones have made it easier to pursue hobbies and interests (69%) and be creative (65%). A smaller share said cell phones helped teens do better in school (45 percent), build healthy relationships (37 percent), and learn social skills (30 percent). It has been evaluated.
