Parents, Adolescents Should

Not Have Access to Their

Phones All the Time
Featuring Bart Simpson’s Cell Phone Addiction Journey

I should have
listened to my
mom
 Behavior

Wow! What’s Your child’s behavior may be a result of their cell phone
this… a lost
phone. I’m going usage. A study conducted in 2018 concluded that there is an
to keep it
association between screen time and behavior. This study

stated that ¨frequent mobile device use is likely to increase

children’s social isolation, and hinder opportunities for social

interaction with family, friends, that benefits the development of

social competence, resulting in emotional/behavioral problems”

(Hosokawa et al). It is important to prioritize your child’s

development. Undeveloped social skills can cause problems in

the future. Today, many teenagers don’t know how to properly

connect with their peers, and lean on their phone as a crutch in

social situations.
 What should I do today?...

Bart! Remember
me? Use me…
It’ll be fun…
muahaha
 Losing Interest in Other Activities
In addition to undeveloped social skills, young adolescents may lose interest in activities they used to

enjoy. For instance, your teenager could be a gifted painter, but recently you may have noticed that they have

ditch their brush and spend hours on their phone watching TikTok. Young children are not the only ones who

need to practice to develop skills. Allowing and guiding your children to pursue hobbies can bring more

enjoyment to their life. Furthermore, their hobbies could possibly lead them on the right career path, which will

further them along in life. Parents are tasked with the responsibility to make sure their child’s phone is not

replacing the things they used to enjoy.

5 hours later… and the need to shave
Wasting Time or Procrastination
Utah’s Governor has even taken notice in the abundant amount of cell phone usage in adolescents.

Recently he has been working diligently to try and get cell phones banned in schools. Unsurprisingly, many

teenagers use their cell phones to effectively tune out their teachers. Governor Cox states ¨What would the school

environment look like if our students didn't have access to TikTok and YouTube for several hours during the school

day? What would it feel like if teachers didn't have to compete with that immediate gratification of Instagram or

Twitter for student attention?” (KSL). Students need to be spending their time wisely and if they aren’t responsible

enough to do that on their own, then we need to help them by instilling the right policies in our schools.
Bart, what
happened to
your face?!?

Mom… you
should be more
worried about
what happened
to my legs

True.. you are

too young for a
phone… you
can have it back
when you move
out.. So never
Not Paying Attention to their Physical or Mental Needs

Prolonged cell phone usage makes it easier for anyone, especially teenagers, to ignore their physical and mental

needs. One Utah parent has noted that “[when her children] get off their devices they are grumpy, hungry, thirsty, etc”

(Wayman). These are basic needs, but somehow her children get so distracted they forget to worry about them. This is an

alarming situation for many parents. Furthermore, there is a correlation between cell phone usage and levels of depression

and anxiety. One study conducted states that “two cross-sectional surveys of American and German university students,

respectively, found that students who spent more time on the social media platform Facebook were more likely to endorse

feeling envy or sensing that others in their social network were better off than they were” (Abi-Jauode et al). Cell phones

allow teenagers to compare themselves to others and this could create body dysmorphia and other various mental

conditions. Physically, the contents of phones can trigger cortisol to rise, which is the hormone that makes your body stress.
Bart… Mom was right for
taking your phone. It’ll rot She thinks
your brain, didn’t you hear she’s so
what happened to smart… but
Milhouse? But if you really that is useful
want it she hid it in the very information
back of her closet.
Going to Extreme Measures to Get their Daily Fix
Restricting cell phone usage may make your children angry or restless at first. You may find them going to

extreme measures to get their daily fix. However, these are common signs that your child has become addicted.

Teenagers need to have breaks from their phones and if this is their first reaction, their relationship with cell

phones has become unhealthy. While physically taking their phones way may not be realistic, you can always limit

their screen time. In fact, this might be healthy compromise for both parent and child. Teach your children how to

use their phones in a healthy manner. Have healthy conversation with your child to help avoid them going to

extreme measures.
Hehe.. I got it back. I guess Lisa
is helpful sometimes. Now I
must escape before my mother
realizes what has happened…
Eastern Utah sounds nice…
Sneaking Around and Child Predators
Allowing your children unrestricted access to their phone makes it easier for them to
sneak around your back. This can include internet browsing, as well as online
communication with both friends and strangers. Child predators are a big problem in some
parts of the internet, and it is easy for an unknowing child to fall victim to one of them. The
Child Crime Prevention and Safety Center claims there are an estimated 500,000 online
predators active each day (Kraut). This is an alarming statistic that shows how frequently
your child could be targeted. At the end of the day, How will you know if your child is being
lured unless you monitor their cell phone usage?
Two minutes later…

Cell phones are

dangerous! I ran away
and I should have
never tried to text and
skateboard
Not Being Aware of their Surroundings
Looking at a phone takes a lot more attention than most people realize. This
is especially true for teenagers and young adults, who already have reduced
decision making abilities. When a person is looking at their phone while walking or
driving, they have the chance to miss what is going on around them and put
themselves or others in danger. A prime example of this happened shortly after the
release of a mobile app in 2016, called “Pokemon Go.” Two males in their early
twenties fell to their deaths because they were too focused on their phones to
notice the cliff in front of them (Delzo). If cell phones are that much of a distraction
for adults, imagine how that could affect your child?
Mom… I should have
I hate to say it… but I TOLD
listened to you. I can't
YOU SO! Karma sucks doesn't
handle the
it.
responsibility of
having a phone. I just
want to be a kid
Not Getting the Chance to Live in the Moment

