Heim 1

Madison Heim

Mr. Campbell

English 12 Period 1

3, February 2021

Academic English 12: Argumentative Research Paper

Should Parents limit screen time for their kids?

In today’s modern world, smartphones allow us to connect to each other in ways that were

never imaginable 30 years prior. A sense of unity, yet we have never been so alone. Today, almost

half of all Children in the United States have an electronic devise that connects them to the internet.

They now have unlimited access to the world, but they should not have to spend their lives staring

at a screen. That is why it is the job of the parent to teach their child how to deal with this large

responsibility. By limiting screen time, not only are parents giving their children a chance to get a

breather, but it also allows you child to know that there are boundaries to their phone usage.

Although, some parents see giving their adolescent and teen children free reign over their phones

so they can learn to manage it on their own, this approach is not advised. Especially if the child is

younger, as they do not have anyone to tell them to get off. In Fact, 84 percent of teenagers now

have their own phones, as “Kids and teens age 8 to 18 spend an average of more than seven hours

a day looking at screens,” says Ashley Welch with CBS News, immersed in a world many adults

do not understand. This Essay will prove that parents should firstly only let their children have

their device for a smaller periods of time. Secondly, Teens should not have complete control over
 Heim 2

their phone usage, as it is the parent’s responsibility to teach them. Finally, parents should take

away their child’s phone, especially before bed.

Today, Teens cannot seem to live without their phones, as it is an unadressed addiction.

Kids can get up to nine hours of screen time per day, from social media to games. That is why it

is important that parents only let their children have their device for a smaller periods of time.

Smartphone addiction has been connected to many mental health concerns like depression,

anxiety, and loneliness. On this subject, Jamison Monroe with Newport Academy states, “Teen

cell phone addiction goes hand-in-hand with mental health and substance use issues. For

example, anxiety increases when the cell phone is not readily available. Moreover, depression

deepens with a lack of human contact.” So, what does that mean? People need people, as we are

social creatures, but how does one learn how to interact with others if they can use their phone to

escape the hardships of life? More teens are depressed now than ever before, and many can see

that in plain sight. So how will they learn to deal with the real world when they have a place to

hide available to them at all times? Jamison Monroe continues, “It alters the perception of the

user and builds a barrier between the addicted teen and the real world.” As his quote suggests,

that phones hinder one’s perception of reality, or life, especially if said teen is on their phone all

day. That is why Parents should limit their child’s phone time and try to encourage their kids to

interact with other kids their age, to go out into this world. That it is ok if things go wrong, that

its ok if you cannot hide from the pain of living, as that is what makes living life more fulfilling.

Though putting limits on your kid’s devices are important, but it is important to

acknowledge that limiting screen time poses challenges, especially given how intertwined social

media and the internet have become in everyday life is important. That is why parents should

teach healthy limits and boundaries of phone usage. As Ashley Welch with CBS New says,
 Heim 3

“…The point is that parents need to be what is called a 'media mentor.' We really need to be

involved in terms of teaching your children that media can be beneficial, but this is how you use

it in a healthy way.” Social Media is not bad, and neither are phones, but when your children are

younger, you should teach them about proper phone management. By teaching our kids at a

younger age proper phone management, they can properly manage their phones as they grow

older, such as setting their own limits. It should also be encouraged that parents engage with their

children while doing this. It’s not fair to the kids if the parents do not follow their own rules.

Dona Matthews of Psychology today states, “When you're with your kids you really need to be

good about putting your phone down or your tablet down and talking to them and being engaged

because they pick up on exactly what you're doing.” Parents need to be fully present in their

child’s life, and by encouraging proper phone usage by also following those same rules, like

setting designated phone times, will help lower screentime without it feeling forced or without

damaging the parent-child relationship.

