It’s hard to comprehend what could be so important! You begin to wonder if your teen has an addiction.
Well, it’s not outside the realm of possibility…
Many surveys and researches suggest that social media addiction occurs because we become hooked on the validation gained from having our posts “liked” and commented on. 62% of adults worldwide report an increase in self-esteem after they receive positive social-media feedback.
This phenomenon might be intensified for teens that are just beginning to build their identities outside of their parents. Teens across the globe are learning to equate the size of their online audience with feelings of love and acceptance… and when those likes stop rolling in, teens become unhinged.
Worried your teen might be a victim of modern age technology?
There’s a good chance that smartphone addiction is happening if your teen…
- …feels uncomfortable when they do not have instant access to information
- …gets angry when told they should leave the smartphone behind
- …appears agitated when the battery on their smartphone is low, and abandons conversations or activities so they can plug their phone in
- …frequently expresses concern about, or goes past, any data limit on their plan – and regularly asks to have more data if there is a limit
- …seems incapable of navigating to a destination without checking for directions on their phone
- …feels anxious any time they cannot check up on social media
- …obsessively checks for new messages, and grows increasingly agitated if they go for a long period of time without receiving an update
What can you do to help?
1) Be a role model.
When you’re with your teen, be present and put your own phone away. The recent survey has discovered that parents showed that the smartphone addiction is not restricted only to teens. In fact, 69% of parents admit that they check their phone every hour, with 56% of parents even admitting to checking their phone while they were driving! This alarming behavior does not go unnoticed by teens. Whether they realize it or not, teens are watching you to learn how to behave, so set a good example by limiting your own screen time at home.
2) Set limits.
Create “no phone zones” in your home to make sure that your teen is putting the phone away at certain points of the day. For example, teens shouldn’t be allowed to carry a phone to the dinner table or to their bedroom when they’re supposed to be going to sleep.
3) Encourage in-person socialization.
Allow your teen to have his or friends over after school so they can spend time together in person instead of texting back and forth. Look for clubs or after school activities that your teen can participate in that will help him or her put the phone down and engage in other activities.
4) Talk to teens.
The older a teen is, the more likely they are to argue with you about any rules that you set. To avoid this additional conflict, talk to teens prior to establishing new smartphone rules. Tell your teen about how much he or she is missing out on by being glued to the phone, and tell them this is not a punishment, but rather a lifestyle change that you want the whole family to get on board with. Remind them that a handful of great friends are worth a million acquaintances.
The key to solving smartphone addiction isn’t to totally remove a teen’s smartphone as a part of their life – it’s simply to get them to recognize it as a tool, not a safety blanket, and that like all other tools it’s okay to put it down for awhile.
The ultimate goal is to promote a healthy online/offline balance that improves your child’s life instead of dragging them down and tying their happiness to a single object.
