How Much Time Do Teens Spend On Their Phones

current events chat

What Students Are Saying Near How Much They Use Their Phones, and Whether We Should Exist Worried

New enquiry challenges assumptions about the negative effects of social media and smartphones on children. We asked teenagers whether their parents should worry nigh how much time they spend on their devices.

Credit... Rozette Rago for The New York Times

Feb. 6, 2020

Please note: This post is part of The Learning Network's ongoing Current Events Conversation feature. We invite students to react to the news via our daily writing prompts and, each week, we publish a selection of their comments.

We frequently ask students about their relationship with screens, but a question we posed this week seems to take struck a chord with the teenagers who comment on our writing prompts.

We heard from over 300 teenagers who gave a flurry of nuanced, thoughtful and enlightening responses. In fact, their comments were and so expert that we decided to feature but this prompt in this week's Electric current Events Chat, instead of the usual three, then we tin highlight as many responses equally possible.

Some students admitted to spending upwards of viii hours a day online, with the bulk averaging effectually two to 4 hours. Some said their devices were a reasonable escape from the pressures of teenage life, while others explained they were essential for school. And however others raised an insightful question: Why is their "telephone addiction" perceived every bit more harmful than that of the adults in their lives?

As you lot'll see below, one thing was crystal articulate in their reflections: These teenagers spend a lot of time thinking about their phone usage. And they take a critical lens not only on how much they utilise their phones, but besides on how information technology affects their education, emotional life and relationships.

Read on for a fuller scope of the comments, just before you do, we want to offer a warm welcome to new classes from Ames High School, Iowa; Carney; Florida; Fort Manufactory Loftier School; Georgia; Hightstown High School, N.J.; Nelson Canton Loftier School; New Berlin, Wis.; New York; and Pennsylvania.

Please annotation: Student comments have been lightly edited for length, but otherwise appear exactly as they were originally submitted.

I know I'yard on my phone too much.

I recollect that I spend a piddling too much fourth dimension on my telephone per day. And by a little, I mean a lot. I'm not sure my boilerplate only I know I could exist going to bed a lot earlier and get my piece of work done quicker if I simply put it down. I do many things on my phone like text people, snapchat, play games, and and then on.

I think it does take a positive do good on my well being because without it, I would not accept friendships and relationships I take today. The negative effects it has on me is time usage and keeping me from doing work and going to bed on time. I am worried about beingness on my phone too much but I don't call up it interferes with me existence social, especially in this 24-hour interval and age.

— Ryan, GA

My average screen time is probably nigh 12 hours a 24-hour interval. I worry a lot well-nigh how much time I spend on my phone. But the mode I socialize is through my phone. I use social media to communicate, and I have to utilize my phone to make calls and text. But whenever I take to study, I pull out my phone and go on it for about an hour …

When it is time to go to sleep, I get on my phone in the dark with dark mode on. My bed has my charger continued to it so I can hands stay up all nighttime. I want to remove information technology merely because I am so addicted to my phone, I do not. Ane time I fell comatose at 2 am because I was on my phone, and it made me extremely tired (this was on a school night).

— Jessica Chen, J.R. Masterman, Philadelphia, PA

Since I got an iPhone, I have spent more than fourth dimension on my phone because of social media apps. I caught myself on multiple occasions telling myself "only fifteen more minutes and then I'll start my homework," but then I end up spending xxx minutes on my phone. When I have tried to use my phone less I end upwards watching tv, so I just go from i type of a screen to the next.

— Allison Ciero, Glenbard West HS Glen Ellyn, IL

I spend besides much time on my phone. I sometimes think almost how much I am on my phone and I'yard disgusted with how much time I feel similar I'chiliad wasting. But the truth is, I do a lot more than scroll through social media or watch stupid videos on my phone. My phone is a portable library that carries all of my favorite books on it. And those stupid videos and posts sometimes completely modify my twenty-four hours for the meliorate.

— Bricklayer Evans, Hoggard High Schoolhouse Wilmington, NC

On average, I spend nigh 6 hours a day on my phone. Information technology is spent with me going on social media, playing games, or watching Netflix. Every weekend, a notification pops up showing me how much time I accept spent and each week information technology has gone up. I am starting to become a lot more cautious about how much time I spend on my phone because information technology is starting to worry me. My phone has get something that I always have to have and it never leaves my side. It has gotten in the manner of me studying and spending fourth dimension with my family which has started to worry me. I believe that parents should know how much fourth dimension their kid is using their phone only I don't think that they should deed upon information technology.

— Marker, Hightstown

Teenagers should monitor their own phone use.

