A Harmful Drug: The Truth about Phone Addiction in Adolescents

Imagine that the government approved and promoted a certain drug. Kids beg for this drug because all their friends have it. This drug is not only addictive and harmful to child development, but it exposes them to adult content. In this adult world, children are exposed to gambling, pornography, self-image issues, distractions, predators, hatred, and other harms. No child should have access to this drug that exposes them to the world’s darkest corners. Children are young, naïve, and not wise enough to have self-control. They will easily fall into the addiction of this drug. Schools and organizations have tried to set parameters for this drug, yet it is being prescribed to thousands of minors today. This drug is the digital, glowing device that millions of people carry in their back pockets: the smartphone.

Ninety-five percent of American teens carry this drug around everywhere (Romano, 2023). Many Americans, adults and children, spend a large amount of time on this emotionless, glowing screen. According to Gary Chapman, who has a doctorate in counseling, and Arlene Pellicane (2020), teenagers spend around “seven hours and twenty-two minutes a day on screens, not including school or homework” (p. 12). Teenagers and parents both spend a large amount of time on their screens. Yet have they considered the impacts of this small, addictive device? Just think about the symbol on the back of the iPhone. It is a picture of an apple with a bite out of it. Adam and Eve sinned by taking a bite out of a piece of fruit, which caused them to disobey God. Is it just a coincidence that the symbol on the back of millions of phones might connect to the first sin in the Garden of Eden?

Before understanding the implications of phones, it is important to understand the development of the phone. In the 1990s and early 2000s, people used flip phones to communicate with their friends and family. In 2007, the first digital, touch-screen device, the iPhone, was produced. It was more convenient and user-friendly than the flip phone because the screen and buttons were larger. The new iPhone also expanded the use of social media. Haidt (2023), the author of The Anxious Generation, says that the iPhone increased social media’s accessibility and popularity with the addition of the ‘like’ and ‘share’ buttons (p. 6). Then in 2010, the iPhone added a front facing camera and later in 2012, “Facebook acquired Instagram” (Haidt, 2023, p. 6). These new apps and features increased teenagers’ curiosity, which caused 50% of students to spend almost all their time on the internet (TED, 2024). At this time, parents did not know the impact of phones. Kids jumped on the bandwagon of technology and easily persuaded their parents to buy them a smartphone. In 2015, there was an instant collapse in mental health, especially for girls all over the world, because of the increase of screen time (TED, 2024). While there are certain benefits to technology and phones for businesses and adults, children under the age of 15 should be advised against owning a digital phone because of the addictive nature and negative developmental effects of phones. Teenagers under the age of 16 should not be permitted to have social media because of the negative mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional effects caused by digital devices.

While understanding the developmental effects of phones is important, we first must observe how much time is being spent on phones. Most people spend around “7.5 h[ours] per day with more than one-fourth spent media multitasking for a total daily screen time of 10 h and 45 min” (Rosen, 2014, p. 365). This seems extreme, but it is true. Kids are spending too much time on screens, and it is affecting their development in many ways. “A study at the University of Washington of 8,950 children under the age of 5 found that 66% exceeded that limit, spending an average of 4.1 h[ours] of daily screen time, 90% of which came at home” (Rosen, 2014, p. 365). This increase in screen time has led people to become addicted to their phones. According to psychiatrist Justin Romano (2023), “97% of Americans have a smartphone, and half already admit to being addicted” (TEDx Talks). For many people, including children, phones are an addiction. Signs of a phone addiction include sneaking around to use their device, hiding the paraphernalia, spending large amounts of time on their device, becoming angry or sad when it is taken away, or thinking about their device when they aren’t using it. Have you ever noticed a child that is using a touch screen in the grocery store? When their parent tries to take the device away from the child, they throw a fit and refuse to let go of the device. This scenario shows the behavior of an addicted child. Another example is when a child chooses to spend time on their phone instead of going to their best friend’s house. When children choose technology over family and friends, it should be a sign to the parent that their child has a phone addiction.

