How many hours does your teen spend online each day? If your child has an iPhone, it might be enlightening to go to Settings - Screen Time and view their daily screen time average!
In today's digital age, technology has become an integral part of our daily lives, particularly for teenagers. While technology offers numerous benefits, excessive use can lead to addiction and an enormous amount of time glued to screens—smartphones, computers, tablets, or gaming consoles. This obsession takes precedence over other essential activities, including schoolwork and social obligations. When denied access to technology, students might experience irritability, restlessness, or anxiety; interests that don't involve technology may wane, and academic performance may decline noticeably. Social interactions tend to shift online, leading to isolation and withdrawal from real-life relationships.
Biologically, excessive screen time can affect brain chemicals such as dopamine and seratonin, causing a disruption to sleep patterns, insomnia, fatigue, heightened stress/ anxiety levels, and emotional well-being. The brain's neurotransmitter levels may be altered with prolonged use, potentially fostering addictive behavior. Additionally, excessive screen time often contributes to a sedentary lifestyle, adversely affecting physical health and overall fitness.
To guide teens towards responsible technology use, open communication with your teen is crucial. Parents can engage in conversations with teens emphasizing the importance of balance and responsible digital citizenship. Establishing clear boundaries and limits regarding screen time, specific apps, and websites, to align them with your family values and expectations, can make all the difference for young teens in your home. Parents can encourage a diverse array of offline activities like outdoor sports, art, reading, or volunteering to broaden their interests and build family relationships.
What practical changes can parents make to help prevent teen reliance on technology?
1. Lead by example and demonstrate responsible technology use by limiting your own screen time and engaging in meaningful offline activities.
2. Consider implementing DAILY AND WEEKLY "tech-free" times, such as during family meals or before bedtime, encouraging face-to-face interactions and better sleep routines. "Technology-free" days can foster family bonding through outdoor activities, board games, or family outings.
3. Make certain areas of the home, especially bedrooms, "tech-free zones" to ensure a good night's sleep and prevent late-night browsing.
4. Prioritize schoolwork and other responsibilities over technology use, establishing a clear order of priority.
5. Regularly monitor teen screen time and ensure adherence to the established limits. There are an array of tools to help parents monitor screen time such as social media parental controls and apps like "Bark" to help you monitor your child's phone activities.
This week at North Middle School, our Technology Integration Specialist spent time with 6th grade students teaching them about internet safety and iPad care. She also spent time talking to students about boundaries they should set for themselves relating to technology, specifially social media. 7th and 8th graders will have a similar training in the coming weeks. We aim to partner with you to help our students stay safe when interacting with the world. Please let us know if we can help your student in this area!
