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Cell phone shocker as 97% of kids use their device during school hours and beyond, says study

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Cell phone shocker as 97% of kids use their device during school hours and beyond, says study

Mobile phones just might be young people’s best friend, whether their parents like it or not.

A new study from Common Sense Media, a nonprofit group in San Francisco, California, researched phone usage among a diverse group of 203 kids aged 11 to 17 — and the results were startling, experts say.

The researchers found that smartphones have become a “constant companion” for young people, according to a news release, although results varied.

Kids spent a median of 4.5 hours per day on their phones, with the maximum amount of time reaching 16 hours, according to the study.

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Most teens check their phones frequently, ranging from two to 498 times per day. 

Adolescents were more likely to check their phones over 100 times a day, the study found.

Smartphones have become a “constant companion” for kids and teens, a new study indicated. (Cyberguy.com)

A whopping 97% of kids used their phones during school hours, while nearly 60% used them overnight — between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m. — on school nights.

Social media such as Instagram and Snapchat took up most screen time, at 32% during the school day, followed by YouTube and gaming, the study found. 

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Overnight phone use was primarily spent engaging with the same media, although YouTube appeared to be the longest-running app because videos were often left playing during the night.

Teens spent an average of 20 minutes per night on their phones, while some spent up to five hours.

Sixty-seven percent of participants picked up their phones on school nights, but the median number of pickups per night was only once.

TN teacher social media

Younger participants tended to pick up their phones less frequently each day, the new study found. (iStock)

More than 50% of kids get 237 notifications per day — while some receive as many as 4,500 every day, according to Common Sense Media’s findings. 

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About 23% of these notifications occurred during school hours.

The largest share of notifications came from apps including Snapchat and TikTok.

YOUNG PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO FALL WHILE TEXTING AND WALKING AT THE SAME TIME, STUDY SAYS

In particular, TikTok was used by half of the study participants, for nearly two hours per day on average. 

Compared to other social media apps, teens were more likely to spend several hours daily on TikTok, with some scrolling on the app for up to seven hours.

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Comparatively, the longest amount of time spent on Snapchat and Instagram was about three hours daily, the study found.

Of the 85 participants under age 13, 68% used social media and had at least one app rated “teen” or higher – allowing access to “age-inappropriate experiences,” the study suggested.

teen on phone in school

More than 50% of kids get 237 notifications per day, while some receive as many as 4,500 every day, according to Common Sense Media’s findings.  (iStock)

TikTok was the most popular app used by kids aged 11 and 12, while nearly half (45%) of participants used apps with mature or adult-only ratings, such as porn sites, fantasy sports and betting apps, according to the study findings.

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More than two-thirds of all participants admitted they sometimes or often find managing their use of technology difficult — or that they use it to escape “sorrow” or “negative feelings.”

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They also said they’ve missed sleep due to being on their phones at night.

“People feel good and are enhanced by interactions with others … Those feelings cannot be replicated by connecting through a phone.”

Licensed clinical social worker Jennifer Kelman in Boca Raton, Florida — who provides expert advice on the Justanswer platform and was not involved in the study — shared some of the negative repercussions of kids spending large amounts of time on their phones.

“They lose the ability to have face-to-face interactions, and to converse and connect with others,” she said in an interview with Fox News Digital.

kid on phone at night

Teens spent an average of 20 minutes per night on their phones, while others spent up to five hours, according to a new study.  (iStock)

“The phones and all the apps aren’t real-life interactions, and there is beauty in connecting with others face-to-face that is lost,” Kelman went on.

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Kids also lose out on developing problem-solving skills, since they aren’t typically tasked with negotiating “tough spaces” or navigating human challenges, the expert added.

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“The more apps we use, the more likely it is that we lose parts of ourselves, our confidence and self-esteem,” said Kelman. 

“People feel good and are enhanced by interactions with others, and those feelings cannot be replicated by connecting through a phone.”

“Kids’ brains aren’t fully developed, so they aren’t able to sniff out who is safe on the other end of the chat or the game.”

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Kelman warned parents that smartphone usage triggers the same dopamine release as drugs, as apps are designed to “reel kids in and keep them hooked.”

teens on phones

Smartphones can put interpersonal relationships at risk, warned a therapist.  (iStock)

“[Parents] are the ‘drug dealer’ in this analogy, so please think twice before free rein is given,” she said.