Although many people know they have an addiction, they may not know why phones are addictive. They may wonder what causes people to be drawn to their digital devices? One reason, according to Dr. Romano (2023), is the innovative nature of phones (TEDx Talks). App developers are constantly adapting their platforms to keep their audience’s attention. They use psychology to create addictive apps that cause their users to forget about reality (Haidt, 2023, p. 130). Most app developers follow a “four-step process” that increases the app’s addictive nature. This four-step process includes an initial trigger, an action, a variable reward, and an investment. The initial trigger could be a notification to a game or a video feed. This video or game will call you to complete an action, whether it is winning the game or liking an amusing video. Then, this action leads to a varied reward. It is important that the reward is varied because the inconsistent levels of dopamine are more addictive than a continuous stream of high dopamine (p.130). Similar to gambling, the inconsistency in the reward causes the person to believe that they can receive a better reward by continuing the action. Now, the app has the user invested and they are willing to pursue more rewards. This four-step process is “not a passive reward that satisfies us and reduces our cravings. Rather, dopamine circuits are centrally involved in wanting” (Haidt, 2023, p. 130). These app designers know they are creating addictive apps, and most people are falling into phone addiction.

How does this addiction impact millions of teenagers across the globe? The addictive nature of phones has caused an increase in texting while driving. Texting while driving is similar to driving blindfolded. A person’s mind is still distracted from driving even after looking away from their phone. They might still be thinking about the post they read or the text they received. Therefore, the addictive nature of phones has led to an increase in dangerous driving and thousands of car crashes (Reinke, 2017, p. 55).

The government has taken some action to decrease phone addiction by introducing the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). The Act sets up guidelines for “an online platform, online video game, messaging application, or video streaming service that connects to the internet and that is used, or is reasonably likely to be used by a minor” (Blackburn, 2025, Section 101). Congress decided that children under the age of 13 should not have access to certain platforms if they cause eating disorders, depression, anxiety, sexual exploitation, and the distribution or selling of drugs. Also, this act prohibits non-relatives from obtaining a child’s private information or communicating with a minor. Congress encourages online platforms to create parental tools to monitor a child’s digital activities and increase privacy settings. The goal of this Act is to prevent minors from the harm of online platforms. There has been a struggle in the government system to know how to limit online accessibility for young children and teenagers without limiting their freedoms. Although guidelines have been created, kids are still addicted to their phones.

Phone addiction is harmful because it can cause problems during brain development. From ages 10 to 18, children are in their most vulnerable stages mentally because their brains are developing and rewiring. Making mistakes, playing with toys, using their imagination, reading, and talking with other humans allow a child’s frontal lobe to create neuronal connections and develop at full capacity. During puberty, the brain begins to prune the neuronal connections, only keeping the neurons that are used repeatedly (Haidt, 2023, p. 96). In today’s society, kids are not playing or using their imagination. Instead, kids are spending most of their childhood on technological platforms. While on these devices, they are not making connections to help them develop and learn. During puberty, the repeated actions that minors complete online become major grooves in the brain. On the other hand, the parts of the brain that are responsible for talking and problem-solving are neglected and eventually disintegrate. Therefore, the extended use of technology is changing the structure of the brain and causing teenagers to lose necessary qualities for success.

A large amount of screen time not only can change the brain structure of a developing mind, but it can cause the frontal lobe to become deactivated. According to Chapman and Pellicane (2020), “Any device with an electronic screen act[s] like a stimulant, causing the stress hormone cortisol to rise” (p. 25). When the stress hormone rises, the child enters a panic, flight-or-fight stage. This stage causes the blood flow to move away from the frontal lobe and deeper into the brain, which is responsible for survival actions including breathing and swallowing. If the frontal lobe, which is the superficial part of the brain, is not receiving adequate oxygen from the blood, it loses function. This is detrimental because the frontal lobe is responsible for “regulating mood, decision-making, prioritizing, impulse control, empathy, and creativity” (Chapman, 2020, p. 26). Therefore, children that spend large amounts of time on screens will not develop self-control and other valuable qualities because their frontal lobe is deactivated. The deactivation of the frontal lobe has other consequences besides destroying necessary neural connections.

If the frontal cortex is deactivated for a long time, then the cortex can begin to thin. Authors Chapman and Pellicane (2020) researched the development of a child’s brain through brain scans. The “brain scans showed that kids with a lot of screen time had a premature thinning of the cortex, the outermost layer of the brain which processes information from the five senses” (p. 24). They explain that screen time does not engage a child’s five senses, which causes the frontal lobe to be disengaged and eventually become thin. Usually, the frontal cortex begins to thin around age sixty; yet, alarmingly, it is seen in the Gen-Z generation. If technology is used in small amounts, then it is not harmful. However, if kids are spending long periods of time on technology and not engaging their frontal lobe, then their brains will not develop naturally.

