The Effects of Smartphone Use on Youth and Adolescent Development

In recent years, smartphones have become an essential part of our lives. We can't live without them: they're with us at all times, on our wrists, pockets, and purses or mounted to the wall of our bedrooms.

Smartphones have revolutionized the way we live our lives. They enable us to stay connected with friends and family across the globe, as well as to make purchases and pay bills.

But what does this mean for youth and adolescents? What does it mean for their development?

Does having a smartphone affect their cognitive development? Does it affect their social development? And does it impact their emotional well-being?

In this blog, we will examine whether youth and adolescents' cognitive functioning changes after they begin to use smartphones regularly. We will also examine whether social functioning changes after using smartphones regularly. And finally, we will examine how these changes affect emotional well-being.

What are the Cognitive Effects of Early Smartphone Use

Half of the youth and adolescents (53%) in the United States own a smartphone by the age of 11, and 84 percent of teenagers have their own smartphones, according to Common Sense media which has been tracking this since 2003 (1).  Approximately 17% of parents with children aged 11 or younger report that their child possesses their own smartphone. (2).

This trend has significant implications for youth and adolescent cognitive development. Early smartphone ownership in kids can have several cognitive effects, both positive and negative. Here are some critical cognitive effects to consider:

• Attention and Focus. Excessive smartphone use can lead to reduced attention span and difficulty maintaining focus. Constant notifications, apps, and digital distractions can make it challenging for youth and adolescents to concentrate on tasks, leading to decreased productivity and learning difficulties. Creating a structured homework routine can effectively reduce distractions, particularly for youth struggling with maintaining attention. Such a routine instills discipline and teaches the valuable skill of disconnecting from distractions, which becomes increasingly crucial as technology becomes more captivating. Learning and sustaining focus remain indispensable, making this skill a lifelong asset. (3)

• Memory and learning. Dependence on smartphones for information retrieval can hinder the development of memory skills. With instant access to information, youth and adolescents may rely less on their own memory and critical thinking abilities. This can impact their ability to retain and recall information and hinder the development of problem-solving skills.

• Cognitive development. Engaging in interactive and stimulating offline activities is crucial for cognitive development in youth and adolescents. Excessive smartphone use may limit time for activities such as imaginative play, hands-on exploration, and engaging with physical books, essential for developing cognitive skills like creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking.

What are the Social Effects of Early Smartphone Ownership

Smartphones are everywhere. They're in our hands, on our faces, and in our pockets. And they're changing the way we live, work, and play.

From connecting to each other to helping us find jobs and new friends, smartphones have changed how we do business and even pushed back against some social norms. But what does all this mean for you? What's it like to be a smartphone owner? What does it mean for your life if you're an early adopter or already part of the smartphone culture? The following sections will look at some of the significant effects of smartphone ownership on your social standing and personal behavior—and how early adopters might reap some benefits from their tech addiction.

The social effects of early smartphone ownership are many and varied.

First, it's important to remember that smartphones are not just tools for communication and information. They're also status symbols—and the more popular a device is, the more status it has. The same goes for brands: the more popular a brand is, the more status it has.

And if you think about it, having a smartphone means being at the center of your own ecosystem—you can keep track of what other people are doing and communicate directly with them. It's like having a private space where only one person can see you. This has been said to have positive effects on mental health in some cases—but there's no way to know if this effect is due to social isolation or simply because people who own smartphones tend to be more comfortable in general than those who don't own them.

If we're looking at how smartphones affect social interaction in general, though, we can see that their presence has impacted how we communicate with each other. In many ways, they've made it easier to communicate face-to-face and over text messages (and almost any other type of communication).

How Does Smartphone Use Affect Youth and Adolescent Emotional Well-Being?

The advent of early smartphone ownership among youth and adolescents has brought about emotional effects that warrant attention and understanding. While smartphones offer opportunities for connection, entertainment, and self-expression, they can also influence emotional well-being in various ways. Here are some critical emotional effects to consider:

1. Social-emotional development. Spending more time on smartphone use reduces social interactions. This can lead to potential challenges in building relationships with peers. It reduces face-to-face interactions since more screen time is spent using smartphones.

2. Self-esteem and body image. Exposure to idealized images and lifestyles shown on social media can impact youth and adolescents’ self-esteem and body image due to constant comparison. This may lead to feelings of lower self-confidence and negative self-perception.

3. Cyberbullying and online harassment. Hurtful comments, exclusion, and even sharing of inappropriate content can significantly impact youth and adolescents’ well-being, leading to a range of negative emotions such as sadness, anxiety, and isolation (4).

4. Fear of Missing Out (FOMO). When a child sees other peers about events or experiences like traveling, and they're not part of it, it can trigger feelings of exclusion,  loneliness, and a sense of not measuring up to others.

Those caring for youth and adolescents must be aware of these emotional effects. Encouraging open communication, setting boundaries for smartphone use, and teaching them strategies for managing digital stress will help support their emotional well-being in the digital age.

Caregiver Role and Guidelines for Smartphone Use

As a caregiver, you are responsible for youth and adolescents’ safety. You are also responsible for knowing how to use smartphones safely. Here are some guidelines on how to properly use your smartphone:

1. Establish clear boundaries and rules for smartphone use. Set limits for the youth and adolescents’ time on the phone or tablet. If they can't be without it, this indicates a much bigger problem, and education around the impacts of excessive tech use and reestablishing healthy boundaries is needed. Kids don’t know what they don’t know, and it’s up to the adults in their lives to help them find valuable and healthy ways to use this tool.

2. Caregiver Controls and Monitoring. Utilize caregiver control features and monitoring apps to ensure age-appropriate content and limit access to potentially harmful or inappropriate material. Regularly review their smartphone activity and have discussions about responsible online behavior. Teach them how to block certain websites or apps if they have a friend sending inappropriate messages or pictures over text messages.

3. Lead by Example. Youth and adolescents often mimic their caregivers' behavior. Be a positive role model by demonstrating healthy smartphone habits, leading by example, limiting screen time and work to be fully present during family activities, and prioritizing offline interactions.

Summary

In summary, early smartphone ownership and excessive use in youth and adolescents can have negative cognitive and social implications that parents and caregivers should be aware of. Excessive smartphone use can lead to reduced attention span, memory difficulties, and language and communication development challenges. Additionally, sleep disturbances and the risk of digital dependence are factors that can further impact cognitive functioning.

To address these effects, caregivers must establish boundaries, promote a balanced lifestyle, and foster offline activities that stimulate healthy cognitive, emotional, psychosocial spirtiual, and physical growth. Open communication and teaching digital literacy skills are also vital for responsibly helping children navigate the digital world.

Resources:

1. The Common Sense Census: Media Use by Tweens and Teens, 2019 | Common Sense Media. Common Sense Media. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/the-common-sense-census-media-use-by-tweens-and-teens-2019

2. Turner, B. (2020, July 28). 1. Children’s engagement with digital devices, screen time. Pew research. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2020/07/28/childrens-engagement-with-digital-devices-screen-time/

3. How Phones and Multitasking Ruin Concentration | Child Mind Institute. Childmind. https://childmind.org/article/kids-shouldnt-use-phones-during-homework/

4. Effects of Cyberbullying: What Parents & Teenagers Need to Know | Social Media Victims Law Center. Socialmediavictims. https://socialmediavictims.org/cyberbullying/effects/