I sympathise a little micromanaging when it comes to technology time. Withal, by the fourth dimension we reach high schoolhouse, we should all be responsible for ourselves in that realm, to turn in homework, to know our time limits. Information technology is time for the parents to release their grasp unless it is absolutely necessary.

Information technology is our task equally teenagers to learn what happens when nosotros stay on our phones also long and we don't get plenty sleep or don't cease a homework assignment, nosotros won't empathise the consequences if nosotros don't learn for ourselves.

— Josh Reifel, Glenbard West, Glen Ellyn, IL

While I stand up by this statement, I would likewise like to point out that our parents didn't grow up with this stuff, and they may non know how to handle our usage in the all-time way. Often times I notice my parents using the phone — that they bought for the states — as punishment. They threaten to take it abroad or to throw it out, this only makes out subconscious want it more. Moreover, they make us experience guilty for being born in a world where we practice take access to these devices — every bit if we could help it. They say "when I was a kid we didn't have to talk to our friends all the time, we would expect to come across them the next solar day at school." They try us guilt you lot into non using which once once more, volition only make the states want information technology more to spite them.

— kenna royce, Glenbard West HS Glen Ellyn, Il

While some parents run into it beneficial to limit teens usage on phones, others don't take any action. For instance, my parents take ever trusted me to be responsible in my time management, and balancing schoolhouse, Church, and friends. However, I do understand that my parents pay for my telephone, and data usage, and I would willingly comply if they had whatsoever restrictions or rules. Phones, nonetheless, oft rely as a crutch for parents, meaning they frequently incorrectly blame their child'due south upshot, or challenges for how much time they spend on their telephone.

— Anna Atwood, Bryant High Schoolhouse Arkansas

In observing my friends and classmates, I think that nigh of us have a handle on what an appropriate amount of screen time is. Social media can be a breeding ground for bullying, which tin then pb to depression and anxiety, just I'k not entirely certain that would correlate with merely spending more fourth dimension on devices. Hopefully, if parents instill the value of limitations while kids are immature, they volition exist able to control themselves appropriately in the futurity.

— Sarah Song, Ames High School

I feel like I'k extremely in touch with my personal media usage, but it isn't easy. Apps are designed to go along you on them as long equally possible, and sometimes it'south horribly hard to put down a telephone later on seeing a Snapchat from your friend pop upward. Subsequently checking just now, I spent an average of 1 60 minutes 58 minutes on my phone last month. Just shy of 2 hours, which is the recommendation maximum time adolescents should spend on non-education related screens. Many of my peers use them 6+ hours daily.

I find an exact correlation betwixt the corporeality of time I'1000 on my phone and how productive I am that given day. If I leave of bed and don't immediately pick up my phone, I experience like I can get ready faster, and feel more energized and motivated.

Sometimes, if I have a lot of homework i night, I plug my phone in in a separate room, and so I won't remember nearly information technology. It's just so easy to forget about the essay you need to write if you unlock your phone and get-go messing around. They're excellent distractions.

I couldn't agree more with the statement that "phones increment anxiety, depression and slumber deprivation amid teenagers." I've seen information technology happen in myself and my peers. In the iii years I've had a phone, there accept been too many nights I regret sacrificing sleep for texting to a friend online or getting lost on YouTube. It's becoming more than important to be aware of how our phones touch on our lives as they accept over more than and more than aspects of our days.

— Mollie Brinker, Hoggard Loftier Schoolhouse in Wilmington, NC

Paradigm

Credit... Irene Rinaldi

Who is supervising how much adults utilize their phones?

I remember that in some ways it could be skillful for adults to monitor how much children are on their phones today. Withal, who is going to monitor the adults? What I take noticed while growing up in this earth of applied science, is that so many adults around me are on their phone just as often as the children. I remember it can exist difficult to stay away from our phones when anybody around y'all is on their phones. I think we have to accept engineering's function and try to be as responsible with it as nosotros can.

— Kaylee Phillips, Glenbard Due west HS, Glen Ellyn, IL

Some evenings at my house consists of our family in the aforementioned room, each of us on our same devices. Adults should worry almost cell phone usage, in both their life and their children's lives.

A office of the issue is that parents can use their devices just every bit much every bit the kids. Adults must realize that they too must alter. If they have their kid's phone away, they should put theirs away too. They should push their child to have real-life experiences, where words can't be misinterpreted.

— Evan Lippolis, Ames High School

Screens are affecting our mental and physical health.

