Teen cell phone usage... When is too much?×

[hemi68charger]

Hey gang.. Guess it is my turn. So when to too much cell phone usage from watching videos all the time to having an earphone in his head listening to music. Guess I am turning into my Grandfather, but I think a child who constantly has his phone on, in their hand and watching videos and/or listening to music is getting addicted to it. I have seen articles online about this. Like yesterday, after picking him up at Tae Kwon Do, before he was even out of the training room, the earphone was in his head. Not a single other kids had theirs. I tell him no.. Then we get into the car, in it goes again. There are countless times he walks around the house with it, either watching videos ( only in Wi-Fi areas or at the house) or he has the dang earphones in again. When I tell him to stop or have it taken away for disciplinary measures, he has a meltdown. I am sorry, but this electronic technology stuff is way too much. To me it is a sign of disengagement with the rest of the family... ( that is one reason I don't allow his door to be shut all the time )...

This isn't a case of him not doing his homework and all, that gets done. It is a case of constantly being on it.. When I get lip, I remind him that the phone is a luxury I and his mother give him, he isn't "entitled" to it.

Whew...

[JB400]

Not much different than sitting in front of the tv all day watching MTV or locking oneself in their room listening to records all afternoon.  It's a phase that almost all of us has gone through.  My advice is to just let it slide, but every once in a while, hide the phone chargers.

[miller time]

Just provide a hobby that he'll find to be better lawn mower go-carts or what ever, he needs a distraction maybe offer a way to make money and avoid these things? Don't forbid it, replace it, listening to music now, I bet he wants to listen to something you can't stand so ask him to mind his ear drums and tip your hat to him unless he tries to hide from you behind them, in which case it's different I never had a door policy except I didnt get a door lock, and I had an internet addiction that I got over, times have changed drastically in front of my eyes, I'm 23 so I was front seat to the techno changeo its a shame but don't get mad, out smart this plastic crap!
Also warn him what he post can bite his hiny it did bite mine in high school....
Good luck and patience my friend, patience and thinking

[skip68]

I hear you HEMI.  My daughter is the same way.  She's 13 going on 30.   Unfortunately it's the world Of today.   But I agree, they need more personal stimulation.    Look at it this way.  How many of us had walkmans on all the time?   

[birdsandbees]

Jesus Skip, we had to carry the boom box on our shoulders...

[b5blue]

  Keep a frame of reference, are they generally a good kid? If so just recall the 50's and transistor radios, 60's FM and all the other things that pissed older generations off.
  I was concerned years ago, now one son is an ATT rep slotted for management and the other has a nice job in IT. My daughter ("The Rebel" back then.) keeps the entire family connected and updated using all media even though we are scattered around the country. Just love them and share what you know, pray for the best.   

[Mytur Binsdirti]

Jesus Skip, we had to carry the third world briefcase on our shoulders...

Fixed.

Getting back to the original question; I agree that there is too much cell phone usage & too many people are hooked on these things, especially younger people. I call them 21st century ball & chains. My oldest son's ex-girlfriend was completely addicted to hers...so much so that she paid more attention to the phone than to him.  I don't know what the answer is, but it's clear to see that too many people are allowing themselves to be ruled by their cell phone.

[myk]

Accidentally left my cell at home before a 12 hour shift at work.  Like everyone else I've become accustomed to checking my email, texts, surfing the internet, looking at naked women, downloading porn and whatnot at will with a smartphone.  I survived 12 hours without access to the outside world; I can only imagine how painfully impossible that would be for younger people these days..

[lukedukem]

Hey gang.. Guess it is my turn. So when to too much cell phone usage from watching videos all the time to having an earphone in his head listening to music. Guess I am turning into my Grandfather, but I think a child who constantly has his phone on, in their hand and watching videos and/or listening to music is getting addicted to it. I have seen articles online about this. Like yesterday, after picking him up at Tae Kwon Do, before he was even out of the training room, the earphone was in his head. Not a single other kids had theirs. I tell him no.. Then we get into the car, in it goes again. There are countless times he walks around the house with it, either watching videos ( only in Wi-Fi areas or at the house) or he has the dang earphones in again. When I tell him to stop or have it taken away for disciplinary measures, he has a meltdown. I am sorry, but this electronic technology stuff is way too much. To me it is a sign of disengagement with the rest of the family... ( that is one reason I don't allow his door to be shut all the time )...

