Smartphone addiction is impacting sleep, survey finds

[Shawn Knight]

A hot potato: As for flat out addiction, 45 percent of parents said they feel addicted to their mobile device compared to just 39 percent of teens. Those figures are up from 27 percent and down from 50 percent, respectively, since 2016.

Technology addiction is a controversial topic but thanks to ongoing research, it is one that is beginning to be better understood by experts and families alike.

According to a recent report from Common Sense Media (CSM), parents are more concerned about the time they spend on smartphones compared to just a few years ago. Teens, meanwhile, are collectively less worried about their own usage than they were in 2016.

Specifically, CSM notes that 52 percent of parents feel they spend too much time on their mobile devices, up from just 29 percent in 2016. Conversely, only 39 percent of teens believe they spend too much time on their devices, down from 61 percent in 2016.

Teens aren’t oblivious to their parents’ usage, either. A full 39 percent of teens said they think their parent spends too much time on their device, up from just 28 percent who said the same in 2016.

More than half of parents and teens – 54 percent and 58 percent, respectively – feel distracted by their mobile device at least once a day.

Even more worrisome is that both groups keep their devices close by at night with nearly a third of teens saying they keep their phones in bed with them. One in four parents said they wake up at least once a night to check their phone for something other than the time; one in three teens reported doing the same.

Lead image credit: everybody zebra by haloviss. Second image: young sleepy tired woman by DimaBerlin

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https://www.techspot.com/news/80346-smartphone-addiction-impacting-sleep-survey-finds.html

 

[ShagnWagn]

Games are a big part of the problem. With all of their artificial timers, which compensate for a lack of content, people are setting alarms to get up and start the next timer. Be it some kind of skill training/building or loot box gambling, etc etc.

 

[Uncle Al]

From what I've read over the past years the greatest offender is Social Media. People simply too afraid to miss even one moment of what's going on and even more afraid of being shunned if they are "out of touch" for even a moment ......

 

[Raytrace3D]

From what I've read over the past years the greatest offender is Social Media. People simply too afraid to miss even one moment of what's going on and even more afraid of being shunned if they are "out of touch" for even a moment ......

That use to be my case. I haven't been a part of social media in years, but things like video games and youtube are what keep me up. I'm sure video game addiction is a part of it. I'll admit it has definetly impacted work and life. As ShagnWagn stated in his comment, those artificial timers are what keep me up... Honestly, if my phone died, I would free up hours of my life every day... It's a prison.

 

[Nobina]

I noticed this a long *** time ago. I don't think there's a single night where I don't use my smartphone in bed. It's not even social media, I don't use it much and I don't play games on my phone but there's always something to check up on or read. Not planning to stop any time soon .

 

[funglebuddy]

I cut myself off from my phone after 10..if im not on call the only thing I want to hear from my phone is my ocean sound mix 2

 

[kenc1101]

"Conversely, only 39 percent of teens believe they spend too much time on their devices, down from 61 percent in 2016."

I think 'believe' is the operative word here. It's really probably closer to 100% in real life.