3 out of 4 US teenagers feels happy or peaceful without smartphones

According to a survey, almost three out of four American teenagers claim they feel happier or more relaxed when they are not carrying their smartphone, which highlights worries about the impact of digital media on children.  

However, despite their favorable associations with putting their smartphones aside, just 36% of teenagers said they cut back on using them, according to a Pew Research Center survey released on Monday. 

In all, 38% of teenagers claimed they were using their smartphones excessively, while 51% said they were using them "about right." Girls were more inclined than males to think their usage of smartphones was excessive.  

Teens reported similar experiences with social media, with 39 percent saying they had reduced their exposure and 27 percent reporting their use was excessive. 

When it came to learning social skills, 42 percent said that smartphones had made it harder, compared with 30 percent who said they helped. 

The survey also found that a significant portion of teens experience negative emotions when they are without their device. 

About four in 10 teens said not having their smartphone made them feel anxious, upset or lonely at least sometimes. 

The findings come amid a growing push by policymakers in the US and elsewhere to regulate the use of digital platforms by minors. 

More than 40 US states last year announced a lawsuit against Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, accusing the tech giant of harming children’s mental health by building addictive features into its platforms. 

During an appearance before the US Senate in January, Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg offered an apology to families who said their children had been negatively affected by the company’s platforms. 

Legislation aiming at limiting children's exposure to dangerous content online has been passed by the European Union, the United Kingdom, and several US states, including Florida and Texas.  

With the introduction of the Online Harms Act last month, Canada became the latest nation to move toward stricter regulation of tech corporations. The act would mandate that platforms include child-protection tools like parental controls and safe search settings.