Teens Spend Surprising 70 Minutes on Phones During School Days

UPDATE: New research reveals that American adolescents are spending an alarming 70 minutes of their school days on their phones, undermining classroom learning. The findings, published in the journal JAMA on Monday, highlight a growing concern for parents and educators alike.

Dr. Jason Nagata, the lead author and associate professor at the University of California, San Francisco, emphasizes that this time occurs “literally during the school day when children and adolescents should be in classes.” The study tracked the smartphone usage of 640 adolescents from ages 13 to 18 between September 2022 and May 2024.

Most notably, teens were found to be largely engaged with social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, rather than using their devices for educational purposes. This alarming trend raises questions about the effectiveness of existing school policies meant to limit phone usage.

While many schools impose restrictions, the study indicates that teens are adept at sidestepping these rules. Previous self-reported data likely underestimated actual screen time, but this study used an app to objectively monitor usage. The research shows that, beyond school hours, teens still average around 8.5 hours of screen time daily, a statistic that means parents may need to rethink their strategies for managing phone use.

As Dr. Nagata points out, “Apps they actually used at school are highly unlikely to be related to school assignments.” This raises urgent concerns about not just academic performance, but overall safety as students may neglect their surroundings, especially during emergencies.

Experts suggest practical solutions for parents to help their children resist the allure of smartphones. Dr. Nagata advocates for leaving phones at home or locking them in pouches during school hours. He stresses that children are safer when they are not distracted by their devices, particularly in critical situations such as school emergencies.

Clinical psychologist Melissa Greenberg, who did not participate in the study, advocates a family approach. She encourages parents to demonstrate the benefits of phone-free time, noting that many people experience a sense of freedom and presence when disconnected from digital distractions. “Most people I talk to who take digital breaks feel like there’s benefit in it,” Greenberg states.

Moreover, the impact of social media on academic performance cannot be ignored. Dr. Nagata’s previous research revealed that 9- to 13-year-olds using social media excessively exhibited lower scores on vocabulary and reading comprehension tests two years later. He urges parents to explain how screen distractions can hinder not only academic success but also interpersonal relationships.

To combat this pervasive issue, parents must model healthy phone habits themselves. Dr. Nagata notes, “The way parents use their phones is one of the biggest predictors of adolescent phone use.” He encourages parents to put their devices on “do not disturb” mode during work hours to set a positive example.

As this critical issue unfolds, parents and educators are urged to rethink their strategies for managing screen time in schools. With these urgent findings, the call for action is clear: address the smartphone dilemma now to protect the learning environment and well-being of students.

Stay tuned for further developments on this pressing issue affecting the next generation.