“Withdrawal is common as well, so be prepared for a lot of pushback when you try to limit the use of their phones and other tech devices,” Kelman warned.

The therapist’s biggest rule for cracking down on daily phone usage among kids is to delay phone access for as long as possible.

Mom with daughter on phone

Parents should vet and monitor all content accessed by their kids, a Florida therapist advised. (iStock)

“Parents are giving their kids phones at young ages and kids are hooked quickly,” she said. 

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“Forget what friends are doing — and delay this as long as you can,” she advised.

If a cell phone is necessary due to schedules and after-school activities, a kid-safe starter phone like a Pinwheel could be a better alternative, Kelman suggested.

“It’s a phone that lets parents manage and monitor their usage, but there is no internet and only specific, parent-approved apps that can be turned on and off at will,” she said.

Girl texting on smartphone

If a cell phone is necessary due to schedules and after-school activities, a kid-safe starter phone like a Pinwheel could be a better alternative, therapist Kelman suggested. (iStock)

“Better for your child to have a little FOMO [fear of missing out] than to have access to porn, become a victim of sextortion, or lose the ability to truly connect with other people.”

Kelman stressed that kids “can’t unsee what they have already seen,” and that many adult apps may put kids “in harm’s way.”

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“Kids’ brains aren’t fully developed, so they aren’t able to sniff out who is safe on the other end of the chat or the game,” she said. 

“Kids are coerced into sending photos of themselves, often finding themselves victims of sextortion after they share the photos,” the expert warned. “This leads to shame, despair and fear of telling their parents.” 

Parents should vet and monitor all content accessed by their kids, Kelman advised.

Teens on phones

Certain types of content are more harmful than others, noted Shelley Delayne, parent education director at Pinwheel in Austin, Texas. (iStock)

Certain types of content are more harmful than others, noted Shelley Delayne, parent education director at Pinwheel in Austin, Texas, who was also not involved in the study.

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These include “attention-mining apps,” adult images and interactions, user-generated content and “invisible influences” that can impact children’s worldview, she said.

“Take it slow and give them only what they need,” Delayne recommended. 

“Delay the introduction of adult online spaces and social media to [age] 16 or older, and stay involved in their digital lives just as much as you are in their physical life.”

“We interpreted this data with assistance from an advisory council of young people to understand the nuanced relationships that young people develop with their smartphones.”

She also said, “Remember that just because a kid can tap around on a device and make it do stuff doesn’t mean they have all the skills they need to be unharmed by it.”

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In its report, Common Sense Media said it used “software to collect data from the smartphones of a diverse group of about 11- to 17-year-olds. We then interpreted this data with assistance from an advisory council of young people to understand the nuanced relationships that young people develop with their smartphones.” 

It also provided additional context, noting the study was done with “Android phone users only, because Apple device tracking does not share with the research community the names of specific non-Apple apps that young people commonly use.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the group for further comment. 

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

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7 Healthy Condiments That Burn Fat, Support Digestion and Curb Hunger

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Common supplements and medications could cause liver damage, studies show

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Common supplements and medications could cause liver damage, studies show

As cases of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) are on the rise, experts are warning of the hidden dangers associated with some common medications and supplements.

Statistics show that DILI, also known as toxic hepatitis or hepatotoxicity — which is known to be a significant cause of acute liver failure — has been growing in Western countries since the 1960s.

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Around one-fifth of the total population who are prescribed medications will experience DILI, according to recent research published in the journal Toxicology Reports.

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Potential triggers of liver injury include herbal products, dietary supplements and medications, the study found.

Those with pre-existing liver conditions and nutritional deficiencies are at a higher risk, as are pregnant women.

As cases of drug-induced liver injury are on the rise, experts are warning of the hidden dangers associated with some common medications and supplements. (iStock)

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How drugs can harm the liver

One of the liver’s main functions is to break down substances taken orally, including supplements and medications, according to the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG).

For some people, the process of metabolizing these substances can be slower, increasing the risk of liver damage.

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Even medications that have been tested for safety and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can potentially cause liver injury in rare cases, stated the ACG.

Common symptoms of liver disease include nausea, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, generalized itching, dark urine and jaundice, although some people may notice no signs, per the above source.

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Most common medications that cause DILI

The recent study in Toxicology Reports identified several drugs that are most likely to cause liver injury.