Designated phone times should be enforced, especially when it comes to bedtime. An

estimated two in three teenagers regularly sleep less than the recommended amount, with an

excessive amount of screen time before bed being responsible for sleep deprivation and

insomnia. This lack of sleep due to mindless scrolling can affect behavior and cognitive

performance in school and interfere with learning. You want your kid to succeed in life, and they

will struggle to learn if they cannot stay awake during their classes. As Danielle Pacheco from

the Sleep Foundation quotes, “Studies show that 57% of teens who use technology in the

bedroom suffer from sleep problems, and teens consistently report worse sleep when they have a

television or small screen, such as a smartphone, in the bedroom.” That is why it is important for

parents to set designated phone times, as setting a healthy sleep schedule can lead to more
 Heim 4

alertness and restfulness the next day. This is important, as most teens get sleep deprived because

of nighttime phone usage. Sleep deprivation during adolescence can cause problems with mood,

emotion, and academic performance. Chronic sleep loss can lead to a weakened immune system,

depression, and suicidal thoughts, which are already common symptoms among today’s

generation. “A family social media plan should include clear limits on screen time, and allot time

for other activities such as sleep, family time, schoolwork, and exercise. Teens do best when they

are given the chance to participate in creating their own guidelines,” Danielle Pacheco continues.

Encourage your teen to charge their phone outside of their room, such as in a bathroom. Both

parties should agree on a “screen curfew” and encourage your teen to reduce screen use. And

finally, agree on an age-appropriate bedtime, all while keeping in mind that teens need eight to

ten hours of sleep.

Today, you cannot find a teen who does not own a phone, as 84 percent of teenagers

now have their own phones, immersed in a world many adults don’t understand. Many parents

put screen time limits on their phones, or only let their children have their device for a smaller

period. Throughout this essay, it is explained by parents need to set limits to their child’s

devices. In Paragraph 1, it explains by setting limits on screentime, teens can learn to interact

with other people and cope with the struggles of life, rather than escaping to the safety of their

phones. As teenage depression and suicide rates are up. In Paragraph 2, it explores why parents

need to step up their game, especially with the adolescence, by teaching them proper phone

management. Giving an adolescent child free reign over their phone can lead to an addiction. In

Paragraph 3, it explores why designated phone times can help adolescents and teens develop

better sleeping schedules, in turn can lead to more focus and function during their day. These

paragraphs lay out the basic building blocks for helping your teens set up a healthy phone
 Heim 5

schedule, as this is necessary for all parents to do. Phones are engrained into today’s society, you

cannot live without one, so it’s important to teach kids how to use them when they are young.
 Heim 6

Works Cited:

➢ Ashley, Ashley. “Health Experts Say Parents Need to Drastically Cut Kids'

Screen Time.” CBS News, 6 Aug. 2018, www.cbsnews.com/news/parents-need-

to-drastically-cut-kids-screen-time-devices-american-heart-association/.

➢ Cross F. Jennifer. “What Does Too Much Screen Time Do to Kids' Brains?”

NewYork-Presbyterian, 3 Nov. 2021, www.healthmatters.nyp.org/what-does-too-

much-screen-time-do-to-childrens-brains/.

➢ Kamenetz, Anya. “It's a Smartphone Life: More than Half of U.S. Children Now

Have One.”NPR. 31 Oct. 2019, www.npr.org/2019/10/31/774838891/its-a-

smartphone-life-more-than-half-of-u-s-children-now-have-one.

➢ Matthew, Dona. Why Parents Really Need to Put down Their Phones ...

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/going-beyond-

intelligence/201711/why-parents-really-need-put-down-their-phones.

➢ Monroe, Jamison. “The Latest on Teen Cell Phone Addiction.” Newport

Academy, Newport Academy, 1 June 2021,

https://www.newportacademy.com/resources/mental-health/teen-cell-phone-

addiction/.

➢ Pacheco, Danielle. “How Screen Time May Cause Insomnia in Teens.” Sleep

Foundation, 5 Feb. 2021, https://www.sleepfoundation.org/teens-and-

sleep/screen-time-and-insomnia-for-teens.