“Smartphones have changed children’s lives forever, but not necessarily for the better,” says Magee, author of the book Things Have Changed: What Every Parent (and Educator) Should Know About the Student Mental Health and Substance Misuse Crisis and founder of the William Magee Institute for Student Wellbeing and the William Magee Center for AOD and Wellness Education at the University of Mississippi. “These devices are the gateway to your child’s weak spots. Over time they steal their joy and set them up for problems they aren’t equipped to handle.”
They
rob children of vital sleep. Smartphone use disrupts sleep in many
ways, yet children routinely sacrifice a good night’s rest so they can scroll.
One study showed that use of
electronic screens before bedtime results in longer time to fall asleep and
decreased evening sleepiness, reduced melatonin secretion, circadian clock
delay, reduced amount and delay in rapid eye movement sleep, and reduced
next-morning alertness. Further, a Stanford University study concluded that
once asleep, more than 60 percent of teens keep their smartphone on and within
reach, and by 2019 more than one-third were waking up at night to check their
device.
“Lack
of sleep creates a domino effect,” says Magee. “Children and teens who don’t
sleep are more at risk for symptoms of ADHD, rollercoaster emotions and
impulses, increased anxiety and depression, and angry outbursts. This can lead
to use of prescription medications when in fact, what is needed is more routine
quality sleep.”
Smartphones
stunt children’s social skills. As children and teens opt to spend more
time online and less time engaging in face-to-face interactions, their budding
social skills suffer. There’s even a name—“phubbing”—to describe the act of
ignoring the person one is with to look at one’s smartphone. One study showed that even the
presence of phones on a table caused participants to feel more distracted and
have lower enjoyment during social interactions compared with those who put their
phones away.
Social
media apps fuel body image issues and disordered eating—particularly among
girls.
Social media portrays an idealized version of life that most people cannot live
up to (often including the influencers putting their too perfect to be real
lives on display). Apps like Instagram feature filters that change the
appearance of influencers and lead young people to have an unrealistic
perception of what normal bodies look like. This can fuel disordered eating and
body dissatisfaction. A systematic review of 20 studies showed that
social media use was associated with disordered eating and body image concerns.
“In my extended family, several battle or have battled eating
disorders and body image,” says Magee. “Each can talk for hours about triggers
and negative feelings they get from social media. It’s also safe to say that
every female in my extended family has expressed significant anxiety related to
social media, Instagram in particular, at one point or another. That’s not to
suggest it’s a female-only issue. Of course not. But there’s no denying females
suffer more.”
For young males, eating disorders can be harder to detect
because they might involve getting too thin, but it’s frequently about
achieving a “perfect sculpted body.” The Child Mind Institute calls this
manifestation “reverse anorexia” or “bigorexia.”
READ MORE: What to do if technology is affecting your kids’ sleep
Smartphones have become the
primary tools for purchasing substances…Those searching for or even
glancing at drug-related content show up in recommended follows to the pushers,
thanks to the algorithm, and the pushers send chats in response. It’s not what
they asked for, but that’s how social media takes advantage of users—one’s
curiosity can gain unintended momentum.
From there, children can purchase drugs
at the push of a button. It works like this: The drug dealer and prospective
client exchange messages on platforms like WhatsApp or Snapchat. The buyer
“orders” their preferred substances and the dealer instructs the buyer to make
a food order through a delivery app such as Door Dash. Their food delivery
arrives along with the buyer’s drug of choice.
…And for viewing pornography. They often
initially discover it accidentally—often at a far younger age than most parents
would hope—and then become frequent viewers. (Some studies show teens to be the
most significant consumers of online porn in America.)
This
news may sound grim, but don’t despair, says Magee. Parents can work with their
child to find a happy medium surrounding their smartphone and social media use.
Read on for some advice on helping your children keep their texting, chatting,
and scrolling in check.
Delay
getting your child their first phone as long as possible. There is no
“right” age recommendation for giving a child their first smartphone. Only you
know your child’s maturity level, what they can handle, and what’s right for
them. But Magee and other experts recommend holding off as long as possible.
For example, the non-profit Wait Until 8th urges parents to wait
until children are in the eighth grade before giving them a smartphone.
Work
with your children to set reasonable limits on phone use. Have an open and
honest conversation with your child to figure out how much access they can have
to their smartphones. Also establish times the whole family will “unplug” to
enjoy time together, for example at mealtimes or during a weekly “family
night.”
READ MORE: You can get your kids’ screen habits under control
Keep
the phone away from the bed. Instead of preaching and pressuring your
child to “get off the phone and go to sleep,” engage them in a conversation
about the importance of sleep and its benefits. Help them recognize that
smartphone use is an obstacle to a good night’s rest, and that bed is not for
homework or social time, but for sleeping.
Silence
nonessential notifications. No one can focus near a smartphone that’s constantly
beeping or vibrating. Remind your children to silence the notifications on
their social media apps so incoming messages are less distracting while they
are doing other activities.
Set
a good example by checking your own smartphone use. One study reveals
that four in 10 children worry their parents are addicted to their devices. If
this sounds like you, it’s time to make some changes around your own phone use.
Remember, your children are watching and learning from you.
Help
your child embrace their life in the “real world.” When your child’s
life is full of healthy activities and strong relationships, they will be less
tempted to escape into their social media apps.
“With
the right support, your children can build a healthy relationship with their
smartphones and social media feeds,” concludes Magee. “After all, there are
benefits to being able to connect with friends and family and having access to
a world of information. Keep the conversation going around responsible use of
their devices as they grow. Soon they will be making their own smart decisions
that you can be proud of.”
David Magee
is the best-selling author of "Things Have Changed: What Every Parent
(and Educator) Should Know About the Student Mental Health and Substance Misuse
Crisis" and "Dear William: A Father’s Memoir of Addiction,
Recovery, Love, and Loss"—a Publisher’s Weekly bestseller,
named a Best Book of the South, and featured on CBS Mornings—and other
nonfiction books. A changemaker in student and family mental health and
substance misuse, he’s a creator of the William Magee Institute for Student
Wellbeing at the University of Mississippi and a frequent K–12 and university
educational and motivational speaker, helping students and parents find and
keep their joy. Learn more at www.daviddmagee.com.
"Things Have Changed: What Every Parent (and Educator)
Should Know About the Student Mental Health and Substance Misuse Crisis" (Matt Holt, August 2023,
ISBN: 978-1-6377439-6-6, $22.00) is available at bookstores nationwide and
from major online booksellers.