Has your teen got a phone addiction?

How are smartphones affecting teens?

Phones have become a big part of teens’ lives. In fact, did you know that 96% of 8-11 year olds in the UK already have a smartphone?

We use them to connect with our family, to grow our knowledge and to be entertained. 

But it can be hard for teens to know when to switch off – which can mean they end up on their phones for a huge amount of the time. This isn’t great for their mental health.

So: how do they know if your teen has a smartphone addiction?

Here are some signs which may mean it’s time for them to take a break:

• Craving/being anxiously attached to their phone: this can look like constantly checking their phone at every notification, worrying about what they’re missing out on by not being on their phone, and always wanting to be on their phone from the second they wake to when they’re about to sleep
• Inability to focus on and complete activities that need lots of time and effort: if they’re used to being stimulated every few seconds by social media (short videos, reels, pictures etc.) it can be difficult for them to then focus on tasks that take time such as homework. This can also look like not completing everyday activities like tidying up their bedroom, or even taking time to finish, and appreciate their dinner
• Changes to their sleep patterns: staying up late scrolling away on their phone may lead them to sleeping during the day/feeling exhausted at school, and becoming more irritable and restless
• Changes to their relationships: by being on their phone more often, they may begin to feel part of an online community. Whilst this can be beneficial, if it’s a safe community, spending too much time online and not in the ‘real world’ may lead them to feel lonely, and can result in spending less time with you, your wider family, and friends
• Reduced self esteem: the content we consume on our phones has an influence on the way we think, feel and behave. But lots of this content is also full of filters and air-brushing. Constantly consuming ‘perfect’ content can make teens feel bad about themselves and their own lives, even though what they’re seeing is fake

This sounds like my teen, what do I do?

If they're experiencing any of these signs, try encouraging them to limit their phone use to certain times of day, or offering to hide it for them to get them to try new activities and build better habits – whether that’s reading, baking, plant-care, or something else they enjoy!

Perhaps you could recommend some more fulfilling apps that help them work on their wellbeing rather than diminishing it, helping them with their phone addiction?

Why not support your teen with luna premium?

Our app, luna, has dedicated advice on this topic which can help them feel more empowered through adolescence.

You can think of luna as a modern, digital approach to wellbeing – it’s cost-effective, verified by doctors and safeguarding experts, and has a direct line into the biggest concerns facing teens today – so it’s actually addressing what they need advice on, when they need it.

If you’ve been looking for an antidote to the misinformation and negativity shared on social media or forums, you can get luna for your teen via our luna premium page for the price of a coffee each month or manage their subscription by downloading luna yourself and signing up as a parent (it's "we are luna" in app stores).