There are many questions concerning the amount of screen time for a child. Currently, according to Chapman (2020), children around the age of two to eight have an average of two hours and forty-nine minutes on screen media (p. 20). This might not seem to be a large amount of time; however, a child’s brain is developing at a rapid pace. They are constantly making connections, and “five hours of internet use [can rewire] their brains” (Chapman, 2020, p. 34). Therefore, it is important that children and teenagers do not spend large amounts of time on screens. According to the CDC, “[i]n 2016, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended avoiding screen time for children younger than 2 years” (McArthur, 2022, para. 1). Legner, a writing communicator for OSP Healthcare, said that pediatricians recommend “no more than two hours per day, except for homework” for minors between the ages of five to seventeen (2026, para. 7). Screen time includes watching television, computers, phones, or other touch-screens (Rosen, 2014, p. 364). Teenagers and children are exceeding the recommended screen time limit, and it is causing mental and physical issues within the Gen-Z generation. One way to avoid an undeveloped frontal lobe and other issues is to set app limits on a minor’s phone. Also tracking their screen time will provide accountability for students.

Another way extended screen time harms a child’s brain is the constant rush of dopamine that occurs during screen time. While kids are watching YouTube shorts or Instagram reels, they are receiving a rush of dopamine in their minds. The first couple minutes on the screen give them maximum dopamine. Once the rush of happiness hits, it is hard to turn away from the screen. It is easy to enter into a never-ending cycle of short clips. As time passes, the rush of dopamine lessens, causing the child to extend their screen time to reach another maximum rush of dopamine. This search for dopamine increases the addictiveness of phones.

Now, dopamine is not harmful if it is limited. However, if a child’s brain receives extensive dopamine, it can lead to damaged neurons. According to Chapman and Pellicane (2020), they found that “excessive dopamine kills neurons” (p. 28). When there is too much dopamine, the neuron receptors turn off to limit the rush of dopamine. If more neuron receptors turn off for long periods of time, it can cause deadly neuron damage. Once neurons are dead, they cannot grow back. Therefore, extended screen time can damage a child’s brain.

The psychological impacts on children with extended screen time do not stop at the degradation of neurons. Large amounts of screen time also decrease a child’s attention-span and focus. Through unlimited screen time, a child’s “neural circuits that control the more traditional learning methods…[and] sustain concentration are neglected” (Chapman, 2020, p. 34). When a child is on a device, they are not engaging certain neurons that help children learn to read, write, and focus. If these neurons are not being engaged, they weaken and are eventually destroyed during puberty. Therefore, long periods of screen time can be dangerous because they can destroy the neurons that help children focus. Kersting (2016) says that screens increase “inattentiveness [and] lack of focus” (p. 12). With unlimited access to videos, games, and messages, kids have instant gratification and are not developing patience during screen time. If they are constantly watching short videos and games, their brain will re-wire and shorten their attention spans. However, it is not just social media platforms that affect a minor’s attention span. Large amounts of television in middle school will promote “more attention problems in late adolescence” (Rosen, 2014, p. 368). Watching a small amount of TV with your family is not harmful. It is the five hours or more spent on a screen or television that can lead to problems for children and teenagers in the future.

While there are many psychological impacts from extended screen time, phones can also lead to physical issues. For example, phone usage can lead to poor posture. Leaning over a small screen has increased musculoskeletal disorders including scoliosis, arthritis, thumb tension, and unnaturally curved necks. Since phones cause back, finger, and neck muscles to be contracted and strained for long periods, it can lead to pain. According to Rosen (2014) “Norwegian teens demonstrated that a combination of more television, video, and computer use lead to more back pain and headaches” (p. 367). While unnatural posture may not seem as detrimental as the other effects of phones, it is harmful for children. Long contraction of muscles can lead to “musculoskeletal discomfort [which can] contribute to a decline in overall well-being and functional capacity” (Ozalp, 2025, p. 4-5). Having poor posture can affect the cognitive abilities of children. Spending “an average of two to four hours per day hunched over devices” could also cause muscles and bones to grow unnaturally (Chapman, 2020, p. 58). God created people to stand straight, to look forward, and to engage back and neck muscles. Therefore, it is necessary to be active and move instead of spending long periods of time cramped over a device. God wants His people to enjoy the outdoors and take care of our bodies.

