University of Wisconsin-Madison Research: Teenagers Benefit from Smartphone Use

A recent study conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison involved 253 teenagers in the US, exploring the effects of smartphone use on their mood. The research, led by Matt Minich and Megan Moreno, aimed to shed light on the ongoing debate surrounding the impact of smartphones on mental health among adolescents. The study revealed that, on average, teenagers reported an uplift in their mood after using their smartphones. This finding challenges the common belief that smartphone usage may be detrimental to teenagers' well-being.

The study involved participants aged 12 to 17, who were asked to complete 30 short surveys sent randomly via text over a six-day period. The surveys prompted the teenagers to rate their mood on a 7-point scale both before and during phone use. Results indicated that teenagers experienced an improvement in mood from just below 5 to nearly 5.5 while using their phones. This suggests that teenagers may be using smartphones as a tool for managing their emotions, contrary to the negative connotations often associated with excessive phone use.