  • Paracetamol (acetaminophen), a common over-the-counter pain reliever
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are often used to treat headaches, fever and chronic inflammatory disorders
  • Aspirin, a common over-the-counter medication used as a fever-reducer, pain reliever and blood thinner
  • Nimesulide, an NSAID used to relieve pain and reduce fever
  • Methotrexate, an antimetabolite medication that is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, lymphoma, leukemia and other cancers
  • Corticosteroids, which are used to treat conditions involving inflammation or overactive immune systems
  • Isoniazid, a first-line treatment for tuberculosis
  • Tetracyclines, a class of antibiotics that treat multiple types of bacterial infections
  • Halothane, which is used as a general anaesthetic during surgical procedures
Turmeric powder

Turmeric, a common spice added to foods, has been linked to potential liver toxicity. (iStock)

Supplements linked to liver damage

Medications aren’t the only agents that can cause drug-induced liver injuries.

Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, spoke with Fox News Digital about the risks of herbal and dietary supplements (HDS) affecting the liver.

“The biggest problem with herbal supplements is that the amount you are taking of active chemicals isn’t strictly regulated, so you don’t know exactly what you are getting.”

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“The biggest problem with herbal supplements is that the amount you are taking of active chemicals isn’t strictly regulated, so you don’t know exactly what you are getting,” he said. 

“And since several of the supplements are metabolized through the liver, there is now an increasing incidence of liver toxicity in users.”

garcinia cambogia

Garcinia cambogia, a popular weight-loss supplement, is among commonly used botanical products known for potential liver toxicity. (iStock)

Cases of DILI linked to herbal or dietary supplements have nearly tripled between 2004 and 2014, according to a 2024 study published in JAMA Network Open.

The researchers identified the following most commonly used botanical products known for potential liver toxicity.

  • Turmeric, a common spice added to foods
  • Green tea
  • Ashwagandha, an herb used for stress and anxiety
  • Garcinia cambogia, a popular weight-loss supplement
  • Red yeast rice, which is said to help lower cholesterol levels
  • Black cohosh, a dietary supplement used to relieve menopause symptoms

It is estimated that at least 15.6 million U.S. adults have used at least one of these six botanical products within the past 30 days.

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“The most commonly implicated botanical products in the DILIN (Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network) include turmeric, kratom, green tea extract and Garcinia cambogia, with potentially severe and even fatal liver injury,” the study stated.

Drug-induced liver injury caused by HDS can be severe or even fatal, leading to death or liver transplantation, the researchers noted.

Blue and orange rendering of the liver in the human body. It's fashioned like an X-Ray, where the screen is black and the transparent outline of a body is glowing in blue. The liver is the focus, which is highlighted in orange.

Toxic hepatitis or hepatotoxicity — which is known to be a significant cause of acute liver failure — has been growing in Western countries since the 1960s. (iStock)

Fox News’ Siegel also warned against the potential liver-related risks of some of these named supplements.

“Turmeric is a natural anti-inflammatory and may be useful in small doses, but can be toxic in large doses,” he cautioned.

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“Garcinia cambogia is very popular, especially as a weight-loss agent, but there is no real evidence that it actually works, and there is no reason to take it, especially with the new GLP-1 drugs.”

While red yeast rice has cholesterol-lowering statin-type properties, Siegel cautioned that the amount of active chemicals isn’t as strictly regulated as approved medications.

“Turmeric is a natural anti-inflammatory and may be useful in small doses, but can be toxic in large doses.”

“I find it useful in some patients who are reluctant to start statins and are looking for a more natural alternative, but I must strictly monitor the amount taken and the effect on the liver,” he said.

Regarding green tea, Siegel noted that it does have antioxidant properties and can be useful to consume as a beverage (though it has a lot of caffeine) — “but there is no reason whatsoever to take more of it in an extract, where it can be toxic.”

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The FDA states on its website that it does regulate dietary supplement products and dietary ingredients, but under “a different set of regulations than those covering ‘conventional’ foods and drug products.”

Prescription pills

Drug-induced liver injury caused by HDS can be severe or even fatal, leading to death or liver transplantation. (iStock)

“Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded,” the agency says. “That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act as amended by DSHEA and FDA regulations.”

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health

Fox News Digital reached out to several researchers and the FDA regarding the rise in drug- and HSD-related liver injury.

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The Best Carb Pairings for Weight Loss, Energy & Hormone Balancing

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