Generation Z is not aware of life without phones. The average teenager spends around 7 hours and 22 minutes on their phone a day according to a report by Common Sense Media. The issue is that excessive phone usage is becoming normalized. Teens immediately go to their phones to look information up, check their social media, and communicate with others. It’s time to take a step back, realize how consuming phones are, and live presently. 

The obvious advantages of cell phones are what draws not just teenagers but adults in as well. These portable devices have opened the world up to more opportunities and information than one could ever imagine. Applications such as social media have provided a way for individuals to stay connected and even noticed. But, social media and phones have turned into something people now rely on. With the benefits to cell phones also comes numerous problems especially in teenagers. In a recent study at John Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, those who use social media for over 3 hours a day were at an increased risk for developing mental health problems. Although it may be nice to have a connection through social media, the issues regarding depression, anxiety, body image, isolation, low self-esteem, and social skills are not worth it!

This generation’s addiction to their phones and social media is an issue that can’t be ignored. The screen time application is a good way to combat this matter and allow others to become more aware of the time they spend on their phone. Screen time is a beneficial tool in phones from Apple where one can monitor the time they spend on their phone daily as well as weekly averages. By monitoring screen time, one can become more aware and even set limits for themselves and the amount of time they spend staring at your screen. Generation x needs to break the normality of being consumed by a cell-phone.