Recent research conducted by the University of Washington School of Medicine reveals that U.S. adolescents aged 13 to 18 are spending an average of 1.16 hours on smartphones during school hours, with social media apps like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat being the most frequently used. This study, part of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, monitored the smartphone usage of 640 teens through passive software from September 2022 to May 2024.
These findings contribute to the ongoing debate among educators, parents, and policymakers regarding smartphone usage in schools. A growing number of schools across the nation, including some in Seattle, have initiated bans on phone usage during class to address these concerns. Currently, at least 32 states and the District of Columbia mandate restrictions on cell phone use in educational settings, though enforcement of these policies has been inconsistent.
Dr. Dimitri Christakis, the senior author of the study, emphasized the implications of these habits on students' engagement and social skills, stating that the design of these applications can foster addiction. While many school districts in Washington aimed to implement policies to limit smartphone use at the beginning of the last school year, Seattle Public Schools has not established a comprehensive district-wide regulation yet.