Teens spend more than a quarter of their time at school on phones, new study finds
The study, spearheaded by Seattle Children's Hospital, found that among the more than 115 eighth- through 12th-grade students that it tracked, 25% of them spent more than two hours on their phones during a typical six-and-a-half hour school day. The study found that the average time spent among all the students they tracked was roughly 1.5 hours, which contributed to 27% of their average daily use.
The study's findings come just several days after the state of Colorado introduced House Bill 1135, which would require school districts in the state to adopt policies that limit the use of cellphones by students during school hours. If passed, Colorado would join 19 other states that have adopted some type of cellphone restrictions for students, according to Democratic state Rep. Meghan Lukens.
"I'm not a big fan of government controlling people's lives, but in this context, I'm all for it," psychotherapist Thomas Kersting told Fox News Digital. Kersting is a former school counselor who has lectured for 16 years about the adolescent impact of increased screen time. He wrote a bestselling book called "Disconnected," which posited that increased screen time for kids is re-wiring their brains.
"I started seeing an incredible influx of kids diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADHD) from when I was working as a high school counselor. It did not add up," Kersting said. "The chronic eight or nine hours a day of stimulation affects the executive functioning, executive functions of the brain, which is what you need to be able to concentrate, focus, retain, and all that stuff."
Kersting pointed out that schools and school districts are also taking the lead in implementing various ways to cut down on students using their cellphones during class time, but added that state and local legislation can have the power to push schools that may be afraid to act due to parental concerns.
"The phone has become the umbilical cord between parent and child," said Kersting. "So, the idea of a parent nowadays sending their kid to school is more terrifying and schools, I believe, are probably concerned about litigation, violation of rights and things of that nature."
But while parents may be apprehensive, taking phones out of school can help improve students' test scores, attention spans and socialization, while reducing the need for disciplinary intervention, Kersting said.
The study by Seattle Children's Hospital found that, excluding web browsers, the top five apps or categories used by school-aged students were messaging, Instagram, video streaming, audio apps and email.
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For Proudman, it starts with the basics: 'As a rule, a hair-healthy diet should be packed with protein and also contain fresh vegetables alongside some carbohydrates and healthy fats. Also, ensure plenty of water for hydration.' It sounds simple enough, but diet and water intake are often the most overlooked steps. Rather than fixating on or fearing one particular food or so-called 'bad' ingredient, Shand suggests thinking more broadly: 'It's rarely a single food or drink causing hair thinning,' she says. 'More often it's a combination of nutrient gaps, stress, hormonal changes and overall lifestyle and emotional factors.' There are plenty of reasons for hair loss in women and it's important not to attribute it to one dietary habit alone: genetics and medication are major factors. While the causes of androgenetic alopecia (more commonly known as male or female pattern hair loss) are not yet fully understood, Proudman says that a growing body of research into male and female pattern hair loss shows that oxidative stress is a major factor. Even trauma, like PTSD, can be a contributor to hair thinning. Proudman tells me that, more recently in her clinics, she has seen a noticeable rise in hair loss cases linked to the use of GLP-1 weight loss injections. What she hasn't seen is clients sharing concerns about matcha and hair loss. 'I do think that the connection is overblown and the 'theories' circulating on social media shouldn't be taken too seriously at all,' Proudman continues. 'Matcha [consumed] normally and not to excess is actually beneficial. As with anything, too much can sometimes cause an issue, but normal usage — absolutely not!' Dr Manav Bawa, a GP and aesthetic doctor specialising in hair loss, explains that matcha's unique blend of ingredients may even support hair health: the caffeine in matcha improves scalp blood flow and allows hair follicles to receive nutrients and oxygen, while vitamins C and E support collagen production. '[Matcha's ingredients] create a scalp-friendly environment that can help hair grow stronger and healthier,' he explains, adding that drinking it is a 'simple, natural way to give your follicles the best possible chance.' So, it looks like matcha isn't the villain after all. If you're noticing hair loss and think it may be diet-related, Shand suggests tracking patterns over time rather than looking for instant effects. She also recommends a blood test to check iron, B12, vitamin D and a full thyroid panel — not just thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). This is important because hair loss can often be a sign of thyroid problems; both an underactive and an overactive thyroid can disrupt hair growth, resulting in hair thinning or shedding. 'Specialist blood tests can be instrumental in identifying potential dietary issues that supplements can help,' Proudman echoes.
