A new study from the University of Southern California (USC) warns that smartphones and streaming services may be fueling a sharp decline in responsibility and reliability among young adults.
Researchers tracked the psychological effects of digital life on Americans aged 16–39 and found troubling trends:
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Conscientiousness is in “free fall.” Traits like reliability, discipline, and responsibility are rapidly eroding.
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Other personality attributes are slipping. Agreeableness and extraversion are decreasing, while neuroticism and distractibility are on the rise.
The study confirms what many parents already suspect: smartphones are reshaping the younger generation’s cognitive and social development in harmful ways.
Because smartphones and apps are engineered to exploit weakness, parental guidance is essential. Setting boundaries, modeling self-control, encouraging face-to-face relationships, and—above all—grounding your family in God’s Word are key to resisting the pull of digital distraction.
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
~Ephesians 5:15-16~
…teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom.
~Psalm 90:12~
On a recent episode of “The Will Cain Show,” host Will Cain and addictions psychiatrist Dr. Lee Spencer explored the alarming effects of this technology on young adults. You will want to share this information with those you love:
