The Latest Teen Obsession: Is Your Child a Cell Phone Junkie?

Does your teen panic if she realizes she forgot her cell phone at home? Is she moody and frustrated if she can't check her messages during dinner or a family outing? She may have a cell phone addiction.

With more than 225 million people carrying cell phones in the U.S. in 2007, up from 34 million in 2005, and nearly two-thirds (63%) of teens owning their own cell phone, many parents have noticed obsessive behaviors in their teens, often so extreme they resemble addiction. Most teens spend an average of one hour a day on their cell phones. Add in the extra time they spend e-mailing, IMing, talking in person, or communicating through MySpace or Facebook, and it's not surprising so many children are getting hooked on their high-tech gadgets.

Concern Spreads Worldwide
In a recent Pew Internet & American Life Project report, Americans picked cell phones as the technology they can least go without. Recent reports also suggest cell phones, Blackberries, and other communication devices are interfering with personal relationships, classroom lectures, productivity at work, and traffic safety all over the world.

Although reliable studies on cell phone addiction are sparse, a study from China found that nearly one-third of high school students showed signs of addiction, including paranoia, when they were without their phones, and two-thirds were "constantly worried" that they would miss a text message when their phones were off. In Britain, researchers concluded that people are so dependent on their cell phones that they see them as "an essential item, an extension of self."

In Spain, two children ages 12 and 13 were recently admitted to a mental hospital for mobile phone addiction. Their treatment will resemble that of drug addicts and those with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Maite Utgés, director of the hospital, indicated that the children were failing in school and couldn't complete normal tasks because they spent five or six hours a day on their phones. And it only took one year of cell phone usage for them to get hooked.

Know the Warning Signs
Despite a number of maladaptive behaviors associated with teen cell phone use, most experts agree that this obsession doesn't qualify as a genuine addiction or mental disorder - at least not yet. Others argue that anything can become an addiction if a person becomes dependent to the detriment of other areas of their lives. Based on the sheer number of people affected, many believe cell phone addiction is well on its way to being classified as a disease similar to drug addiction, alcoholism, or gambling.

The symptoms of cell phone addiction are similar to the symptoms of other types of addictions, and may include the following:

Feeling restless or uncomfortable when not using a cell phone;
Having irrational reactions to being without a phone if it is lost or forgotten;
Substantial increases in the amount of time spent talking on a cell phone;
Mounting cell phone bills that cause financial distress;
Problems at school and work from constant cell phone use;
Interpersonal problems from constant cell phone use; or
Taking unnecessary risks such as using a cell phone during inappropriate times (driving, etc.).

Counteracting Cell Phone Abuse
Experts predict more and more American teens will struggle with cell phone addiction in the next decade as we become more reliant on technology in our daily lives. More than just a phone, cellular devices are also used as alarm clocks, watches, music players, cameras, and calendars. And the cell phones of the future will be so "smart," they may even replace laptops, personal organizers, and gaming devices.

While most people can enjoy the ever-improving technology and convenience of cell phones without any problems, that small percentage that can't function without their handheld devices may require professional help. Here are a few steps parents and teens can take to set boundaries around their cell phone use:

Set specific times during the day when you can use your cell phone, use a journal to track your cell phone use, or buy a prepaid calling card to limit the number of minutes you can use.
Make time for activities and hobbies that aren't conducive to being on the phone, such as sports, watching a movie in a theater, or spending time with friends.
Focus on living in the moment and spend less time multi-tasking. When you're out with a friend or spending time with your loved ones, practice active listening and be respectful of other people's time.
Foster healthy relationships that are strong enough to last a few hours or days without constant contact.
Turn cell phones off at a certain time each evening so you can unwind without distractions.
Work on developing a healthy relationship with technology. Cell phones are supposed to make our lives better, keeping us safe in emergencies and connected to our friends and family. When cell phones begin to control our lives, we lose sight of their true purpose.
If you can't reduce cell phone use on your own, seek professional help from a treatment facility or therapist to explore the reasons underlying the addiction.

Cell phones serve many useful purposes, such as safety and keeping teens in touch with their parents, so quitting cold turkey may not be an option. By their nature, cell phones are harder to monitor than Internet use or time spent on the computer. But by reviewing the cell phone bill each month, purchasing plans with limited minutes and texts, and talking with teens about cell phone use, parents can take affirmative steps to prevent cell phone addiction.

While some experts recommend waiting to buy children cell phones until 16 years of age, others advise parents to simply stay alert to teens using cell phones to avoid personal issues, schoolwork, or spending time with the family. If cell phones are having a negative impact on any area of a child's life, it's up to parents to set and enforce limits and seek help when necessary.

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People become addicted to all sorts of things, from drugs, alcohol, shoplifting, and gambling, to video games, pornography, and even chocolate. Do they all have certain personality traits or experiences that make them more susceptible to addiction? Some experts say yes, but some say addiction is far too complicated to generalize a single set of characteristics that lead to these destructive behaviors. Learn more about addictive personalities.

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