Prolonged screen time also can lead to dry eyes. Naturally, a human’s eyes need to blink regularly to lubricate and moisten the cornea and sclera, which is the outer part of your eye. Yet, while staring at a screen, your eyes don’t blink regularly, causing “the blink rate [to decrease], which prevents the tear film from spreading evenly across the ocular surface, [leading] to dryness” (Özalp, 2025, p. 5). Dry eye syndrome can harm a person’s eyes and cause eye strain. Therefore, it is important to take breaks from devices. For example, after twenty minutes of screen time, look twenty feet away from you for twenty seconds. This break allows your eye muscles to relax and not be strained. Remembering to blink while on devices can also help prevent dry eye syndrome.

Since 2020, not only has extended screen time increased dry eyes, but it has also increased obesity among children. There are many factors that contribute to this rise, including eating unhealthy foods, not being active, and spending time on devices. To live a healthy life, it is important for children to be active. However, today, fewer kids are spending time outside or playing at their neighbor’s house. Instead, parents are being overly protective in the physical world and not letting their kids take risks outside, which is critical for their development (Haidt, 2023, p. 74, 81). Parents assume that the crime rate has risen; yet in reality, the crime rate has decreased compared to the 1980s. Their assumptions prevent children from having the freedom to run and play outside. These kids then resort to watching TV, playing video games, and scrolling on social media. This waste of time not only hurts kids mentally, but it hurts their physical health. If kids are not running around and being active, their muscle tone and cognitive abilities will decrease. According to Rosen (2014), “twice as many children and three times as many adolescents are suffering from obesity than just 30 years ago based on increased body mass index scores” (p. 365). The increase in obesity with kids is dangerous because it could shorten their lifespans. Rosen (2014) also mentions that people tend to consume more food while watching TV, which may increase obesity (p. 365). Therefore, encouraging children to take breaks from their devices, go to the park, run, and play outside will help avoid this increase in obesity.

Extended screen time also prevents teenagers and children from receiving adequate sleep. Pediatricians advise children and teenagers to receive eight to ten hours of sleep every night. However, many minors do not follow this suggestion because they stare at their phones before bed to appease their addiction. Also, screen time before bed affects a person’s quality of sleep. The blue light that illuminates from phones and computers inhibits the production of melatonin (Özalp, 2025, pg. 5). Melatonin is a hormone that is produced in the pineal gland of the brain and helps the body relax and fall asleep. If this hormone is inhibited, then a person will have trouble falling asleep and achieving adequate rest. When students do not sleep well, their attention span and cognitive abilities decrease, while fatigue increases (Özalp, 2025, p. 5). It is important that minors receive the necessary amount of sleep to succeed in life. Having their child turn off their phone one hour before bed will help increase their quality and length of sleep.

While sleep is important, a Christian’s morning routine can also affect their health. When Christians wake up in the morning, do they tend to pick up their Bible or phone first? According to most people, they will pick up their phones first to check their emails, texts, or social media. They do not want to miss out. There is nothing wrong with checking your emails in the morning, but beginning your day with your phone verses your Bible can drastically affect the rest of your day. Reinke (2017) says,  "Those early morning hours are vital for spiritual health and for making progress in the spiritual battles we face every day. Satan knows it, and he wants to destroy our devotional life, and if he cannot get us to simply ignore the habit, he will ‘distract [our] thoughts and break them into a thousand vanities’ " (p. 127). It is important that we begin our day focused on God and do not allow our phones to distract us. The Devil easily uses our phones to distract us and “introduce burdens that our physical bodies cannot carry” (Reinke, 2017, p. 150). The Devil knows our weaknesses and will try anything to steal, kill, and destroy us. Therefore, it is important for Christians to set boundaries for our phones and begin our morning in the Word. For example, instead of reaching for your phone when you wake up, try reaching for your Bible before you turn on your phone. Also, it is better to keep your phone outside your room, so you are not tempted to look at it in the morning. These examples can help Christians build healthy habits that will positively impact their lives.

