16 going on 17

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mar09

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2014
4,927
1,259
113
#1
I would like to reply to sonia's thread, and as a mom i have strived to be as patient as possible with young people here than i am even with my own children. But i also have many questions so i start this. All adults have been teens, so we hope we understand them better, but in truth it is a very perplexing time for me to deal w/ people their age-). On the other hand, they (my kids at least) think i am not understanding, inflexible, whatever i can add to the list.

For one, seeing them holding celphones when waking up is so annoying to me. I say not to use their phones before bed, and to put away some distance from them esp so as not to be tempted to do stuff there at night, and in the morning too. Whether a school day or not, u see them with it. Quickly checking updates is alright, but longer than that...-( But its a habit they wont break, and at times i am so tempted to grab the thing and throw it away. Which ive never done though.

Any thoughts, suggestions? Thanks.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
55,247
25,716
113
#2
Hello Mar. Since you are looking for suggestions, I would say, take their phones
away from them some time before they go to bed. Do not allow them to have
them overnight, and then they cannot wake up with them either :)
 

Huglife

Senior Member
Aug 15, 2016
2,543
50
48
#3
Hello Mar. Since you are looking for suggestions, I would say, take their phones
away from them some time before they go to bed. Do not allow them to have
them overnight, and then they cannot wake up with them either :)
Many teens also use their phones as alarm clocks, however. I would have mine charging over by the wall, away from me, but to where I could still here my alarm.

Kids these days are addicted to their phones. Indeed, when was the last time you saw one reading a book? Its a shame, is what it is.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
55,247
25,716
113
#4
Many teens also use their phones as alarm clocks, however. I would have mine charging over by the wall, away from me, but to where I could still here my alarm.

Kids these days are addicted to their phones. Indeed, when was the last time you saw one reading a book? Its a shame, is what it is.
Alarm clocks are easy to get. Even clock radios :) There are solutions. The phones do not need to be charging in the teen's rooms, either. If the phones are to be taken out of their possession overnight, the temptation needs to be completely removed. It is an addiction.

Why do teens feel the need to check their phones so frequently? Although there is no doubt that today’s teens love using social media channels and other apps in their free time, there was another underlying reason for the frequency of phone use. Seventy-two percent of teens admit that they feel a sense of urgency to check notifications and respond to messages as soon as they come in. Even if teens want to put down their phones to relax or spend time on another activity, the constant notifications will pull them back into using their phones since they have trouble ignoring messages. https://www.teensafe.com/blog/truth-smartphone-addiction-teens/
 

Huglife

Senior Member
Aug 15, 2016
2,543
50
48
#5
its social life, i suppose. thats what matters nowadays....
 

WineRose

Senior Member
Jan 3, 2017
3,631
265
83
Row A, Column 9
#6
Who, me? Did I start a thread here recently? (My name is Sonia...)

Anyway, I disagree with the fact that use of mobile phones is horrific and toxic, which is what some parents seem to believe. A little usage is in fact healthy and beneficial to our growing kids. However, I do agree that excessive use of phones has its downsides, so I think that the best way to moniter their usage is either:

1. Put a surveillance camera in their room and all the other rooms in the house. (Not recommended, ya pervs)

2. Shock and scare them with horrific news of accidents caused by mobile phones and hope that it deters them from ever using a phone again. (Also not recommended)

3. Force them to charge their phones in your bedroom at night.
 

mar09

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2014
4,927
1,259
113
#7
Alarm clocks are easy to get. Even clock radios :) There are solutions. The phones do not need to be charging in the teen's rooms, either. If the phones are to be taken out of their possession overnight, the temptation needs to be completely removed. It is an addiction.

Why do teens feel the need to check their phones so frequently? Although there is no doubt that today’s teens love using social media channels and other apps in their free time, there was another underlying reason for the frequency of phone use. Seventy-two percent of teens admit that they feel a sense of urgency to check notifications and respond to messages as soon as they come in. Even if teens want to put down their phones to relax or spend time on another activity, the constant notifications will pull them back into using their phones since they have trouble ignoring messages. https://www.teensafe.com/blog/truth-smartphone-addiction-teens/
Thank you
for the share from the link.
 

mar09

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2014
4,927
1,259
113
#8
Who, me? Did I start a thread here recently? (My name is Sonia...)

Anyway, I disagree with the fact that use of mobile phones is horrific and toxic, which is what some parents seem to believe. A little usage is in fact healthy and beneficial to our growing kids. However, I do agree that excessive use of phones has its downsides, so I think that the best way to moniter their usage is either:

1. Put a surveillance camera in their room and all the other rooms in the house. (Not recommended, ya pervs)

2. Shock and scare them with horrific news of accidents caused by mobile phones and hope that it deters them from ever using a phone again. (Also not recommended)

3. Force them to charge their phones in your bedroom at night.
I meant soniablue... Thank you for the ideas. I cannot say how much, but it is the going overboard that is bad. If we are honest, even adults can have that urge to check incoming msgs, but perhaps because we didnt grow up with that, it is much easier to ignore or put away when we think the day is done. Whatever, we do not want you, young guys to have horrific accidents, side effects and other consequences that may come with overuse of the gadgets.