This isn't a case of him not doing his homework and all, that gets done. It is a case of constantly being on it.. When I get lip, I remind him that the phone is a luxury I and his mother give him, he isn't "entitled" to it.

Whew...

not trying to piss you off but why did you get him a phone that does all that any way.
i understand getting them a phone to keep in touch, but one that surfs the net and plays music isn't needed for that. my sister knew she was gonna have the same issue, so they got their daughter a simple phone that can text but nothing else really, if she wants a iphone or what ever, then she had to get a job and have her own account and such. so she did , taught her alot.
im not trying to tell you what to buy for your kids and how to treat them. just my opinion
Good luck

Luke

[tan top]

Jesus Skip, we had to carry the third world briefcase on our shoulders...

Fixed.

Getting back to the original question; I agree that there is too much cell phone usage & too many people are hooked on these things, especially younger people. I call them 21st century ball & chains. My oldest son's ex-girlfriend was completely addicted to hers...so much so that she paid more attention to the phone than to him.  I don't know what the answer is, but it's clear to see that too many people are allowing themselves to be ruled by their cell phone.

that's true , soo many of a certain  generation are addicted to their cell phone  / ipad or  what ever the latest gadget is  

[RallyeMike]

Its the way of the world now. It may seem disrespectful to us to be glued to your phone in the company of others, but it's just normal multi-tasking and multi-networking to anyone under 30. If they're not doing it 24-7  they're the oddball in their circles.

I don't mind it actaully. It's a lot more quiet around younger people than it used to be..... kind of peaceful even 

[hemi68charger]

Its the way of the world now. It may seem disrespectful to us to be glued to your phone in the company of others, but it's just normal multi-tasking and multi-networking to anyone under 30. If they're not doing it 24-7  they're the oddball in their circles.

I don't mind it actaully. It's a lot more quiet around younger people than it used to be..... kind of peaceful even 

But when it affects tasks, chores, and creates a situation where they are totally disengaged with the family, then I have a problem with it....... When it is taken away out of some sort of disciplinary reaction to being in trouble and he has a meltdown, that's a sign of dependency and/or addiction.. I am afraid it will create too much of an isolationist personality and will not be of any benefit as he gets older.. Just because of bunch of families/teens do it, doesn't mean it is right.  Heck, I know some parents that don't allow electronics until the weekend.....

[b5blue]

  Troy that was why I asked about how the child was "in general overall". After a week of repeating instructions of things to be done by my son he pulled one ear but out and said "I gotta go to school I can't talk about it now"...I took his IPOD off him and broke it in half right in front of him.
  After that the 3 kids would listen when I needed them to. A couple of times I had to remind them what a 28 ounce waffle head Eastwing hammer could do to a cell phone that they worked and payed for but I had no phone issues. 

[Lord Warlock]

If the kid is a good kid who gets good grades still, I'd try to put a time limit or data usage limit that allows them time to enjoy their phone etc, but keep them from withdrawing from life around them and getting too addicted to the phone.  I think girls tend to be much worse in abusing cell phones than guys are.  Sometimes snapping one in half in front of them will bring them back to reality and may snap the addiction, BUT it could make them start to be sneaky and you really don't want that to happen.

[b5blue]

By the way, when I was a kid I distinctly recall being able to look right at my mom or dad while they jabbered on about something and not recall what they were trying to convey? (Something about how to hang my pants or mow the lawn properly...    )  No headphones, not even a radio or the TV on.   

[BSB67]

If your instincts say it is too much, it probably is.  Parenting is hard work.   Good luck.