HAS THE SMARTPHONE DESTROYED A GENERATION?
I am not against this technology but the question is, is it destroying our Generation??
Our generation has had to integrate smartphones and social media into our lives. Our kids' generation has grown up with them. Some experts say that young people today have been part of a ten-year experiment to determine the effects of constant technological and social connection on our lives. The data is just coming in. It is not good. It is absolutely alarming.Psychologically, teenagers today are "more vulnerable than millennials." Millennials integrated smartphones into their lives while teenagers today have literally grown up with them.
What is the root cause?
Twenge says, "The arrival of the smartphone has radically changed every aspect of teenagers' lives, from the nature of their social interactions to their mental health."
You would think that all the technology that connects kids to one another would make them more happy. The data shows otherwise. A longitudinal study by The National Institute on Drug Abuse found that "teens who spend more time than average on screen activities are more likely to be unhappy, and those who spend more time than average on nonscreen activities are more likely to be happy."
What is a parent to do?
- Talk about the impact of social media with your kids.
Your kids may be so caught up in their interactions online that they may not be aware of the negative impact they are potentially having. Talk it through with them, helping them to see that what they see as normal might not be normal after all. Talk about self image and depression and bullying. Most importantly, take time to listen to your kids. (It helps if you're not on your phone too much.)
- Remind your kids that having a smartphone is a privilege, not a right.
You (probably) pay the bill so you get to control what they do with it. As a parent, you are always allowed to put parameters on your teens' use of their phone. You can control what apps they download and who they interact with. You are allowed to know their passwords and you have a right to look at their phone whenever you want. There are some terrific resources available to help guide you in managing all this, including a family contract for smartphone use.
- Provide oversight with appropriate controls and filters.
We like the Circle device for controlling time spent, bedtimes, content, and apps used. It's incredibly powerful at home and CircleGo provides accountability when they are away from home. We let our kids know that we will follow them on any social media platform they are on. If you're really concerned about what your kids are saying or doing online, TeenSafe offers another level of oversight. It's sort of like the secret police of smartphones.
- Have a common charging station.
Some families have benefitted from charging all phones in the kitchen or in the parents' bedroom. At a set time every night, all phones are checked in for the night. This ensures that your family connects with each other for a while AND that your kids (nor you) are on your phone late into the night.