I feel similar phones have a negative effect on the mental stability of most teenagers today. At that place are so many things we worry about at present … "How many snaps have I got this hour?", "Has he seen my story even so?", "I wonder if he's merely ignoring me?"

Our phones present us with an ultimatum, Leave and be social, or stay in and become on facetime. Information technology's not the same, there are sure endorphins your mind releases when you are physically in contact with another person. Human being interaction is healthy.

My telephone brings me mixed emotions, and I kind of rely on my telephone for about everything. Before I had a phone my life was so easy and I was a social butterfly, now I'm a 17 year old girl who comes dwelling from work and watches a movie on my phone until my optics physically will non open up.

— Brooklyn Harcrow, Lubbock, TX

I unremarkably spend about three hours a week on my phone. I grew upward in Haiti, so nearly of the time I am in contact with my friends back home. When nosotros lived in Haiti, FaceTime was a way that I could non only talk to my sister, who was at Iowa Country, but we could also come across her.

My phone has had negative impacts on my wellness. I have had chronic migraines that have been afflicted by my posture, which is aggravated by beingness hunched over my phone all day. I also notice myself in more pain after even a short fourth dimension on my phone. Social media has also left me feeling left out and more discouraged about my own life. As someone who is in a new atmosphere and environment, when I see on social media my friends' activities I feel more isolated and alone.

— Kerlande Mompremier, Ames High Schoolhouse

I most definitely encounter the connection betwixt college levels of stress and being on your phone for a more than needed amount of fourth dimension. Scrolling through social media and looking at pocket-sized square sized snapshots of a person's "picture perfect life" can really have an effect on both self-esteem and mental wellness. The world and especially the younger generations must larn to spark inventiveness and imagination. Those things can merely be formed through i'due south mind, experiences, and thoughts, non any telephone or device on the planet can provide them.

— Sadie Dunne, Hoggard Loftier school in Wilmington, NC

For me personally, I tend to find myself veering away from my telephone during stressful times considering I feel similar all it does is add together to information technology. I accept anxiety and have seen that the negative effects from social media only add to that anxiousness. I agree that phone usage and constant usage of social media can definitely increment anxiety and depression, if you lot allow yourself to get involved and then much you tin't return to a normal lifestyle without it. I think that as I feel like I'one thousand starting to feel more anxious and stressed, my phone does not help the state of affairs just makes information technology worse, so I attempt to stay abroad from it during these times.

— Taylor Tomlinson, Lubbock, TX

Social media has made me experience more connected to others, not less.

Speaking personally, I tin recall many times in which social media has helped me experience less lonely than I otherwise would have been. I have severe anxiety, then the idea of socializing with people in a less formal setting, such as in a lunchroom, or outside of class is terrifying to me. So, every bit a result, I am often alone during these periods. I'll become off and discover my own corner, and I sit and have to watch as those around me have fun with their friends and socialize.

I have gone through this process near-daily for ten years, and I am confident that without social media to fall back on, I would have been driven mad. Social media makes me feel every bit though in that location are people out there I tin talk to, and that I can control the chat even so I like. I can have friends that I answer to at my ain pace, leaving me room to better codify my responses.

— Jackson Bumgarner, Bryant High Schoolhouse, AR

My mom is a actually busy woman and she's not ever there for me and my telephone has been my shelter since 5th grade. When I came dwelling house feeling pitiful in schoolhouse, a couple of youtube videos tin can cheer me upwardly. Smartphones also make contacting friends and families easier making me less lonely during my sad times. The use of telephone besides opens a new window of opportunities, I learnt how to edit and shoot videos from youtube. There was a time when my mental health was just not great and the internet saved me.

— shirley, fhs

My first friend was an online friend. I was in 5th grade and I was obsessed with Hamilton, and would spend hours reading about and listening to the songs. My family was on vacation in WildWood, and we were living in a small hotel. I was swimming in the pool and a kid came up to me, and I plant out we both liked Hamilton a lot, so we started talking. At the end of the vacation the kid told me her email and we started texting on hangouts. Nosotros still text to this day. My phone played a big part in letting me stay in touch, and it congenital my relationship with her.

— Arianna Andriyevsky, Julia R. Masterman

More screen fourth dimension can exist beneficial.

As the life of a teenager continues to increase in its complexity and demands, the resources and tools a smartphone tin provide help proceed teenagers grounded. So, before adults chastise us for our use of phones (while they're leveling up in Candy Crush) it's of import to testify that phones are very powerful tools, sometimes likewise powerful.

With how many activities a teenager tin be involved in these days, smartphones aid make more than productive utilize of their time, keeping up with meetings, go-togethers, and updates. Whether it exist communicating with other lodge members, or merely catching up with friends, these communication tools aid bring people closer without necessitating time-consuming travel.

