What Do Teens Really Think About Smartphones?
The survey collected responses from a recent survey to hear directly from teenagers about how smartphones impact their lives.
Respondents by Gender
Among the 60 respondents, the gender distribution is relatively balanced. Females make up the largest group at 55%, followed by males at approximately 35.6%. A small portion (9.5%) selected “Other,” indicating the presence of gender-diverse participants in the survey.
Respondents by Age Group
The majority of participants (approximately 53.3%) are aged 14–15, while 40% are between 12–13 years old. Only 6.7% are aged 18 or above. The age distribution shows that the responses primarily represent early to middle adolescence, which aligns with the study’s focus on teenage smartphone use.
Smartphone Ownership Status
A striking 96.7% of respondents reported owning a smartphone, while only 3.3% do not. This overwhelming majority confirms that smartphone access is nearly universal among surveyed teenagers
Weekly Phone Use Frequency
A majority (over 50 respondents) use their phones 6–7 days per week, showing that smartphones are a daily part of life for most participants. Very few reported using their phones only 1–5 days weekly.
Daily Phone Use Duration
Most respondents reported using their phones for 2–4 hours per day (19 people), followed by 1–2 hours (9) and 4–6 hours (10). Interestingly, 12 people were unsure, and a small group admitted to using their phones over 9 hours daily.
Primary Phone Activities
Social networking and entertainment were the most frequently cited uses for phones, with fewer users listing education or general use. This emphasizes the strong role of leisure in phone engagement among youth.
Opinions on Phone Impact
A large majority (44 out of 60) view phone ownership as a positive thing. However, 12 respondents felt it depends on how the phone is used, while only a few considered it negative or were unsure.
Voices from the Survey
1
WHY DO YOU THINK IT IS POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE?
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“It’s important to communicate with friends and family.”
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“It helps me stay connected with people, no matter where I am.”
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“It can be addictive when used wrongly.”
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“Sometimes it’s easy to overuse it.”
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“Social media has a big effect, both good and bad.”
2
HOW DOES SMARTPHONE USE AFFECT YOUR LIFE?
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“It has had positive impacts in my life because I can now reach people easily.”
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“I now have to wear glasses.”
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“I sleep late and I procrastinate.”
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“It has let me have so many friends.”
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“It decreased my time with family.”
3
HOW TO REDUCE SCREEN USE TIME?
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“Turn off my phone and keep it away from me.”
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“Keep myself busy or hang outside.”
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“Introduce 'no-device time' every day.”
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“Replace it with positive things.”
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“Be creative and do something else.”