Limiting Technology Use

By Joshua Huish


Technology is a huge part of our America's society. But in today’s digital age, some teens use technology too much in their daily lives. Whether teens are using their smartphones, computer games, video games, etc., or a mixture of them all, some teens are using technology too much more than what is healthy. This post goes over how to limit technology and how to use it properly for your teen. 


Setting limits for your teen is a great way to properly limit the use of technology a bit. Setting healthy limits for screen use is a good way for teens. Some parents may shy away from limiting technology use to avoid convicts, or it is difficult to enforce rules for their teens. 2


There are many ways parents can limit their teen’s use of technology while still allowing them to use technology but in a responsible way. Three topics entail limiting technology. They are time, space, and use. 2 We will go over these topics in more depth for you. 


Time means to limit the use of hours per day. Limit on time of day (morning, after school, and at night). Balancing with homework time and playtime. And the use of extra screen time as a reward for positive behavior. 2


Space is in use of media in common areas. Screens (smartphones) out of the bedroom before bed. And no screen is used at the dinner table. 2


Use is another important thing to consider. This is where parents can have passwords to accounts. Co-viewing or co-using with parents. Limiting videos, apps, games, or other sites with content deemed used. Reporting bullying or safety issues. 2


Something interesting about technology use and sleep quality in teens is that it can affect several domains. They can affect their school performance, mood, cognitive process (which is the transformation, and use of knowledge and these are activities such as attention, learning, and being able to make problem-solving skills), and the wellbeing of the teen. 1


We all know that many teens use technology, like to use their smartphones or tablets during the day and close to bedtime daily. 


Something to take note of is that from 1998 to 2008, the number of households with access to a computer doubled. In today’s age, cell phones provide a range of things that people use such as surfing the internet, text messages, social media, listening to music, playing games, and many more things that people do with their phones. 1


In 2011, there was a Sleep in America Poll by the National Sleep Foundation that says about 95% of respondents use some type of electronic media within the hour before bed. In recent years, portable devices are coming out with portable and lightweight devices for people to carry around with them. Nearly many teens have at least one technology device in their room. These can be things like computers, video games consoles, TV, or cellphones. That is something that is a factor of people using these devices while in bed just before going to sleep. 1


With teens using some sort of portable device, especially at night before going to bed, they are reducing their sleep time and have poor sleep quality. With the constant increase of media devices and the use of the internet with teenagers, these effects of technology on the quality of sleep quality. 1


There are some specific activities that we come up with that teenagers use technology at night before going to bed. Video games and watching TV and movies are what most teens use, especially at night when they should be going to sleep. There are so many games that are out there at our fingertips, and there are billions and billions of things to watch online that can keep us entertained all the time. One other huge thing that teens use the most is social media just before going to bed. Just like billions of video games and shows available to them, it is similar to social media networks. Many stories may spark interest for a teen. 


We have some questions for you to think about: 

  • Do you set limits to their technology use with your teen? 

    • If so, 

      • How do you set limits? 

      • Do you think your method in setting limits is working? Why or why not? 

    • Why do you think teens are obsessed with technology? 


There are so many ways you could properly limit your teen’s use of technology to stay safe online and help with their mental health. Find the ways you feel comfortable to limit the ways as you see fit. 


References

  1. Bruni, O., Sette, S., Fontanesi, L., Baiocco, R., Laghi, F., & Baumgartner, E. (2015, December 15). Technology use and sleep quality in preadolescence and adolescence. Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Retrieved November 15, 2021, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4661336/. 

  2. Rocha, S. (2019). Talking with teens and families about digital media use. Brown University Child & Adolescent Behavior Letter, 35(3), 1–7. https://doi-org.proxy.li.suu.edu:2443/10.1002/cbl.30361

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