Faut-il interdire aux jeunes d'utiliser des smartphones ?
Les adultes devraient aider les jeunes à prendre des décisions saines concernant leur utilisation du téléphone, plutôt que de leur interdire les téléphones.
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Content warning: This article mentions self-harm and suicide.
On an average day last week, I picked up my smartphone 85 times and used it for 2 hours and 36 minutes. This surprised me: I had no idea I was spending that much time on my phone. Whether we like it or not, smartphones are woven into the modern world, and the convenience they bring is shaping our everyday lives.
Lier les smartphones à la santé mentale des jeunes
Les parents et les éducateurs s'inquiètent de l'utilisation des smartphones par les jeunes. santé mentale des jeunes issues are a concern, and some are blaming smartphones. In his book La génération anxieuse, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt claims that the adoption of smartphones has caused an increase in young people’s mental health issues. It is not that simple. Candice Odgers, a psychologist and expert on child and adolescent mental health, explains that while smartphone use and mental health issues have both increased over time, this does not mean one has caused the other. The link between smartphones and mental health is often weak, and the relationship goes both ways: Young people with worse mental health may more likely to turn to Smartphones et réseaux sociaux.
“Youth mental health issues are a concern, and some are blaming smartphones.”
Un détail souvent négligé dans ces débats concerne les contenus auxquels les jeunes accèdent et leurs motivations. La plupart des adolescents s'adonnent à… typical adolescent behaviours Sur leurs téléphones, ils interagissent de manière plus ou moins directe avec leurs amis : ils témoignent leur affection, recherchent leur approbation, s’entraident pour leurs devoirs ou face au harcèlement. De même que de nombreuses réunions professionnelles se tiennent désormais sur Zoom et que les événements sociaux sont organisés par messagerie instantanée plutôt que par téléphone, la socialisation des adolescents s’est déplacée en ligne.
Sometimes smartphones can promote an unhealthy environment. For example, teens who use social media more frequently are more likely to have a poorer l'image corporelleLes personnes particulièrement soucieuses d'être minces et en forme sont plus susceptibles d'utiliser les réseaux sociaux et de souffrir de troubles alimentaires ou d'une image corporelle déformée, selon une étude. using a range of methods. In extreme cases, adolescents have unfettered access to dark content related to self-harm and suicide, which has led to morts tragiques.
Encouraging healthy phone use by young people
Concern is mounting amidst rapid technological advancements. Algorithms personalize content on the internet, and websites and apps are requiring virtually no age verification, leaving La société et la science peinent à suivre le rythme. Tech companies need to take responsibility for making smartphones and apps safe, and governments need to hold them to account. The lack of regulation and increasing concern have led parents and schools to take action. Parents are campaigning interdire ou limiter l'utilisation des téléphones portables dans les écoles. Certains gouvernements commencent à mettre en œuvre de telles mesures : l'Australie l'a fait. banned phones in all state schools and Denmark is set to do the same.
But banning smartphones entirely risks pushing smartphone use underground and driving a wedge between young people, parents, and schools. Lucy Foulkes, a psychologist and expert on adolescence, points out that adolescence is the time for risk-taking and gaining independence. Banning phones could rendre ces appareils encore plus attrayants. If phones are prohibited, young people might not feel they can turn to trusted adults if they need help navigating their online lives.
“Banning smartphones entirely risks pushing smartphone use underground and driving a wedge between young people, parents, and schools.”
Banning smartphones also risks alienating some young people. Those identifying as LGBTQIA+ have reported the benefits of en utilisant les médias sociaux to connect with peers and explore their identities, for example.
Adolescents may have good insight into their smartphone use and how to reduce it. In a small study in the UK, over 80% of 69 13- to 16-year-olds said that they had tried several strategies to reduce their phone use. Many clearly understood the issues, observing that their phone occupied too much of their time. Others reported having imposed time limits on apps. Banning smartphones will not prepare teens for healthy phone use as they get older. Instead, we need to support young people in adopting strategies for engaging with smartphones as the convenient tools that they can be.
Les parents, les écoles et les décideurs politiques ne devraient pas se contenter d'interdire les smartphones. Ils devraient collaborer directement avec les jeunes pour les accompagner vers une utilisation saine de ces appareils. Pour assurer la sécurité des jeunes, les adultes doivent les écouter et les associer aux décisions qui les concernent. Les adolescents ont généralement une bonne compréhension des avantages et des dangers liés à l'utilisation des smartphones ; les parents et les éducateurs devraient travailler avec eux pour les aider à s'orienter dans leur vie numérique. Parallèlement, nous ne pouvons garantir la sécurité des jeunes en ligne sans une réglementation plus stricte de la part des entreprises technologiques.
How to work with young people to manage their smartphone use
Young people say turning off notifications and putting their phone outside their bedroom at night is an effective means of reducing their smartphone use, whereas parents taking their phone away at night was less effective.
L'association caritative pour enfants Barnardo's a émis un ensemble de recommandations for keeping young people safe online. These are centred around communication with young people:
• Get to know the games and apps that your child is using: Showing an interest in how the child is using a smartphone will help you both understand the risks.
• Understand and use parent controls: Restrictions can help filter inappropriate content.
• Try to lead by example: Everyone should agree to abide by healthy smartphone use; this is better than imposing restrictions on some members of the family.
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