Why Parents May Need to Restrict a Teen's Smartphone Use

Although many teens think access to a smartphone is a right, owning a phone is definitely a privilege. And there may be times when taking that privilege away could be the best thing for your teen. Be on the lookout for signs your teen’s phone use is interfering with their behavior, grades, social life, or overall everyday functioning.

When to Restrict Your Teens's Cell Phone Use

There are many warning signs you may want to restrict your teen’s phone privileges, including if they:

Break Your Phone Rules

It’s important to create clear smartphone rules that outline your expectations. Your list of rules should address issues surrounding phone etiquette—like no texting during dinner—as well as rules that address safety issues—like no sending sexually explicit photos.

Rules should also address the financial aspects of owning a smartphone. If your teen goes over their data allowance because they're streaming movies, or they need a new phone because they lost theirs, make them financially responsible. Take away phone privileges until they pay the bill, or until they can purchase a new phone.

Aren't Doing Well in School

If your teen’s grades are slipping, taking away their phone might be in order. Limiting phone use for a while might mean fewer distractions while doing homework.

But more importantly, you can use the phone as a motivator to get good grades. Say, “When you get caught up on all your homework, you can have your phone back.” Earning phone privileges could be the incentive they need to get serious about school work.

Can’t Sleep

While all electronics could interfere with a good night’s sleep, smartphones can be especially problematic. If your teen is having trouble waking up for school on time, or they sleep especially late on the weekends, it could be a sign their phone is keeping them up at night. Midnight text messages from friends or checking social media when they wake at 2 a.m. might be the culprit. Don’t let your teen sleep with a smartphone in the bedroom.

Create a rule that says all smartphones get turned off at a certain hour, like 9 p.m. Then charge phones in the kitchen (or another common room) during overnight hours. Then, your teen won’t feel pressured to take part in late-night conversations with their friends.

Share Inappropriate Information

If your teen uses their smartphone to share inappropriate messages on social media, or you learn they're giving out your address to strangers, it’s important to intervene. Your teen might not only damage their online reputation, but they also may get caught up in some unhealthy activity.

Additionally, talk about the dangers of spreading rumors, cyberbullying, and getting caught up in inappropriate conversations. Discuss how some people tend to say things online they wouldn’t normally say in person and make sure they know how hurtful their online comments can be.

Seem Addicted

There are reasons why many teens constantly feel the need to be on social media. A positive social media interaction or a quick text message gives them a boost in confidence. So, they keep going back for more feedback. But, being attached to a smartphone all day can become quite problematic. If your teen's texting, scrolling, and gaming interfere with their ability to get work done, set some healthy limits on how much your teen is allowed to use the phone.

Consider doing a digital detox, as well. Set aside a screen-free weekend for the whole family or make every Saturday a day without cell phones. Creating activities that don’t involve technology can remind your teen they can have fun without their phone.

Are Obsessed With Selfies

While selfies may sound harmless on the surface, taking constant self-portraits can actually pose several problems. For some teens, the quest to capture the perfect selfie can become a true obsession. For others, the desire to take an epic selfie leads to dangerous decisions. Some teens are risking their lives to capture selfies on the edge of a cliff or while performing dangerous stunts all in an effort to gain attention and admiration.

Are Overly Focused on Social Media

Some teens grow dependent on social media to fuel their self-worth. When they receive positive comments and likes on their social media activity, they feel good about themselves. But if they aren’t drawing enough positive attention, their self-esteem plummets.

Other teens create online personas that bear little resemblance to their real lives. They create social media profiles under fake names or chat with strangers under false pretenses because they enjoy pretending they are someone else.

It’s dangerous for teens to make their self-esteem dependent upon their online activities. Not only do they expose themselves to online dangers—like catfishing and cyberbullying—but they’re also measuring their self-worth in an unhealthy manner. It’s important to help your teen feel good about who they are as a person, not just how they feel about their online presence.

Are Missing Out on Real Life

Whether you’re vacationing in the Grand Canyon or you’re at a professional sporting event, it’s common to see teens with their noses buried in their phones. It’s also common to see teens ignore the people standing right in front of them so they can text someone else.

If your teen’s cell phone use crosses the line from being a tool that enhances their life to an object that interferes with living, restrict their privileges. They may need your help to set limits on how much they stare at their phone.

Are Using the Phone While Driving

If your teen can’t resist replying to a text message when they're driving, or can’t refrain from scrolling through social media every time they get to a traffic light, their cell phone use could have fatal consequences. Establish a zero-tolerance policy for cell phone use while driving.

Whether you install an app that restricts their ability to use their phone, or you tell them to keep their phone in the glove box, talk about the dangers of distracted driving. If your teen isn’t mature enough to follow the rules, they are not ready to be behind the wheel. Not only might you need to restrict their phone privileges, but you also might consider restricting their driving privileges too.

Concerns About Taking Away a Teen’s Phone

There may be several reasons that you’re hesitant to restrict your teen’s phone privileges. Here are some of the most common questions and concerns parents have.

• Can I take my teen’s phone away if they paid for the phone? Yes, whether the phone was a gift from Grandma or your teen bought their own phone, you can still take the phone away from them while they're a minor living under your roof. Even if they pay the bill, you can restrict their phone access.
• How long should I take my teen’s phone away? It depends on the problem. You may simply restrict your teen’s privileges for certain hours during the day. Or, you might want to say they can earn their phone back when they improve their grades or complete their chores on time. Just make sure you don’t ground them indefinitely, as that can backfire. Taking the phone away for 24 hours can be a good starting place.
• What about safety issues? Letting your teen go to school without a phone in their pocket or allowing them to walk down the street without a phone isn’t likely to cause them harm. After all, you likely grew up without access to a cell phone. If there are certain activities that would make them safer to have a phone, consider allowing them to carry a phone during those times only.
• Won't my teen just use their other electronics anyway? If your teen is having trouble keeping themself safe on social media or they're engaging in cyberbullying, you may need to take away all of their electronics for a specified time. Otherwise, they might use their laptop, tablet, or other devices to access the internet in lieu of their phone. 

​Safe Phone Usage for Teens

Allowing your teen to have a cell phone is an incredible privilege. Whether a phone allows you to keep better tabs on your teen—which means they can stay out later—or they use an app to remind them of their schedule, a smartphone can help your teen navigate life more easily.

With appropriate guidance and supervision, teens can discover how to safely integrate technology into their lives. Just make sure to intervene if your teen is developing unhealthy cell phone habits, or if their phone use introduces new problems into their life.