New data released by Common Sense Media has revealed that half of teenagers in the U.S. believe that they are addicted to their mobile phones, with the majority of this group checking their smartphones at least every hour. Furthermore, they feel pressure to response to messages on their phones immediately.
The data stems from a poll of 1,240 parents and children, and the majority of parents agreed, with 59 percent of those with children between the ages of 12 and 18 claiming that their children are unable to give up their phones. In addition, approximately one-third of those polled claim that they argue about their phone usage on daily basis.
"What we've discovered is that kids and parents feel addicted to their mobile devices, that it is causing daily conflict in homes, and that families are concerned about the consequences," said James Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense Media. "We also know that problematic media use can negatively affect children's development and that multitasking can harm learning and performance."
In addition to mobile phone use, a separate analysis of data on Internet and technology use also shows cause for concern, revealing that multi-tasking can have detrimental effects on the ability to form memories and excessive technology use can hinder empathy development.
The data revealed that U.S. children between the ages 8 and 12 reported spending almost six hours a day using media, and those ages 13 to 18 reported spending almost nine hours a day using media.
"The seemingly constant use of tech, evidenced by teens immediately responding to texts, social-networking posts, and other notifications, is actually a reflection of teens' need to connect with others," the review read.
"Parents are right to be concerned about the impact of media on the development of their kids," added Ellen Wartella, director of Northwestern University's Center on Media and Human Development and an adviser for the review. "From attention disorders and multitasking to basic social interaction and interpersonal skills, we need to devote more time and research to understanding the impact of media use on our kids and then adjust our behavior accordingly."
The findings are a part of The Common Sense Census: Media Use by Tweens and Teens.
