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Study of high school students links heavy texting and harmful behaviors
The list of dangers for teens from a heavy daily routine of texting just got longer. Parents, teachers and government officials have warned for some time about not texting behind the wheel, in class or sending messages with sexual content. Now a study says high school students who spend the most time texting or on social network sites (or both) are at risk of worrisome behaviors such as smoking, depression, eating disorders, drug and alcohol abuse, risky sex and absenteeism.
Researchers at a Cleveland university questioned 4,200 students at 20 urban high schools in Ohio. About one-fifth sent at least 120 text messages per school day, one-tenth were on social networks for three hours or more and 4 percent did both. That last group of about 170 teens were at twice the risk of nonusers for fighting, smoking, binge drinking, becoming cyber victims, thinking about suicide, missing school and napping in class. Just as with other activities by students, selection of friends is pivotal. "It does depend on who they're texting with," stresses Dr. Scott Frank, the lead researcher. "Their choice of friends in the single most important thing. The more texting they do, the more potential for exposure to high-tech peer pressure."
Front Page Talking Points is written by
Alan Stamm for NIEonline.com, Copyright 2013
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On a brighter side, see if you can find an article about online activities or uses that are positive, practical and uplifting.
Newspapers embrace the era of Internet-access smart phones and social media. Can you spot an invitation to connect or receive news alerts via texts or Twitter? How about an icon that lets you post article links?
Look for coverage of any electronic technology or social networking developments.
Researcher says: "This is a red flag for parents . . . because they need to be monitoring and taking charge of the choices their kids are making. We want parents to set more restrictive rules for their kids regarding texting and networking." -- Dr. Scott Frank, study' lead author and associate professor at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine