The Pew Research Center says 95% of teenagers have access to a smartphone — a 22% increase from 2015 — and 45% of teenagers say they are online on a constant basis, double the number counted in 2015, News reporter Julie Goldberg told us in a story documenting schools’ struggles with students’ overuse of smartphones.

Students and educators told Goldberg that, while there are benefits to smartphones, including connecting kids to their friends and parents like never before and putting a world of information in their pockets, the phones can become a distraction both from school work and from real life.

And the social media kids access on those phones can open them up to cyberbullying or worse.

The group NetSanity offers some tips for parents:

1. Monitor your kids. Your little ones deserve some privacy and trust, but parents shouldn’t be afraid to keep track of how often kids are using their phones and what sites they visit and apps they use. Several apps for smartphones allow parents to restrict access to certain sites, disable access after a certain amount of time, and even track the phone’s whereabouts. Parents should use those tools.

2. Lay ground rules and expectations. A smartphone is a privilege, not a right, and parents should establish clear boundaries for their kids as soon as they get a phone. Warn kids about the dangers that exist online, and make sure kids know what’s expected of them.

3. Talk to other parents. If you miss something, there’s a good chance another parent caught it. Keeping in the loop with the parents of your kids’ friends can keep you in the know about what’s going on in your kids’ digital lives.

Smartphones are wonderful tools, but, like with every other tool, there are inherent risks if they’re not used properly.

Teaching our kids the right ways to use those tools will serve them well long into the future.

(THE ALPENA NEWS)