Teen Smartphone Addiction and the Role of Parents

“Phubbing” Is Ruining Our Relationships [Video]

Video uploaded by CBS Miami on May 8, 2018

Teen Smartphone Addiction: The Key Role of Parents

Internet addiction among youngsters can have significant negative effects on various aspects of their lives. Here are some of the potential consequences and risks associated with smartphone addiction:

Impaired academic performance: Excessive internet use can lead to decreased focus and productivity, resulting in poor academic performance and lower grades.
Social isolation: Spending excessive time online can lead to reduced face-to-face social interactions, leading to feelings of isolation and difficulties in forming and maintaining real-life relationships.
Mental health issues: Internet addiction has been linked to various mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and loneliness. Excessive internet use can exacerbate existing mental health issues or contribute to their development.
Physical health problems: Sedentary behavior associated with internet addiction can lead to a lack of physical activity, which in turn increases the risk of obesity, cardiovascular problems, and other related health issues.
Sleep disturbances: Engaging in internet activities late at night can disrupt sleep patterns and lead to sleep deprivation, which negatively impacts overall health and well-being.
Poor time management: Internet addiction often leads to poor time management skills, as excessive online activities can consume a significant amount of time that could be better spent on productive activities such as studying, hobbies, or physical exercise.
Cyberbullying and online risks: Excessive internet use increases the likelihood of encountering cyberbullying, online harassment, or falling victim to scams, fraud, or online predators.

It’s important to note that not all young individuals who use the internet heavily develop an addiction.

It’s important to note that not all young individuals who use the internet heavily develop an addiction. However, when internet use becomes excessive, interferes with daily life responsibilities, and causes significant distress, it may indicate a problem that requires attention and intervention. Seeking professional help from mental health experts or counselors can be beneficial in addressing and managing internet addiction among youngsters.

An exciting study has just been published on the subject:

The fact that parents ignore their children to spend time on their smartphones can lead to a form of addiction to these devices among adolescents. The same phenomenon is observed when a child lacks social relationships. Previous research seems to support this idea.

A shocking study was recently published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology. Chinese researchers have found that when parents ignore their children for too long to use their smartphones (this phenomenon is called “phubbing”), adolescents tend to develop a dependence on their phones in return.

To arrive at this result, scientists thoroughly analyzed the responses of 1200 Chinese adolescents currently in middle school. They specifically noted a link between high levels of parental phubbing and a surge in smartphone addiction cases among these young individuals.

Parents need to set an example. Among other findings of this comprehensive study, it appears that a lack of friendly social relationships is also correlated with higher levels of addiction. In such situations, smartphone dependence can become very strong for teenagers who create a sort of refuge on these devices.

It’s worth noting that the study published in Frontiers in Psychology aligns completely with the conclusions of another research we discussed last year. Raian Ali, a professor at Bournemouth University, conducted a study involving 168 parents of adolescents living in Qatar.

His findings are alarming, as he found that “the more dependent parents were, the stronger the addiction was in their children. Leading by example is a powerful form of parental education. The way parents use technology is no exception.”

“Smartphone addiction increased among adolescents who did not have warm relationships with their parents. On the other hand, family cohesion and low levels of conflict were associated with low scores of internet addiction in children.”

In an article published on The Conversation website, the researcher explained, “Smartphone addiction increased among adolescents who did not have warm relationships with their parents. On the other hand, family cohesion and low levels of conflict were associated with low scores of internet addiction in children.”

He added, “Planning enjoyable family activities allows young people to occupy their time in a enriching way and increase their sense of social support.”

Without preaching moral lessons, it can be suggested that parents take action regarding their own excessive smartphone usage by limiting it. This can serve as an example for adolescents and motivate them to change their behavior.