Phones can also distract us from a relationship with Christ. People waste about four or more hours a day on their phones (Chapman 2020, p. 20). To put this in perspective, Chapman (2020) points out that if a child begins “playing video games and using social media beginning at age nine, they will rack up the magic number of ten thousand hours by the age eighteen” (p. 19). A person could fly around the whole globe one hundred sixty-seven times in a commercial plane in that same amount of time. How much of this time on phones is productive or helpful? Usually, screen time is not increasing one’s relationship with God but is distracting teenagers from reality and their mortality. Reinke (2017) says that humans crave distraction because they do not want to think about the finiteness of life. People aren’t comfortable to sit in silence with God; some even consider silence as a punishment (p. 44-46).  Most people want to escape reality because they are enduring a hardship or trying to forget about the loss of a loved one. Instead of escaping reality through digital devices, we need to turn to God for help through our hardships. This method provides lasting hope for Christians that outshines the fleeting happiness from digital devices. Therefore, as Christians we must remember that distractions do not help our faith. Instead, sitting in solitude with God, and thinking about our mortality will be more valuable and “will make you fully alive” (Reinke, 2017, p. 47). Our life is as short as the grass in the field. We do not know the number of our days; therefore, we should use our time on earth wisely.

Phones not only distract humans from reality but also expose children to adult content. When a parent gives a digital device to a child or teenager, they provide access to pornography, gambling, violence, sexting, blackmail, and harassment. Children are losing their innocence because of this digital device. Pornography is a huge issue for teenagers, especially for boys. Reinke (2017) describes the heaviness of pornography when he says, “Free porn accessed on a smartphone represents a spiritual epidemic of unprecedented gravity in the history of the church, costing a whole generation of young Christians their joy in Christ and corroding young souls by the acid of unchecked lust” (p. 135). Pornography is a corrupting sin that is addictive and secretive. Many teenagers do not admit their sin, which causes the addiction to become stronger. According to Reinke (2017), “Nearly fifty percent of professing Christian men ages eighteen to twenty-nine willingly acknowledge ongoing porn use” (p. 135). 50% of Christian men acknowledge their sin. Think about the men who have not acknowledged their sin. Many young boys are falling into this sin because of the easy access they have to porn on their digital devices. This sin can eventually lead to problems in relationships and marriages, one of God’s greatest creations. Many people today who struggle with a pornography addiction do not get married because they struggle to create “meaningful relationships with the opposite sex” (Reinke, 2017, p. 136). Even if pornography addicts get married, the divorce rate is high because of the easy access to dating apps and inappropriate content. These tempting apps cause married people to be unfaithful and engage in sexting. The worst part is that “smart phones make sexual sin more discreet, giving it space to fester behind a veil of privacy” (Reinke, 2017, p. 134). One thing that God hates is hidden sin. He wants people to confess their sins and be held accountable to turn away from it. As the Bible says in Matthew 5:29, “If your right eye causes you to stumble, gorge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell” (New International Version). Therefore, if your phone is causing you to sin, cut off the temptation. Whether you have to delete a certain app or set time limits on apps, it is better to delete an app than to suffer the consequences of your sin in the future.

In American society, social media platforms often hide the truth. There are many digital platforms that claim to be factual, but in reality, are they trustworthy? Most “facts” on social media are opinions from other people. Since the internet contains opinions and false claims, people need to have discernment when looking for truth on websites. Especially with the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), there are many untruthful videos that are created through this platform. Reinke (2017) agrees that “we must assign a value judgment to all information we take in” (p. 150). If people have discernment, searching for information on websites can be helpful. Nevertheless, kids do not have the same level of discernment as their parents. Kids and teenagers could easily be persuaded by a random video or post. Therefore, it is important for Christian families to limit social media platforms and spend time in the Word so that they know the truth.

