5 Signs That Your Teenager Might Be Addicted to Their Phone

Cell phones are a huge part of a teenager’s life. They use it to keep up with their friends on apps like Snapchat and Instagram.  Most are required to use some kind of school-related apps.  As much as we try to help them learn balance it is a cold hard fact that these teens spend a lot of time on their phones.  It is, in fact, a vital part of their social and academic world.  It is natural for parents to question when the scale tips and what you thought was casual phone use feels more like phone addiction. 

While this is not a complete list of symptoms of phone addiction, here are a few questions that you can ask yourself to decide if you need to pursue professional support:

1. When they are not on their phone do they become irritable, restless, moody or anxious? Do they have extreme reactions to phone limits or when restrictions are imposed?

2. Does their obsessive phone use interfere with sleep, school work, hygiene or face to face family and social interactions?

3. Are they unable to stop thinking about what someone else has posted on social media or what they will post next?.  

4. Do they appear to experience fear, anxiety or depression associated with missing out on something on social media or when waiting for “likes” or responses to direct messages or social media posts.

5. Are there any major changes in their mood, eating or sleeping habits that can’t otherwise be explained?

Even if you answered yes to one or all of these questions it can be difficult to determine if your teen is truly addicted to their phone. If you feel like your child might have a phone addiction or is showing signs of depression or anxiety, please reach out to your healthcare or mental healthcare provider for support.