Smartphone Obsession

 
 
 

Vocabulary

 

access	typically	all day long
risk	study (2)	counterpart
chat	situation	find/found/found (3)
site	platform	spend/spent/spent (2)
tend	addiction	social media
treat	addictive	psychologist
express	hook (2)	pick up (3)
hooked	gambling	see/saw/seen
leisure	slightly	irritability
loss	disorder	in other words
usage	judge (2)	appropriate
at least	symptom	withdrawal
device	neglect	aggressive
restrict	classic (2)	heightened
chance	train (2)	in favor of
task	case (3)	recommend
duty	result in	take out (2)
rule (2)	definitely	in terms of
role (2)	essential	role to play (2)
as do	model (3)	role-model
disturb	reflect (2)	consumption
mobile	put away	know/knew/known
impose	behavior	concentration
inform	selected	responsibly
ready	grade (3)	adolescent
arise	area (3)	student body
desire	device (2)	open up (2)
free (2)	tone (2)	get out of control
appear	find out	companion
fulfill	deal (3)	recognition
crucial

 
 
 
 
 

Video: Social Media Addiction

 
 
 
 

Transcript

Many teenagers are online all day long, typically using their smartphones to access social media.

A recent study in Germany on the risk of addiction to social media, found that eighty-five percent (85%) of twelve to seventeen year olds spend hours every day on their devices, with the chat platform, WhatsApp, the most popular site.

Girls tend to use social media more than boys. Young women between sixteen and seventeen years old spend nearly three-and-a-half hours a day online; their male counterparts are online slightly less, just under three hours.

While girls use the networks for social exchange, boys spend more time playing online games.

.     .     .     .     .     .     .     .

 
Psychologist Kai Muller treats many people with addictive behavior. Most of them are hooked to gambling. But he’s seen more and more cases of what he calls addiction to social media.

Kai Muller, Psychologist: “Basically it expresses itself just like a classic addictive disorder: we have a loss of control. In other words, the patient isn’t able to judge when their usage is okay and when it’s not.

When is it appropriate to the situation? When not?

And they have withdrawal symptoms when use is restricted. In the case of young people that can express itself in an aggressive tone and heightened irritability. And they may neglect other areas of life in favor of going online.

They neglect their friends, their hobbies, leisure activities, and also tasks and duties.”

Many experts now recommend imposing rules on smartphone use.

Kai Muller, Psychologist: “When is it okay to take out your smartphone? And at what time should you definitely NOT use it? These are essential rules.

And parents have an important role to play there, as do the schools and teachers. Parents tend to be role-models in terms of media consumption, and we know that adolescents pick up a lot from them.”

.     .     .     .     .     .     .     .

 
It’s very important to put away mobile phones at night; they disturb your sleep, which can result in poor concentration during the day.

Many schools have now banned mobile phones. In recent years, teachers have been training their students in media usage. In this school, even ten year olds take part in regular project days to learn how to use social networks responsibly.

Teachers and older students selected from the student body, work together to get the youngest kids ready for the digital world.

Ann-Katrin Low, Teacher: “We want to inform the children of the problems that can arise, and give them a chance to reflect on their own usage-behavior.

Many students get their first smartphone when they are in the fifth grade. It opens up a whole new world for parents too.

Mother: “We try to find out when the devices are being used, so it doesn’t get out of control.

Father: “There ought to be at least one digital-free day a week.”

Social media only appears to fulfill the desire for friendship and recognition.
That’s why it’s so important to learn how to deal with WhatsApp and other platforms.

And it’s crucial to not let your smartphone be your constant companion. Otherwise you could risk getting hooked.

*     *     *     *     *     *     *

 

Questions

Art. Teenagers usually spend their time studying, doing their homework, exercising, riding bicycles, reading books, painting and sculpting. True or false?

PE, Physical Education. Are the most popular websites about learning math, science, English and arts and crafts?

Reading and Writing. Girls and boys use their devices for the same things. They do the same activities online. Is this right or wrong?

Arithmetic, Mathematics, Math. According to experts, is it possible to become addicted to the internet? Is it possible for the internet to control people?

History. Which is more important for people hooked on the internet, games and social media; or their friends, homework and hobbies?

Literature. If teenagers don’t have internet access or their smartphones, it’s no problem; they will be happy. Is this correct or incorrect?

Science. Are parents and teachers proud and happy that children always use their smartphones?

 

Biology. I know some people who are hooked (addicted) on the internet. Yes or no? If yes, what do they do online?

Music Class, Band Class. How widespread is smartphone addition? It is very widespread, it’s widespread, some people are addicted, some aren’t. It’s not an issue (a problem). It is rare. It doesn’t exist.

Chemistry. Why are some people addicted to their devices or the internet?

Physics. Everyone is worried about online addiction. Everyone thinks online addition is a serious problem (very bad). True or false?

Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry. What will happen in the future?

Shop Class, Woodworking. What should teenagers, parents and teachers do?