Some people believe that social media decreases loneliness. Social media provides more opportunities to connect with people and to reach out to friends in other states. People today believe that these online platforms allow them to have more friends. While phones can help people stay in touch by talking on the phone, social media has not decreased loneliness. We have more ways to connect with other people and more entertainment than any other generation, yet millennials and Gen-Zs seem to be the loneliest generations. Teenagers are lonely because they lack deep friendships. God created humans to have deep relationships. Solomon mentions this in Proverbs 18:24, which says, “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (English Standard Version). Solomon is saying that it is more valuable to have fewer friends and deeper friendships, than shallow friendships. Social media does not allow people to develop deep relationships because of the lack of eye contact, trust, and physical contact. Instead, social media causes teenagers to isolate themselves. Isolation and loneliness are dangerous because humans were made to be in relationship with one another. This belief comes from Genesis 2:18, which says, “Then LORD God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him’” (NIV). God created Eve so that Adam would not be alone. Therefore, humans need each other, they need friends, and they need a place to be vulnerable. As Reinke (2017) says, “More fundamental to human life than money, food, and shelter is humans’ friendship…. And this is why loneliness stings like an open gash in our skin” (p. 120). Social media does not help teenagers have more friends; it is causing them to miss out on developing deeper friendships. As Christians, we need friendships because life is not easy. As Jesus says we must carry each other’s burdens. Therefore, before seeking friends on social media, try reaching out to the people around you in the physical world.

Without Biblical friendships, people can easily become lonely and isolated. Isolation has become a huge issue in America for children and teenagers. Instead of socializing with friends around their age, kids stay inside to play video games and scroll on their phones. Not only does the addiction of phones cause children to miss out on socialization, but social media encourages loneliness. For example, imagine a young girl around the age of fifteen. She had a horrible day at school, failed her math test, and was mocked by her friends. Since she is sad, she is looking for a coping mechanism that will help her forget about her troubles. She turns to her phone to appease her addiction and to receive a rush of dopamine. The first app she clicks on is Instagram. She believes that her followers are her true friends. At first, the rush of dopamine might satisfy her. However, as she continues to scroll on her phone, the dopamine wears off, and she compares herself to her social media “friends.” All her friends seem to have perfect, trendy outfits and hairstyles, enjoy life, and never have to deal with any problems. This young girl is believing a predominant lie the Devil uses with social media platforms. She believes that she is the only one with problems, and everyone else is perfect. This lie causes her to feel lonely and unaccepted. If she looks at the comments on her post, which could be encouraging or hurtful, her self-esteem will subconsciously decrease. The girl is left wondering which identity is true: the perfect, happy girl on Instagram or the imperfect, lonely girl. This feeling of confusion and loneliness hits thousands of teenagers across the globe when they engage on social media apps.

In American culture, mental health has become a major issue for teenagers. For example, anxiety is a growing issue among young adolescents. According to Chapman (2020), in 1985, 18% of freshmen at UCLA claimed they were overwhelmed and anxious. By 2016, 41% of students admitted having anxiety (p. 70). Even though our life is much easier and more convenient than previous generations, children and teenagers have more anxiety and depression than ever before (Chapman, 2020, p. 70). Young children and teenagers aren’t experiencing a normal childhood. They are not having fun, laughing with their friends, and enjoying life. Instead, they are stuck on their digital devices and take medications for their anxiety and depression. What is the root cause of this growing mental health crisis? There is a direct connection between the increase in mental health and an increase in phone addiction. Rosen (2014) states that “excessive screen time…increased loneliness, depression, withdrawal, anxiety, attention problems, and aggression” (para. 6). He completed a national study and found that “excessive amounts of screen time, particularly internet activity and video gaming, predicted more sadness, suicidal ideation and suicide planning among American teens” (para. 6). It has been proven that large amounts of screen time is one of the causes of depression and anxiety. The increasing screen time has “hospitalized [many] for depression, eating disorders, and anxiety. And some kids are killing themselves after using [their phones]” (TED, 2024, 19:43). To clarify, phones are not directly causing depression, anxiety, or suicide. However, large amounts of unproductive screen time can prevent kids from enjoying their childhood because they choose to live in an adult, digital world. The pressures from digital devices have influenced teenagers to have suicidal thoughts. Therefore, phones need to be regulated because they are leading to mental health problems for children and teenagers.

