By Diana Lambert – EdSource
Teens spend more than an hour on smartphones on average during school, according to a study published Monday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The study, conducted by the National Institutes of Health, analyzed data from 640 adolescents aged 13 to 18 who participated in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study. Smartphone use was measured using a mobile phone application.
“We found that teens spent more than an hour on their phones during the school day on average, largely on social media, video, and gaming apps,” said lead author Jason M. Nagata, professor of pediatrics at UC San Francisco. “That time inevitably competes with attention to learning.”
Key findings:
- Adolescents spent an average of 1.16 hours per day on smartphones during school hours.
- Social media apps (Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat) accounted for the most school-time smartphone use, followed by video apps (YouTube) and games.
- Older adolescents (16-18), Black youth, and adolescents from lower-income households showed higher smartphone use during school hours compared with peers.
- Objective smartphone data highlight that phones remain a significant presence during the school day, even amid school policies aimed at limiting use.
Honestly the phones should be locked up daily at the beginning of the day and returned at the end. There is no reason that the office can’t communicate with a student if there is an emergency just like we did prior to smart/cell phones. It is beyond ridiculous that it is allowed and there should be in class cameras that are monitored and cannot be shut off to keep everything transparent. Drag story book hour and keeping pertinent information from parents is unaccepatble.
The name should be changed to dumbphones.
LMAO very true!
It’s a terible detrimental addiction and these kids need help. It begins with the Parents, but the Schools must ban them completely during school hours. The are not necessary. We had a much better life when I was ateen and shootings and suicides were unheard of.
Steve Jobs left a mess with his creation
1.2 hrs / day at school is low – at least 2 – 2 1/2 …. probably even more… check the kids phones at the end of the school day
Maybe they should figure out a way to put the schoolwork on the phone. I rarely use the computer anymore now that I have my phone so the kids would be learning something and rare would be the day where they say they forgot their homework it would be on their phone.
It is way more than that. It isn’t that easy to. get the phones. Teachers may have a phone holder on the wall. It is heavy cloth with pockets. Teachers have to check to make sure the phones are there and if a student says they don’t have it she/he can’t question them. No doubt that student is on the phone durning class. Some students put in old/broken phones. If the teacher sees the student on the phone they have to ask for it but if the student refuses a call has to be made to have someone come and get and/or remove the student from. class. It is very time consuming and frustrating. Most administrators don’t want to be bothered and put it back on the teacher to call parents. Some teachers give up and let the students keep the phones. Students can be seen on campus on their phones leaving class to use the restroom or get water or just to take a mental break. If the phones are suppose to be up why do they have them? If there are 36- 38 students in a class it is very difficult for 1 teacher to keep track of all that. It is up to the parents. If they just gave them a phone that can only be used for calls or text it would solve the problem. There should be no access to games, internet or social media. But, students have access to that on their laptops. Teachers will find students playing games when they are suppose to be using their laptops for assignments. It is a very difficult situation for teachers. Schools should take the phones at the beginning of the day and release at the end.
They could easily institute a no cell phone policy on campus. Any child caught with a phone on campus will face whatever established accounability is in place. Any computers or internet devices can be restricted to a LAN as opposed to a WAN that way they can block all social apps or addresses as required. There is absolutely no reason for smart/cell phones at school or any child to be on a smart/cell phone while at school supposedly “learning”