A new study from the University of Washington School of Medicine reveals that U.S. high school students aged 13 to 18 spend an average of 1.16 hours each school day using their smartphones. Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the research highlights growing concerns about the impact of excessive screen time on education and adolescent development.
Addictive Design & Usage Patterns
Researchers tracked the smartphone usage of 640 teens with parental consent between September 2022 and May 2024. The data indicates that social media apps—Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat—dominate screen time, followed by YouTube and mobile gaming. This aligns with broader research showing these platforms are engineered for addiction. Brown University studies demonstrate that these apps trigger dopamine release, creating a reinforcing cycle of instant gratification.
The study also found that older teens (16-18) from lower-income households tend to exhibit higher smartphone usage, potentially due to unequal access to alternative activities or increased reliance on devices for entertainment. This disparity underscores how socioeconomic factors intersect with technology use.
Declining Attention & Academic Performance
Experts warn that this level of distraction hinders students’ engagement in class and impairs their ability to develop vital social skills. Dr. Dimitri Christakis, the study’s senior author, emphasized that “these apps are designed to be addictive, depriving students of opportunities to fully engage in learning.”
The rise in smartphone use coincides with declining math and reading scores nationwide, a trend exacerbated by pandemic-related disruptions. Separate research from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore suggests that constant access to rapid entertainment is linked to reduced focus and shorter attention spans. This raises questions about long-term cognitive effects.
Policy & Enforcement Challenges
Currently, 35 states and Washington D.C. have some form of phone ban policy, and 74% of adults support broader restrictions in middle and high schools. However, Dr. Christakis notes that enforcement remains weak: “To date, they’ve been very poorly enforced, if at all. ”
The debate over phone use in schools is ongoing, with some arguing that devices can be used for educational purposes. However, the growing body of evidence suggests that unchecked smartphone access poses a significant threat to student learning and development.
The increasing prevalence of smartphone addiction among teens raises serious generational concerns, potentially hindering their ability to thrive in an increasingly competitive educational landscape.
The issue requires more than just policy; it demands effective implementation and a broader cultural shift towards mindful technology use.
