1) Sydney’s parents finally bought her a cell phone. She’s super excited. Now she can call or text her friends even though her parents have set limits on her use of the phone. But there are some things Sydney and other kids like her need to consider. The technology she craved has some major downsides to it.
2) Sydney and her friend Ashlee have been texting back and forth all evening. They’re making plans for the weekend. While Sydney is brushing her teeth, another text comes in. Sydney had planned on reading a little bit of her novel before lights out. Instead, she and Ashlee continue to text. Sydney hasn’t read her book. It’s bedtime, and Ashlee texts Sydney with some juicy gossip, and the texting continues. Soon, a half hour has passed. Sydney finally settles in and turns out the light, but she lies in bed expecting the beep. She’s waiting to see if Ashlee will text her back. Sydney has trouble falling asleep. The next morning, both Sydney and Ashlee struggle to wake up. All day, both girls feel groggy and irritable, and they’re not sure why.
Why Kids Are So Tired
3) Studies have shown that teens and tweens who use cell phones late at night suffer from sleep deprivation. This means that they are not getting the right amount of sleep for people their age. People need sleep to refresh their bodies. When they don’t get enough sleep, it affects everything they do. The bright screen lights from cell phones decrease melatonin in the body. Melatonin is a hormone produced by a gland in our brains. It regulates our sleep cycle. This hormone is produced at night in the dark while we sleep. Exposure to light at night can slow the production of melatonin and interrupt our sleep.
4) The National Sleep Foundation states that children 7–12 years old need 10 to 11 hours of sleep a night. Teens 12–18 years old need 8.5 to 9.5 hours a night. About 45 percent of adolescents ages 11–17 get fewer than eight hours of sleep a night. For a good night’s sleep, it’s important to have a consistent and soothing bedtime routine. This does not include time with TVs, tablets, or cell phones.
What Was That?
5) Adolescents have gotten used to getting information instantly on cell phones and other digital media. They don’t need to retain the information they have read. The answer to any question can be found with a few quick clicks on their smartphones. With each click, there is a response. It’s a reward of some kind. But researchers state that there is a risk for young people. Their brains are still developing. They are becoming used to constantly switching tasks. It makes them unable to focus. Michael Rich, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School, said, “Their brains are rewarded not for staying on task but for jumping to the next thing.”
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