— Sayre S., Ames Loftier School

I am on my telephone about three hours a day. The majority of this is spent on social media apps like snapchat or twitter and listening to music. My phone has a positive influence on me. I experience more connected to the world and what is going on and while that is not always a good thing it is nice to exist informed and updated on events within seconds.

— Mehdi Sebghati, Ames High School

My average screen time is about twoscore minutes per week. I typically look at news, talk with my relatives in Red china through WeChat, or continue Youtube to scout cooking videos … My phone does help me build my Chinese skills when texting in WeChat. On WeChat, I tin can besides build relationships with my relatives and friends that I cannot meet contiguous.

Nonetheless, my parents are yet very worried about my time on my phone. That'due south considering I take glasses, and my eyesight has been worsening every twelvemonth. They express their concern past speaking my name in a alarm tone when they call back I've been on my phone long enough. I heed to them, considering I know that they are trying to practice the best for them.

— Daniella Liang, J.R. Masterman

Teenagers shouldn't be on their phones equally much.

I think adults should be worried about how much their kid is on their phone. If my child was constantly on their phone I would be mad because information technology is disrespectful when yous are with someone and they won't go off their telephone. I get offended and annoyed when my friends are on their phones instead of talking to me and I wouldn't want to exist that rude to someone so if my parents told me I shouldn't be on my phone I call up that's a good thing. Parents are supposed to teach their children how to talk, walk, and ride a bike, they should teach them proper manners and to not become be on your phone for too long.

— Anna Diab, Glenbard W HS, Glen Ellyn, IL

The answer to this question is different for me than many of my peers considering unlike many "savvy" teens I have a flip phone. When I was fifteen I decided to stick with a flip phone, information technology solved my basic needs. I'chiliad currently seventeen and have friends. It came down to me seeing kids and people on their phones at unsafe and inappropriate times. They were on their while driving, in school, and at the supper table. When I run into somebody on their phone it reminds me that there is more to life. I am on my phone for less than x minutes a day, still, I have survived. I can call and text people without the hassle of getting social media notifications. I'm not saying smartphones are bad they tin be very useful. I just prefer reality.

— Ethan Morton, Ames, Iowa

I detest that I'grand one of those teenagers who have a mini heart assault when they don't experience their phone in their pocket. I know I'm not on my phone near as much equally some of my peers, just fifty-fifty the fourth dimension I do spend in that location I resent. Despite what the article says about technology not having any real negative influence on mental wellness, I tin can't help but feel like it causes other bug.

Nosotros text and DM people when we have something to say, leaving backside outdated voice-calling and — gasp — that archaic practice of talking in person. Then much of advice is nonverbal. Many today struggle to maintain heart contact, pay full undivided attention to others, and meaningfully interact in person. Screens are our mod-solar day masks and boy, do we beloved hiding behind them. While perhaps it is truthful that technology doesn't directly connect to the rise in mental illness and anxiety, it leads to a host of other problems, most prominent amongst these beingness social disuse.

— Grace Robertson, Hoggard High Schoolhouse Wilmington, NC

Phones are not the problem.

Basically I take always had really bad feet style before I got a telephone. One time I got to centre school and I started to mature it got worse because I was finally able to see all the bad in the earth that my parents had protected me from. Which I believe is one of the leading factors of my depression. But in one case I got a phone I was then happy because I was always able to communicate with my friends no affair where I was. Then when I was given social media I really felt connected considering I was able to go updates on what anybody was doing and what was going on in the globe, but so when my parents constitute out nearly my low they complete ignored the fact that they had sheltered me my entire life and blamed information technology all on my telephone so now I practise not have social media and I nevertheless feel the aforementioned mode but I feel less continued and more isolated.

I estimate what I'm trying to say is that I don't call back that phones have ruined a generation I recall it'south the parents, they don't realize that sheltering united states is hurting us …

— Caleb, America

I feel like the anxiety, stress, and depression are non the result of my phone only from the expectations from parents and teachers, how unsafe I feel in my school, from the medication making me "normal and at-home," and from the news where nothing good is heard. I don't think my telephone stops me from socializing or from sleeping, and I am constantly trying to put down my telephone. My parents will warn me in one case or twice simply they are on it as much every bit me.

But I believe that adults try to apply phones as a scapegoat instead of admitting that there are bigger issues, such as global warming, political divisions etc. that teens face or the problems that they themselves crusade with high expectations.

— Lilian, Hoggard Loftier School in Wilmington, NC