Suicide has become a growing issue across the globe and is one of the leading causes of death in America. According to Chapman (2020) “suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged ten to thirty-four in the United States” (p. 73). Unfortunately, in today’s society, more teenagers and children are committing suicide. “According to the Centers for Disease Control, death by suicide among ten to twenty-four-years-old increased 56 percent from 2007 to 2017” (Chapman, 2020, p. 73). Interestingly, when the first iPhone came out, the suicide rate increased among minors. How does the iPhone provoke minors to fall into suicide? One reason is that children and teenagers constantly believe lies about their self-worth. While on their digital devices, users compare themselves to other people on social media and isolate themselves from in-person interactions. Isolation has led to a rise in anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem, which has led to the rise in suicide rates. Chapman gives an example of a pastor’s twenty-seven-year-old son who committed suicide. The son had ADHD and anxiety from a young age. By the age of twelve, he had suicidal thoughts. It is hard to imagine a child wanting to end their life. After the pastor’s son passed away, he created a prayer time for people to share about their mental health issues. Many people shared about their “depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, schizophrenia, and suicidal thoughts” (Chapman, 2023, p. 73). When these people admitted their struggles to the pastor, they were set free from the weight of hopelessness. This story shows that mental health disorders are prevalent; yet, through vulnerability and friendships, people can be set free from their struggles. Although we cannot stop suicide, we can help prevent suicide by decreasing screen time on social media. If parents and children decreased their screen time, people would have more opportunities to spend time with friends and family. Through relationships, people can be released from depression, anxiety, and isolation, which could help lower suicide rates.

The rise in depression and anxiety is not the only instigator for the rise in suicide rates. Cyberbullying has also led to an increase in suicide for teenagers. Cyberbullying is intentionally humiliating, mocking, bullying, or harming someone online. It has become a growing problem because “36% of adolescents globally have experienced bullying victimization” (Li, 2025, p. 2). Many of the girls who experience cyberbullying internalize their emotions and do not tell anyone about their issues. They don’t have the ability to be vulnerable to others because they do not have deep, non-digital relationships. On the other hand, boys, who have been bullied, become angrier and ultimately turn to their phones for “entertainment and violent gaming” (Li, 2025, p. 4). Boys are not able to express their pain either, so they channel their emotions toward anger. Since these kids are experiencing hardships through cyberbullying, they turn to their addictive devices to provide a rush of dopamine and happiness. Li (2025), a researcher for intelligent physiology, says that “bullying victimization may influence mobile phone addiction indirectly by triggering specific negative emotional states, such as depression and social anxiety” (p. 2). If phones are like a drug, kids will run to their addiction in times of trouble and hardship. However, they are only escaping to a digital world that only promotes depression, anger, and anxiety. These kids are stuck in a sick cycle and do not have the opportunities to share about their problems.

The world has always been chaotic since the Fall in the Garden of Eden. Life is challenging because of the consequences of sin and the continual spiritual battle. Yet, today, some of the hardships that many children and teenagers struggle with are consequences of large amounts of screen time. The rise in anxiety, depression, loneliness, and suicidal thoughts for minors are directly connected with large amounts of screen time and the use of social media platforms. Children are also being exposed to adult sins, including pornography and gambling, through their devices. The internet contains sexual immorality that causes children to lose their innocence. Large amounts of screen time can also thin the frontal cortex of a child’s brain. If children continue to weaken their frontal lobe, they will not be able to make wise decisions or have empathy for other people. The fast pace of the digital world also lowers people’s attention spans. A rise in ADHD has occurred since the development of the smartphone and iPad.

Not only has there been a rise in ADHD, but we also have lost patience to stop and listen to God. God speaks to His people, not in a booming voice, but in a small, quiet voice. If Christians do not slow down and listen to their Creator, they are missing out on a life-giving relationship. As we get closer to end times, it will be even more critical to spend time with God and His Word. As Christians, we must know the truth and ask for God’s protection against the Evil One.

It is easy to become focused on the digital world. However, God wants us to focus on the creation and people around us. He wants us to smell the roses, observe the beautiful butterflies, and laugh with friends. Children and teenagers are supposed to enjoy life before they have major responsibilities. Parents can encourage joy back into their child’s life by cutting off their smartphone addiction. Phones are not horrible, and they can be used as helpful tools. They can be helpful for completing school projects and communicating with parents and friends. Also, watching television can be a fun activity for a family. Bonding over humorous movies or watching documentaries are not harmful. However, parents must also be aware of the dangers of the digital world. Finding ways to limit screen addiction and social media can help children become healthy adults. God has a magnificent plan for each person’s life. Our lives, like the flowers of the field, are finite. Therefore, live for the moment, be in the present, and set aside your drug.

References 

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