Source: Getty
Teens are on their phones more than six-and-a-half hours a day, according to the nonprofit Common Sense Media. More than half of teens text and nearly all use social media apps, and this daily behavior may not be entirely their fault.
Many games and social media apps are designed to get people “hooked” and keep coming back, Dr. Jodi Gold, the author of “Screen Smart Parenting,” explained to ABC News.
Take Snapchat, the super popular app among teens for sharing photos and video, which has mechanisms in place to incentivize teens to become daily users with a phenomenon called the Snapstreak.
Snapchat friends exchange a photo daily for three consecutive days to start a “streak.” If one day is missed, the streak will expire. The app tracks the streak, upping the number next to the friend’s name as the Snapstreak continues.
Experts like Dr. Jodi Gold say streaks can create a concerning hierarchy of friendship that can leave some teens afraid to disappoint others if they drop a streak — or petrified about any change in status.
CLICK HERE to read entire story
