Smartphones give users access to hundreds of thousands of information online, but various studies found that students are actually performing worse compared to how they did in the pre-phone era.
In 2023, ACT scores in the United States dropped to 19.5. This marked a decline of 0.3 points from 19.8 in 2022. That was the lowest level recorded in more than 30 years. The ACT is a standardized test used by most colleges and universities for admission. The test measures a student's fluency in a number of skills, including English, reading, math, and science.
In addition to a decline in the average Composite scores, the scores for each subject also fell. English scores dropped by 0.4 points while scores for math, reading, and science fell by 0.3 points.
Furthermore, the number of students who meet the benchmarks in all four subjects dropped to 20.8% last year. In comparison, 22.1% of students met the benchmarks in 2022.
Apart from declining ACT scores, a Pew Research Survey also found that 72% of public high school teachers find smartphone usage a problem in their classrooms, noting that their students can get distracted by their phones.
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How Many Students Use Smartphones?
Among children ages 11 to 17, At least 97% use their smartphones during school time, according to a 2023 study from Common Sense Media. That study also noted that students used their phones for an average of 43 minutes, with the highest proportion of time used on social media, YouTube, and gaming.
Even more alarming, the 2023 study found that among students under 13, all students said they had used at least one app rated "Teen" or higher. Almost half (45%) of all participants also said they used apps with mature or adult-only ratings. This includes Pornhub, betting apps, and 4chan.
How Can Smartphone Usage Affect Kids?
Since the rise of smartphone usage, there has been an increase in the number of children reporting social anxiety, sleep deprivation, attention fragmentation, and addiction. In adolescents, there was also a significant increase in reports of anxiety and depression.
Additionally, smartphones can also put children at risk for sexual exploitation, especially among youth who engage in sexual experiences with a stranger online.
