US households suffer from youth addiction cell

Addiction mobile: Most parents agreed, and 59% of those with children between the ages of 12 and 18 say they are not without their phones

Washington - US teen Half feel addicted to their cell phones, and most check their devices at least every half an hour and feel pressured to answer messages immediately, according to a study released on Tuesday.

Most parents agreed, and 59 percent of those with children between the ages of 12 and 18 say they are not without their phones, according to a survey of 1,240 parents and children conducted by NGO Common Sense Media.

The results of the non-profit group that focuses on the effects of media and technology in children highlighted the tension that the relationship with consumer electronics devices can cause, coming to disrupt the car driving, homework and group activities.

About a third of respondents said discussing every day because of the use of the device, said the group based in San Francisco.

"This is causing daily conflicts in homes," she said founder and chief executive of Common Sense Media, James Steyer said in a statement.

His research is the latest indication of American families struggling to balance the use of mobile phones in an era of evolving technologies. The study also emphasizes the ongoing debate about Internet addiction and its consequences.

A separate analysis of available data regarding the use of the Internet and technology pointed concerns about media. The habit of performing simultaneous tasks can inhibit the ability to form memories, and the lack of human interaction can also hinder the development of empathy, discovered the Common Sense Media.

US children between 8 and 12 years report spending nearly six hours a day using media, and those between 13 and 18 spend nearly nine hours a day, according to the group.

"The seemingly constant use of technology, evidenced by the fact teens immediately respond to text messages, posts on social networks and other notifications, is actually a reflection of the need for teenagers to connect with others," said the NGO in its analysis.

Ellen Wartella, director of the Center for Media and Human Development at Northwestern University who advised the study, said he was not yet clear what the final impact of such media on children's behavior.


"We need to devote more time and research to understand the impact of the use of media in our children and then adjust our behavior accordingly," she said in a statement.