Why Is It So Hard for Young People to Put Down Their Phones?

About one in six young people aged 10 to 24 in Singapore show signs of problematic social media use, according to a Ministry of Health report. It is a concern many parents recognise at home: “Just five more minutes” can easily become an hour.

I recently spoke with Lianhe Zaobao about excessive social media use among young people. One point I hoped to convey is that this is not simply a matter of poor self-control. Features such as endless scrolling, autoplay and notifications make it easy to stay online longer than intended. Adults experience this too.

When a child spends a great deal of time on their phone, it may help to look beyond the screen-time total. What are they finding online? It might be connection with friends, relief from stress, entertainment or a sense of belonging. Understanding that need gives parents a better starting point for conversation.

Families can then agree on reasonable phone boundaries and make room for activities that meet those needs offline: time with friends, sports, hobbies, shared meals or simply being together without a screen. Small, consistent changes are often easier to maintain than a sudden ban.

Children also notice our habits. Putting our own phones aside during family time shows them that these boundaries apply to everyone.

The aim is to help young people build a healthy relationship with technology while making sure there is plenty in their lives beyond it.