Recent data indicates that American teens aged 15-24 are spending 35% less time socializing face-to-face compared to two decades ago. Instead, they engage with screens for nearly six hours daily. This shift to predominantly private technology use, particularly smartphones and tablets, has led to a new form of stress among adolescents, with social dynamics evolving due to location-sharing practices. This virtual social interaction exacerbates feelings of loneliness and contributes to anxieties, as teens miss out on the benefits of in-person interactions that significantly boost mood.
"There's a ton of tech out there. But the one thing that's different about this tech is that it's used in private," says Jeffrey Hall, a professor of communication studies at the University of Kansas.
"I do get FOMO [fear of missing out] when I see my friends hanging out," Whitten says. Even if it's not intentional, it definitely contributes to anxiety around social situations - especially during high school, which is all around a stressful time.
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