Flusterclux With Lynn Lyons: For Parents Who Worry Sounding the Alarm On Smartphones and the Impact On Kids With Dr. Jean Twenge
Sep 26, 2025
Join Dr. Jean Twenge, a psychology professor and author of '10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World,' as she dishes about the alarming effects of smartphones on teens. She shares compelling data linking device use to rising depression and emphasizes the crucial role of limiting phone access in bedrooms for better sleep and mental health. Dr. Twenge also advocates for delaying smartphone ownership until teens reach driving age and discusses the benefits of school phone bans for focus and discipline. Parents, this one's packed with practical advice!
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Evidence Supports Causal Link
- Multiple experimental studies plus generational trends point toward causation between smartphones and teen distress.
- Bradford Hill criteria strengthen the causal case where randomized trials are limited.
Ban Phones From Bedrooms
- Do not allow electronic devices in bedrooms overnight, especially phones.
- Remove phones to protect sleep and reduce nighttime disruptions for teens.
Remove Phones During Wakeful Tasks
- Put phones out of sight during homework and sleep to reduce cognitive distraction.
- Buy an alarm clock and call parents' claims about needing phones to wake up into question.
