Scientists identify the real reason teens can’t put their phones down

A new study from American pediatricians has found that one in two teenagers use their phone at night. Seventeen percent are woken up by notifications and 20% reach for the screen on their own in the middle of the night. Disrupted sleep takes a serious toll on kids’ mental health triggering insomnia, depression, and struggles at school.

Research shows teenagers are losing 8–9 hours of sleep per week due to constant screen use. Scientists have raised these concerns before, but this particular study points to an unexpected cause: the problem isn’t algorithms or boredom. It’s the example parents set. Kids don’t listen to what we tell them — they watch what we do.

and this isn’t just a US story. In Italy, one in three teenagers have trouble falling asleep, directly linked to device use before bed. In Spain, 42% of teens admit their phone hurts their sleep, and 37% go to bed later because of screens. In South Korea, 99% of teenagers own a smartphone, their daily screen time averages 5 hours, and nearly 40% show signs of overdependence. Different countries, same pattern.

What to do about it

Negotiating with a teenager is harder than with a younger child — a simple screen time block won’t cut it without a real conversation. Here’s what can actually help.

A deal, not a ban. Agree on a rule together: after 11 p.m., all phones charge in another room. All phones. Yes, including yours.

Light-touch parental controls. The Findmykids app shows how much time your teenager spends online — you can look at the data together. If it worries you, talk through solutions with your teen rather than just imposing limits.

Lead by example. This one keeps coming up for a reason. Until you find something other than your phone to occupy your evenings, the rest of the family will keep doing the same.