I sincerely hope the young who do not understand their parents' ways and think us annoying for always reminding or correcting you, would not think our ways are outdated. For there are many proverbs that say to 'teach them' to you while you are ready to learn and not when your eyes and mind are damaged, when you are old and groping on wc way to go because you did not listen to your elders, and also not think this preachy because it wasnt meant to be. Solomon wasnt preachy in the Proverbs, was he?
 

Oncefallen

Idiot in Chief
Staff member
Jan 15, 2011
6,029
3,240
113
#9
its social life, i suppose. thats what matters nowadays....
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the problem. Today's teens equate a high social media activity level with having a social life and being connected.
 

Demi777

Senior Member
Oct 13, 2014
6,877
1,949
113
Germany
#10
Im the awkward one who goes out and meets people...and if that dont work ill call em but i likes social life over social media
 
Mar 8, 2017
52
1
0
#11
Not much you can do but look to God. He is your patience, and look to this like a test.
Talk about Jesus frequently around them. Teenagers have a choice to follow Jesus or not. It's hard to see your babies be so rude, but you have to worry about your salvation and they might follow. Kids usually come back if they have a Jesus influence, but they have to see the outside sometimes themselves before this happens. It's hard, but it's true, and some hardness can raise a person's faith ten fold! Make sure they have the tools though, talk about Jesus non-stop and pray to the Lord! I think the end days are soon. It's normal to see kids turn on their parents like this. Just be grateful the Lord's Kingdom is coming, and be ready at all times!
 
Last edited:
Oct 20, 2016
202
9
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#12
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the problem. Today's teens equate a high social media activity level with having a social life and being connected.
' 'Tis indeed very sad. Even I wonder, what is to be done to this growing issue...
In my opinion, teens should be aware of the positive and negative effects of social media. Especially, how excessive use could help the Christian teen to drift away from The Way...

Funnily for me, my best social media inlet is surprisingly....

Here!:D
 
M

mamahawk6

Guest
#13
Hi! Times are certainly different for this generation. I would encourage you to have your teens keep their phones in a different location. My teen son charges his in the living room at night. He uses his watch as an alarm clock. Set boundaries and expect your teens to follow them. If they don't, follow up with consequences. My son knows his phone is subject to me looking at it. If you don't want your teens to have their phone in the morning, make that a boundary. If they cross that boundary, follow up with a punishment. It won't be easy, but your children will be grateful that you did it in the long run. Praying for you!
 
T

TemporaryCircumstances

Guest
#14
I would like to reply to sonia's thread, and as a mom i have strived to be as patient as possible with young people here than i am even with my own children. But i also have many questions so i start this. All adults have been teens, so we hope we understand them better, but in truth it is a very perplexing time for me to deal w/ people their age-). On the other hand, they (my kids at least) think i am not understanding, inflexible, whatever i can add to the list.

For one, seeing them holding celphones when waking up is so annoying to me. I say not to use their phones before bed, and to put away some distance from them esp so as not to be tempted to do stuff there at night, and in the morning too. Whether a school day or not, u see them with it. Quickly checking updates is alright, but longer than that...-( But its a habit they wont break, and at times i am so tempted to grab the thing and throw it away. Which ive never done though.

Any thoughts, suggestions? Thanks.
Phones are addictions. I lost my phone and it has been gone for two days and you have no idea how many times I'm reaching in my pocket to get my phone out haha

They can only experience how they can go on without technology by not having it. That's the only way.
And even that doesn't work for some people.

I once got in trouble and got grounded for two years (no joke lol) so I went two years without a phone. It was in those two years that I found out what life really was. A screen is not life and you can only know that if you live that
 
T

TemporaryCircumstances

Guest
#15
Oddly enough I have this problem with my mother and not with my kids (siblings lol)
My sibs don't care about their phone or technology (with exception of one) but my mother on the other hand.... The phone is her daughter not me
 
M

mamahawk6

Guest
#16
Phones are addictions. I lost my phone and it has been gone for two days and you have no idea how many times I'm reaching in my pocket to get my phone out haha

They can only experience how they can go on without technology by not having it. That's the only way.
And even that doesn't work for some people.

I once got in trouble and got grounded for two years (no joke lol) so I went two years without a phone. It was in those two years that I found out what life really was. A screen is not life and you can only know that if you live that
I totally agree with you. My phone can definitely be an addiction for myself. Haha! I am always reaching for it when I shouldn't. I have to put it far away so I won't pick it up. My husband and I did a break from social media for 2 years. It was the best thing ever for our marriage!
 

mar09

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2014
4,927
1,259
113
#17
Thanks all for the input. I am thinking abt these things you shared.