High school biology teacher Kelly Chavis knew smartphones were a distraction in her class. But not even her students realized the psychological toll of their devices until an in-class experiment that, of course, was then spreading on social media.
She's among a growing number of teachers, parents, medical professionals and researchers convinced that smartphones are now playing a major role in accelerating student anxiety — a trend so pervasive that a National Education Assn. newsletter labeled anxiety a “mental health tsunami.” Researchers are still arguing whether phones drive student depression or depression drives phone use. But 70% of teens view anxiety and depression as major problems among their peers, according to a February Pew Research Center report.
Belfast Area High School in Maine even staged an #unplugged event day in April — but it served to underline the technology's pull when less than 20% of students and staff took part. Anxiety has taken over as the most significant obstacle to learning among Chris Doyle's high school students at Avon Old Farms School in Connecticut. Some rack up absences because they feel overwhelmed by the day ahead, Doyle said. A teacher for 30 years, he has seen a profound shift toward constant self-evaluation that he associates with social media, YouTube, and even school grade portals sometimes checked dozens of times a day — things students have never before had to manage.
Duh!!! 🙄🙄🙄🙄
And it also slows down brain activity. Most people are lost without their phones
definitely not only students but also adults who are not rich enough
Smart these phones are not.
They just figured it out!?
Ya think?
Of course they do.
🙄 duh!!!!
Social media... not smart phones. I’m sure that google app causes a lot of anxiety 🙄
If that’s the case give kids the old fashioned flip phone instead.
It's not just students, it's all people. But children are more vulnerable to the social engineering of emotions designed by social media.
Why do libs wet themselves?