Up to one in four children are 'addicted to smartphones'

“There is a lot of public discourse around the possible negative effects of smartphone use”, study author Dr Ben Carter said. Since smartphones burst onto the scene in 2011, they have become increasingly popular, with use even “ubiquitous” among 11-year-olds, the scientists wrote in the journal BMC Psychiatry. After looking at the range of studies, PSU was “diagnosed” if the participants experienced anxiety when away from their phone or neglected day-to-day activities to stare at the screen. Results suggest “problem users” were more likely to use their phones to watch TV or for social media, rather than just straight forward texting or calls. As well as making someone more vulnerable to depression, anxiety and insomnia, PSU was also linked to an 86% higher risk of stress. Nonetheless, the scientists are calling on parents and teachers to look out for any red flags and limit use. “Smartphones are here to stay and there is a need to understand the prevalence of problematic usage,” study author Dr Nicola Kalk said.