New Report Finds Teens Feel Addicted to Their Phones, Causing Tension at Home

wmanning — Tue, 03 May 2016 12:42:23 +0000

Common Sense Report Finds Tech Use is Cause of Conflict, Concern, Controversy

San Francisco, Calif. — A new report issued today by Common Sense Media finds that 50 percent of teens “feel addicted” to mobile devices, and 59 percent of their parents agree that their kids are addicted. Additionally, parents and children are concerned about the effects mobile device use has on their daily lives—from driving to the dinner table—with over one-third of the families in the Common Sense poll arguing about it daily.

The Common Sense poll surveyed 1,240 parents and kids from the same households (620 parents, 620 kids) and accompanies a white paper that reviews the latest scientific research about problematic media use, including impacts on youths’ well-being and development. Together they offer a fresh, comprehensive review and perspective on addiction and media-use in the U.S. today. Common Sense initiated the research to better understand mobile technology’s impact on children’s physical, cognitive, social and emotional development and identify families’ need for support.

“Mobile devices are fundamentally changing how families go about day-to-day life, be it homework, driving or having dinner together,” said James Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense. “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. We also know that problematic media use can negatively affect children’s development and that multi-tasking can harm learning and performance. As a society we all have a responsibility to take media use and addiction seriously and make sure parents have the information to help them make smart choices for their families.”

Key Findings from the Survey of Parents and Teens Include:

Addiction: 1 out of every 2 teens feels addicted to their devices and the majority of parents (59%) feel their kids are addicted

Frequency: 72% of teens and 48% of parents feel the need to immediately respond to texts, social networking messages, and other notifications; 69% of parents and 78% of teens check their devices at least hourly

Distraction: 77% of parents feel their child gets distracted by his or her devices and doesn’t pay attention when they are together at least a few times per week

Conflict: One-third of parents and teens (36% and 32% respectively) say they argue with each other on a daily basis about device use

Risky behavior: 56% of parents admit they check their mobile devices while driving; 51% of teens see their parents checking/using their mobile devices when driving

Common Sense’s white paper, a review of existing studies and research on internet use, technology and addiction, concludes that there is cause for concern around problematic media use, which in extreme cases can have very damaging consequences. The paper finds that multitasking, toggling between multiple screens or between screens and people – which is common for kids doing homework or socializing – impairs their ability to lay down memories, to learn, and to work effectively. Additionally, problematic media use can harm face-to-face conversation, and undermine the development of empathy. Parents and teens should avoid multitasking with devices while talking to others and replacing human interactions with technology.

“Parents are right to be concerned about the impact of media on the development of their kids,” said Ellen Wartella, a leading scholar of the role of media in children’s development. “It is a good thing that parents and educators are focused on kids’ social and emotional learning and asking the right questions – many of which we don’t know the answers to yet. From attention disorders and multi-tasking 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 Common Sense report stemmed from last November’s landmark Common Sense Census: Media Use by Tweens and Teens that indicated U.S. teens use an average of nine hours of media per day. The technology addiction research was initiated to spark a national discussion on media and technology use by acknowledging a pervasive feeling of addiction by American families and help them identify resources to resolve family conflicts and encourage responsible use of technology.

Resources for families who are concerned about media use are available on the Common Sense website, including “5 Simple Steps for a Healthy Media Diet,” family media agreements and video guides, 20 Q&As that include answers to questions like: Is Internet addiction real? What are the downsides to multitasking? How can I make sure my kid doesn’t become addicted to technology?

A webinar on helping families achieve media balance will be held on May 19^thand will be free to the public at www.commonsense.org. To review the white paper and Executive Summary in their entirety, visit LINK.

Survey Methodology:

The survey is based on a nationally representative survey designed and administered by Lake Research Partners and conducted by telephone using professional interviews from February 16 to March 14, 2016. A total of 1,240 interviews were conducted with parents (n=620) and their children (n=620) residing in the same household.

Respondents were screened to be parents of children between the ages of 12 and 18 living at home with them, with both parent and child using a mobile device. The data for the parent and children sample were weighed slightly by gender, region, age, and race to reflect attributes of the actual population. The margin of error for this sample is +/-4.0%.

About Common Sense:

Common Sense is the nation’s leading independent nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a powerful voice for kids and families in the 21st century. Millions of families, educators, and policymakers turn to Common Sense every day to access our independent rating systems, unbiased research, and trusted tools and advice that help them navigate a rapidly changing digital landscape at home and at school. Learn more at commonsense.org

The post New Report Finds Teens Feel Addicted to Their Phones, Causing Tension at Home appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Nomophobia: When a modern smartphone affliction leads to addiction

wmanning — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 18:01:17 +0000

Everyday technology consumes everyone’s lives as the phone, computer, tablet and other high tech devices have become not just an object, but also a close companion. And for those who are extremely connected to their devices, going without them, even for only a few minutes, can be an anxiety-filled experience.

A majority of American adults (56 percent) own smartphones, according to a recent study by the Pew Research Center. Having the ability to check your mail, play games and browse the Internet right in your pocket is a leap forward for technology and staying connected to the workplace, but it may come at a cost.

Nomophobia, or the pathological fear of remaining out of touch with technology, is a relatively modern affliction. It’s basically a side effect from changes the mobile phone has made to human habits, behaviors and even the way we perceive reality. Entire relationships are becoming defined through mobile texting and colorful little emoticons, from saying “I love you” to “I think we should move on.”

So how did it come to this? Have smartphones become an extension of Americans or is everyone simply becoming victims of a fast-paced, always connected society? Chances are it’s a little bit of both.

Dr. Chuck Howard, licensed psychologist and chair of the psychology programs at Argosy University, Denver, believes it can be more complex than simply stamping a label on the problem.

“Nomophobia is a result of people becoming more and more electronically connected to the point that their technology-based network and relationships become their home community,” says Howard. “Losing that connection is essentially a form of electronic banishment. They fear being tossed out of, or losing their ‘social village.’”

The term was originally coined from a 2010 study by YouGov, a UK-based research organization that wanted to look at anxieties suffered by mobile phone users. The study found that men and women often felt stressed when their mobile phones were turned off.

“Nomophobia can be a symptom of a potential addiction,” says Howard. “Users who are happy and having a good time when on their device, then face great stress and anxiety without it. They may obsess about it. They can’t put it down. This is when actual addiction becomes a threat.”

When you see a behavior becoming destructive, and admit to having a problem, you can handle it in the same way as other types of addiction. “Develop strategies for meeting your social needs in other ways … without depending on an electronic platform,” suggests Howard.

Start by resisting the urge to constantly check your phone. Try limiting your number of mobile social media networks and consider joining more in-person professional networking groups or sports clubs. Set aside some time to leave your phone alone, such as at dinner, with friends or going to sleep.

If it becomes an addiction and begins to strain your relationships, consider asking others around you what they think. Be open to a sort of intervention where friends and family may candidly tell you their thoughts. No need to go cold-turkey, just take some small steps at a time to disconnect and enjoy the world around you, without looking through a smartphone screen. And lastly if you can’t do it alone, then seek professional help.

(BPT)

The post Nomophobia: When a modern smartphone affliction leads to addiction appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

addiction Archives - AKAMom Magazine

New Report Finds Teens Feel Addicted to Their Phones, Causing Tension at Home

Nomophobia: When a modern smartphone affliction leads to addiction