Survey: Nearly 75% of Teens Report Feeling Happy, Peaceful Without Phones
The Facts
A Pew Research Center survey released Monday found that 74% of American teenagers say they "often" or "sometimes" feel happy when away from their phones, with another 72% saying the same for feeling peaceful.
Another 44% of teens said their smartphones make them feel anxious, while 69% said they help them pursue hobbies and interests and 30% said they help people their age learn social skills.
The Spin
Narrative A
Screen time has led children to feel isolated, endure cyberbullying, and view content that either portrays unattainable success or far more sinister themes of a sexual or violent nature. This, coupled with the fact that phones strip children of the necessary coping skills to survive into adulthood, has tragically led to an increase in mental health issues and suicide. Minors should be free of phones until their late teens, at which point they'll have developed enough to engage with these devices healthily and responsibly.
Narrative B
Rather than restricting children's access to smartphones and social media, thereby undermining their agency and obstructing opportunities to socialize and learn online, more must be done to regulate big tech companies currently benefiting from dangerous and damaging algorithms. Big Tech is not doing enough to protect users of all ages from illegal activity and inappropriate content — with firmer legislation and proper education, children could benefit from freer use of smartphones.
