According to the PR Newswire, an online news distribution industry, “The average user checks their cell phone 110 times throughout any given day, translating into approximately 3.6 hours every single day and roughly 25.2 hours during the course of a week” (Infographic). This shocking statistic reflects the impact of using smartphones on one’s life--especially startling is children spending that much time on their phones. With the prevalence of smartphones, parents who give their children a cell phone at younger and younger ages are exposing them to the dangers of social media and the internet too early developmentally. Children should not own smartphones in order to eliminate their ability to cyberbully or be cyberbullied, prevent exposure to inappropriate social media, and lessen distractions in and out of the classroom.

By limiting children’s access to smartphones, the incidence of cyberbullying will decrease because having less access to the internet will make the behavior less likely to occur. Sameer Hinduja and Justin Patchin, the founders and directors of the cyberbullying online research center, state, “A remarkable 95% of teens in the US are online, and three-fourths (74%) access the Internet on their mobile device” (Hinduja).  Because children are online so frequently, they are more susceptible to becoming victims and/or becoming perpetrators of cyberbullying. Cyberbullying, the most common way of bullying today, can happen to anyone and with today’s latest smartphones. It is easy to bully using social media, text messaging, and other applications available to users. By limiting youths’ access to the internet, it will not only decrease cyberbullying, but it can also protect them from being bullied online. Robin M. Kowalski, a professor of psychology at Clemson University, states, “Bullying that used to occur on the playground, where typically a male student would pick on others who were smaller than himself, has now taken to the Internet and related technologies, where typically girls "anonymously" pick on anyone they choose” (Kowalski). It is easier for the bully to cyberbully because their behavior can be anonymous on the internet. According to recent data, “In middle school, 14.0% of male students and 20.4%  of female students have been victims of cyberbullying (Cyber Bullying). Unfortunately, part of the reason these numbers are so high is because parents are giving their children access to mobile devices at such an early age. The impact of cyberbullying has negative emotional and psychological effects on adolescents. At a young age children are very malleable and as they mature, the high regard of the opinions of their peers become more important than the adults in their lives. When young people experience problems with their peers, their emotional well-being is disrupted and plummets like a meteorite falling to Earth. Social media can be used as an alternative to traditional bullying, meaning it can happen anywhere at anytime. It is sad to think that kids can not feel safe at their own home anymore because they are vulnerable at the touch of a button. Consequently, limiting smartphone usage at a younger age can help protect children from the dangers of cyberbullying.
     

In addition, eliminating cell phones will help to prevent early exposure to inappropriate social media because kids will have less ability to access it. Social media has become a prominent factor in today’s society because users can upload pictures, videos, and comments to the world on various applications such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat.  John Jonides, a neuroscientist at The University of Michigan claims, "That sets up social comparison — you maybe feel your life is not as full and rich as those people you see on Facebook" (Social Media). Many people post the minutiae of their lives and they appear so happy, popular and confident which  can lead to feelings of inadequacies in young people. In the same vein, by looking at the luxuries and wealth of other people, it is easy to envy another’s lifestyle. Another aspect of posts on social media is the content, topics can range from politics to sexual encounters. These hot topics are not suitable for most young people because they are not emotionally ready to process the mature content. Furthermore, another inappropriate aspect of social media is teenagers’ ability to follow the intimate details of reality TV stars, movie stars, and musicians. As Dr. Wartella  and Dr. Jenning’s discuss in their article that it is unhealthy for children because it exposes them to the unattainable lifestyle of celebrities, and is of “...great concern for children's exposure to inappropriate and harmful content” (Wartella). The use of media is replacing learning ethics from parents and is “undermining” children’s standards of behavior.  Opponents of celebrity gossip argue,  “Glorifying celebrities impose an unattainable standard of beauty and success on the rest of society. Celebrity worship, detractors insist, brings out the worst in both famous people and those who follow them” (Celebrity).  Not only does social media or reality TV bring out the worst in celebrities, but when kids watch it, they are unduly influenced and it affects their choices in sexual and criminal behavior. Thus, the more that parents limit the access to technology and social media, the healthier their children will become.
     

Finally, keeping smartphones out of reach for kids will help them by lessening their distractions in and out out of school. Today’s technology interferes in and out of school and it starts with an early addiction to smartphones. According to Kelly Wallace,who observed a poll taken on kids for Common Sense Media, “Fifty percent of teens feel they are addicted to their mobile devices” (Wallace).  Most of these teenagers have probably had access to smartphones at an early age. As a result, this addiction prevents students from focusing on other important aspect such as homework or studying for a test.  Deo Mushi, a writer in the Africa News Service, states, “The ability to focus, to concentrate, to lend attention, to sense other people's attitudes and communicate with them, to build a large vocabulary--all those abilities are harmed” (Mushi). Instead of playing outside with neighbors while the leaves dance down from the trees and the wind whispers, “Come Play!”, kids are prisoners locked into the screen of their smartphones spending endless hours typing or scrolling through the latest Twitter feed. They have access to a constant distraction to keep them busy, but not necessarily in healthy ways.  Another health issue due to overuse of devices is disturbed sleep. Dr. Henry Bernstein, of Cohen Children's Medical Center states that poor sleep has many potential consequences for kids' health. Use of electronic media at night can "push back bedtimes, increase exposure to screen lights that may confuse the body's biological clock, and even wake up children through text messages and other beeps (notifications) after the children have fallen asleep” (Smartphones). Current research on sleep habits shows that to achieve the ideal REM state, one needs to remove all technology from the bedroom. Without optimal rest, children’s ability to function fully and to learn and concentrate in school is adversely affected. Therefore, it is the parent's responsibility to remove cell phones from young people in order to insure that they have optimal health and focus in school.
   

 With the dangers of social media and cyberbullying, smartphones seem like a bad idea for children. On the other hand, according to some parents, like Liz Perle, she allowed her daughter to own one at an early age: “Because she took public transportation home from school, [and]  my husband and I decided it was a good idea from a safety standpoint” (Perle). Every parent wants what is best for their kids. The satisfaction of knowing they are safe comes with handing them a cellphone. A simple cell phone without internet access and no social media applications will do the trick.  The age children receive their first phone is becoming lower and lower every year. Many kids are granted permission to use a smartphone from their parents. This increases the risk of them being exposed to online predators and inappropriate social media. Keeping smartphones from children at an early age will keep them safer in the long run and protect them for the time being.
     

All in all, by limiting smartphone usage in children, it can decrease cyberbullying, decrease exposure to inappropriate social media, and decrease the distractions in and out of school. Even though technology is becoming more relevant in this generation, it is better to avoid the problems they may bring at a young age. Every parent wants what is best for their child but giving them a smartphone is not the answer. Smartphone usage can lead to unhealthy addiction and early exposure to inappropriate content for kids.