The mobile phone is one more part of the hand of our teenagers and we observe them typing quickly with great agility. They use it for everything, but mainly to stay in touch with their friends. Lately, the concern of parents is increasing and there is talk of mobile phone addiction. Nevertheless, as psychologist Eparquio Delgado points out, the phone is just a tool, not an end. Therefore, what they get hooked on is not the continent -the mobile phone-, but the conversations they are having or the content they consult.
Teenagers and Mobile: Regarding the addiction, What Data do we Have?
A study carried out by researchers from the NGO Common Sense Media in 2021 contemplated the following results:
- Almost 80% of young people admitted that they check or check their mobile notifications at least every hour
- 72% of teens feel the need to respond immediately to texts, social media, and other notifications
- Half of teens feel they are addicted to their mobile device
- At least a couple of times a week, 41% of adolescents feel that another person is distracted by their mobile and does not pay attention when they are talking.
White paper results (extracted from Common Sense Media):
- Internet addiction is potentially serious. There is no agreement on whether it is a true addiction, how to measure it, or whether it is something that is closely related to or perhaps caused by another disorder, such as depression or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Doing several things at the same time could be damaging our ability to maintain focus. Research shows that multitasking can hurt your ability to finish things, slow your progress, and make it harder to remember things that happened while multitasking
- The use of media and technology is a source of problems for many families. Many children feel that their parents check their devices too often, and many parents have difficulty setting limits on their children’s media and technology use.
Everything has changed, as a colleague with whom I was chatting about this topic told me:
«We must bear in mind that your children may work in professions that have not even been invented, that they will invent them based on future technologies. Technology is and will be part of the lives of children and teenagers and we have it in our hands to guide them in the use of technology and devices.»
A common issue, but not a specific solution
We already know that in this issue, as in many others, the solution is not easy or unique, but we are also sure that parents can have a great impact on the way their children use the mobile. In this infographic we are going to give you a series of guidelines and tips to make good use of your mobile and make the most of technology without losing control. The key, as in almost all aspects of life, is COMMON SENSE:
Establish a balanced strategy by setting limits on time of use and times for not using it, and we are sure that this will have an impact on the development of healthy habits of use of mobile phones, the Internet and the media.
The problem is not the mobile phone or WhatsApp, but rather it is a problem of education and responsibility. This applies firstly to parents who have to continually guide their children. And secondly to the adolescents themselves who must understand that by controlling some issues they will discover the world of possibilities. (One that the mobile brings them and that the rules are for prevent problems). Let’s apply common sense and make them understand that they should not go to bed with their phone. (Just like during classes or while studying or doing homework).
