Children, Smartphones and decreasing attention span

Children and teenagers use their smartphones many times a day for schoolwork. Unfortunately, this can decrease their attention span.

Nearly 75% of teenagers used smartphones in 2015, according to the Pew Research Center. Many of them use their phone about 95 times a day.

Teenagers, 13-18, spend close to nine hours a day using laptops and smartphones for entertainment. 73% of teens ages 13-18 have access to a smartphone, while 15% have a basic phone and 12% have no cellphone.

Tweens, 8-12 average close to 6 hours using electronics for entertainment, and

Children 0-8 spend close to 4 hours per day using electronics for entertainment.

The ‘average time spent’ is an important number for the advertising industry, it helps to set advertising rates and can influence the price of an advertisers’ stock.

Teachers report that the attention span of their students has shrunk since smartphones have become popular.

Psychologists report that social media creates anxiety among children when they are away from their phones, it is the ‘fear of missing out.’

Nearly half of teens surveyed in 2016 reports feeling addicted to their smartphones.

Even with parental controls children can often find ways to go to sites their parents would not approve of.

For parents, there is a dilemma. They like the educational tools available on cell phones, but worry about the social and emotional impact.