Most teenagers experience joy and serenity when detached from their phone, while 44% admit to feeling anxious without it. Approximately half of parents acknowledge browsing through their teenager’s mobile device.
The Pew Research Center undertook a study to gain insights into the screen time habits of teenagers and parents.
The study involved an online survey of 1,453 teenagers and parents in the United States from September 26 to October 23, 2023, conducted by Ipsos. Ipsos selected one parent from each household with teenagers within the specified age group through its KnowledgePanel. The survey participants were weighted to ensure representation by various demographics.
This research received approval from an external institutional review board (IRB), Advarra, a committee of experts dedicated to safeguarding research participants’ rights.
The survey delved into teenagers’ emotions related to their devices, the influence of smartphones on youth, and the challenges parents encounter in the digital era.
Key Survey Findings:
- Absence of Phones: 72% of American teenagers express feeling peaceful or happy when separated from their smartphones, while 44% admit to experiencing anxiety.
- Impact on Activities: 69% of teens believe smartphones facilitate pursuing hobbies, but only 30% think it aids in developing social skills.
- Parental Monitoring: Half of parents admit to monitoring their teen’s phone usage.
- Conflicts Over Phones: Around 40% of parents and teenagers report frequent arguments about phone usage.
- Parental Distraction: Nearly half of teenagers feel their parents are occasionally distracted by their phones during conversations.
This survey, conducted between September 26 and October 23, 2023, involved 1,453 U.S. teenagers aged 13 to 17 and their parents.
Teens’ Perspectives on Screen Time and Reduction Efforts
While 95% of teenagers own smartphones and engage with platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram, many acknowledge spending excessive time on screens.
Gender Disparities: Girls are more likely than boys to feel they spend too much time on social media or smartphones.
Efforts to Reduce Screen Time
A minority of teenagers have actively tried to decrease their screen time, with girls showing more initiative than boys.
Emotional Responses to Phone Absence
When teenagers are without their phones, they experience a range of emotions, including happiness, peace, anxiety, loneliness, and distress.
Demographic Variations: Older girls and teenage girls, in general, are more prone to feelings of anxiety and loneliness when phoneless.
Perceptions on Smartphone Impact
While smartphones offer numerous benefits, teenagers are divided on whether the advantages outweigh the drawbacks.
Gender and Age Influence: Younger girls are more likely to believe that smartphones have more negative than positive effects.
Impact on Specific Aspects: Smartphones are seen as beneficial for creativity, hobbies, and academics but detrimental to social skills development.
Parental Challenges in the Smartphone Era
Parents face dilemmas regarding monitoring their teen’s phone use and handling conflicts arising from excessive screen time.
Parental Monitoring and Conflicts
Parents frequently check their teen’s phones, leading to disagreements, especially in Hispanic households.
Prioritizing Phone Management
Most parents consider managing their teen’s phone usage a significant priority, with variations based on race, ethnicity, and income levels.
Setting Limits on Phone Usage
While about half of parents restrict their teen’s phone time, the practice varies with the teenager’s age.
Difficulties in Managing Screen Time
Many parents find it challenging to regulate their teen’s phone usage, with higher-income parents facing more obstacles.
Parents’ Struggles with Device Distractions
Parents, like teenagers, grapple with excessive phone usage, with a significant percentage feeling they spend too much time on their devices.
Household Income Disparities: Parents from higher-income brackets are more likely to perceive their phone usage as excessive.
Parental Distraction: While teenagers perceive parental distraction due to phones, parents believe they are less distracted during conversations.