4 ms·

People are using smartphones as a replacement for face-to-face interaction. That's not just symptomatic.

• ThrustVectoring 9y ago
  The solution isn't to ban or reduce smartphone usage, like you would if smartphone usage itself was causing problems. The solution is to make it easier and more accepted to hang out face-to-face. Ban the phone and keep the isolating culture and you wind up with even more isolated teens.
  • bpicolo 9y ago
    Of course. Banning phones doesn't make any sense and computers are pretty much the same thing in the context of home. Self-moderation is critical here, though hard to do
• jimhefferon 9y ago
  Yes. I teach at a college. Every day I see scenes like a couple walking across campus, obviously walking together, but each on their phone instead of talking to each other.
  • freehunter 9y ago
    And 100 years ago, your comment would read "I see a couple walking across campus, obviously walking together, but each staring silently at the sidewalk instead of talking to each other". Not every moment needs to be constantly filled with chatter, and if there's nothing to say, there's nothing to say. Sometimes just the act of physically being near each other is enough.
• dx034 9y ago
  IT can be a symptom if the underlying reason are parents that have become over-protective. Teens meeting in public places are often associated with anti-social behaviour nowadays. It's not that all teens prefer meeting online but with many parents that's a lot easier.