Most teenagers at BHS and BJHS have phones or other cellular devices. These devices can affect sleep and brain activity. These modern cellular devices can be used for information, emergencies, alarms, clocks, calls, etc. But, these devices can be used for having fun, such as playing video games and watching movies, long videos, short-form videos, and more. These “fun” activities you can do on these devices can worry many people, including myself.

A new fixation in the BHS and BJHS is a game called Clash Royale. This game has teens playing all the time. One of the large problems with this game is the “pay-to-win features.” This feature is in many free games that require you to pay for in-game currency to progress in the game faster than others. This leads to some people paying for items in the games and wasting their money.

Another issue with these games and videos is that they can distract people from their surroundings. This is a prevalent problem for people who drive. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3,308 people were killed and 289,310 people were injured in 2022 from distracted drivers looking at their phones. Drivers should have their phones out of reach or have them on silent mode. If there is an emergency shown on your phone, you should either go to the nearest safe place to stop safely or give the phone to a passenger.

These screens can also affect brain activity. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the average teenager spends between 7.5 and 8.5 hours a day, excluding schoolwork. Also, according to the CDC, high amounts of screen time can lead to poor sleep, anxiety, depression, and reduced physical activity. While you are on devices, you might not feel that you have been online for long. 7.5 to 8.5 hours a day is approximately a third of your day. According to UCLA, the average teen gets 7 to 7.5 hours of sleep every night. This means you only get eight hours for other activities, including eating, school, and homework.

Teens are not the only ones who have a problem with screens. Young adults and children also have technology issues. Young children have recently been deemed “iPad kids”. These children have been the group of people most attached to technology. These children are sometimes victims of gentle parenting, where children get no discipline or harshness from their parents.

Overall, I believe that young people should have screen time set by their parents. Screens can be very unhealthy for young children and teens.