As the saying goes, you only live once. If your child spends all
their free time on various activities on their phone, where is that life
going? That isn’t benefiting them in any way, and they are missing
out on valuable time and memories that they will never get back.
Young adolescents should not be living life through their screens.
It’s important for them to take time to learn how to enjoy the little
things in life.
Bart, me and your father
are so proud of you for
fighting your cell phone
addiction… as a reward
we a got you…
Cell Phones are not Babysitters

While the temptation to put a screen in front of your child’s face

to distract them may be very strong at times, it is in their best
interest not to do so. This action is a rewarding them for bad
behavior. Children need to have the creativity to entertain
themselves. Don’t let your child grow up to be an “iPad kid.” A
cellphone or any other type of device will not instill morals. You are
the best babysitter your child has.
At
ab
let
!!!
The Cycle Continues…

The moral of the story is that there are many detrimental effects
of screen time for your children, some of which can impact them for
the rest of their lives. Don’t feed the addiction, and use healthy
methods to help them realize why your actions are in their best
interest. They don’t have to understand it now, but they will thank
you later on. If you don’t fight their cell phone addiction now, the
cycle will continue.
Works Cited (Academic)
Hosokawa, Rikuya, and Toshiki Katsura. “Association between mobile technology use and child adjustment in early elementary

school age.” PloS one vol. 13,7 e0199959. 25 Jul. 2018, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0199959

Stefanich, Logan. “Here's Why Gov. Spencer Cox Wants Utah Classrooms to Be Cellphone-Free.” KSL.com, 17 Oct. 2022,

https://www.ksl.com/article/50497032/heres-why-gov-spencer-cox-wants-utah-classrooms-to-be-cellphone-free.

Abi-Jaoude, Elia et al. “Smartphones, social media use and youth mental health.” CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal =

journal de l'Association medicale canadienne vol. 192,6 (2020): E136-E141. doi:10.1503/cmaj.190434

Delzo, Janissa. “Men Fall from Cliff Playing Pokémon Go.” CNN, Cable News Network, 16 July 2016,

https://www.cnn.com/2016/07/15/health/pokemon-go-players-fall-down-cliff/index.html.

Kruat, Michael. “Children and Grooming / Online Predators.” Child Crime Prevention & Safety Center,

https://childsafety.losangelescriminallawyer.pro/children-and-grooming-online-predators.html.
Works Cited (Image Credit)
Strip 1:
Bart Walking: https://simpsonswiki.com/wiki/Bored_Walk
Cellphone: https://www.freeiconspng.com/images/phone-png

Strip 2:
Living room: https://www.creativebloq.com/news/this-surprising-fact-about-the-simpsons-living-room-will-make-your-day
Doctor Bart:
https://7rl70027.ibosscloud.com/syncCustomBranding/block_page/127266/8564/8564-block_page.html?fn=Students&fp=6&bu=www.d
eviantart.com%2fcoolteon2000%2fart%2fDoctor-Bart-Simpson-PNG-918604012&bc=Website+is+part+of+User+Blocklist+blocklist.&ip
=10.92.17.180&ibip=cn-864944880-vnsg12966.ibosscloud.com&pc=1&user=jennmcla9585&cn=5CD921DBMB&ipm=cn-864970069-v
nsg12997.ibosscloud.com
Bart w/ Skateboard:
http://www.stickpng.com/img/cartoons/bart-simpson/bart-simpson-skateboard
Slingshot Bart: https://www.pngwing.com/en/search?q=bart+Simpson
Spraypaint Bart: https://www.freeiconspng.com/images/bart-simpson-png

Strip 3:
Mustache: https://freepngimg.com/png/87111-handlebar-championships-world-moustache-beard
Bart looking image: https://www.stickpng.com/img/cartoons/bart-simpson/bart-simpson-looking

Strip 4:
No additional images used
Works Cited (Image Credit)
Strip 5:
Bart crossing his arms: https://www.freeiconspng.com/images/bart-simpson-png
Lisa: https://pngimg.com/image/30394
Simpson front yard: https://simpsons.fandom.com/wiki/742_Evergreen_Terrace
Arches image:
https://stock.adobe.com/images/arches-national-park-outdoor-adventure-background-illustration-travel-to-arches-national-park-in-eastern-utah-united-states-fla
t-cartoon-vector-illustration-in-colored-style/480572993

Strip 6:
Arches image:
https://stock.adobe.com/images/arches-national-park-outdoor-adventure-background-illustration-travel-to-arches-national-park-in-eastern-utah-united-states-fla
t-cartoon-vector-illustration-in-colored-style/480572993

Strip 7:
Bart falling: https://www.pngplay.com/image/tag/bart-simpson-falling
Arches background:https://openclipart.org/detail/283112/stylized-arches-national-park-2

Strip 8:
Hospital bed: https://www.pxfuel.com/en/desktop-wallpaper-xgggh
Bart laying down: https://www.nicepng.com/maxp/u2q8r5e6e6w7e6i1/

Strip 9:
No additional images used

Strip 10:
Tablet PNG:
https://www.freepnglogos.com/pics/tablet