1The average teenager now spends more than seven hours every day looking at a screen.
2Much of that time is spent scrolling through social media feeds without any real purpose or enjoyment.
3Researchers warn that constant notifications make it increasingly difficult for young brains to concentrate deeply.
4Every beep pulls our attention away and studies show that fully refocusing can take several minutes.
5Heavy screen use late at night also delays the release of the hormone that makes us sleepy.
6As a result many teenagers go to bed far too late and wake up feeling completely exhausted.
7However the solution is clearly not to throw away our phones and abandon modern technology completely.
8Small rules such as banning screens during family meals can make a noticeable difference within a few weeks.
9Some families also charge their phones downstairs overnight so that bedrooms stay calm and dark.
10In the end technology should serve us rather than control every spare moment of our daily lives.