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Teens Know They're Addicted to Phones

*The following is excerpted from an online article posted on U.S. News & World Report.

New research confirms what most casual observers already know: Kids are addicted to their phones.

According to a survey and report from Common Sense Media that involved 1,240 interviews with parents and their 12- to 18-year-old children, 50 percent of teens feel addicted to their mobile devices, and 59 percent of their parents agree that their kids have a problem putting their devices down.

This technology addiction "is causing daily conflict in homes," Common Sense CEO James Steyer said in a statement, adding that "families are concerned about the consequences."

"We also know that problematic media use can negatively affect children's development and that multitasking can harm learning and performance," Steyer said. "As a society we all have a responsibility to take media use and addiction seriously and make sure parents have the information to help them make smart choices for their families."

The urge to stay connected on mobile devices leads 78 percent of teens and 69 percent of parents to check their mobile devices at least hourly. Arguments about device use break out on a daily basis for 36 percent of parents and 32 percent of teens.

And according to Common Sense's analysis of existing research, while multitasking between multiple screens or between screens and people is common for homework or socializing, it may impair a teen's memory, learning and work abilities.

Compulsive device use can cause other problems as well: 56 percent of parents surveyed said they check their mobile devices while driving – which is often illegal and can cause an accident – while 51 percent of teens said they had noticed their parents doing so.

Source: U.S. News & World Report
http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-05-03/teens-know-theyre-addicted-to-smartphones-research-shows