Smart phones are, in many ways, detrimental to the development of teenagers. Thanks to the apathy and laziness of many parents, the majority of smartphone usage by young people is wasted on nonsensical apps.
I’ve taken measures to minimize my smartphone usage during the workday, by removing several social media apps from my device and seldom logging in to messaging platforms. However, as an adult, I possess the autonomy to make such decisions without succumbing to the fear of ‘missing out’.
This luxury is not afforded to most teenagers, whose constant need to fit in and keep up with their peers drives them to check their smartphones and use numerous social media apps. When the journalist Harry Wallop had a weeklong smart phone ban with his family, his teenage daughter even stated she felt ‘quite isolated and lonely from her friends’.
Physical Health : Smart phones are another reason for kids to sit on their backsides and stare at a screen. Many parents claim their kids don’t have enough time to exercise due to study pressures. Let me assure you, this is mostly nonsense! I’ve met some of the parents who sprout this mantra and they are the same people who are quite content to let their kids mess around on gaming apps. Tip for parents: Be the adult. Add parental controls to limit how your kid uses their smart phone.
Mental Health: Social media platforms often present distorted representations of life, fostering feelings of inadequacy and insecurity among teenagers. Let’s be honest, even as adults we can get a quick sense of inadequacy when we see the ‘amazing’ lives that our ‘friends’ are living on social media. Eventually, adults quickly realise that none of this is likely true and is part of the ‘insta-lie’ culture. However, its good enough to put your kid’s mind under depression.
Academic Performance: Smartphone usage disrupts sleep patterns, adversely affecting academic performance. Despite the well-documented impact of sleep deprivation on academic outcomes, many parents are still thoughtless enough to let kids take smart phones to bed with them. Implementing boundaries and establishing bedrooms as a phone-free zone could improve sleep quality and in turn promote academic performance.
Should any parent be unable to deal with the above-mentioned issues, I believe it to be a great cause for concern.
