Unless you’ve been living under a rock, most parents know that cell phone use is ubiquitous among adolescents, even during school.

Here are 10 signs to reckon the extent of the blunting of their dopamine receptors.

1. The student is working below his or her academic potential.
2. The student’s device needs to be charged multiple times a day (esp. during school hours).
3. The teachers in your child’s school have charging stations (which encourages device usage).
4. The student gets moody when asked to put his or her device away for a lesson.
5. The student is secretive about using his or her device.
6. The student has become antisocial with at least one group of their friends.
7. The student has become a hostile actor toward faculty and staff.
8. The student has become hostile to parents.
9. The student makes meaningless empty threats.
10. The student is just a plain hot mess.

1. Working Below Potential

This is just what it means. However, it’s not just academic potential. Addicts may begin to fade as athletes, chess players, or musicians. Device addiction is no different. Over time, it can even cause personality changes.

2. Excessive Device Charging

Although some teachers actually have charging stations in their classrooms, most students need to scurry to be the first to find an outlet they can use. This (all by itself) can be humorous to witness. In old schools with few outlets, arguments can even break out.

But if students need to charge their device during school, they are clearly on their device too much. Gaming and video — the things most devices users do — drain a battery fast.

3. Charging Stations Galore

If your child’s school has charging stations in classrooms, the school probably cares more about “friendliness” than academics.

4. Volatile Mood Swings

When a child has mood swings after having device time limited, the child may be an addict. When junkies are jones-ing for their drug, the have mood swings. They may even turn to violence to assert their desires.

5. Shh… it’s a secret

I’m not talking about the use of the phone. Heaven knows that addicts walk the halls with their face down in a phone. Unfortunately, this is how many of them drive, too!

But a main reason that children use cell phones (as opposed to, say, school email) is to maintain secrecy among their circle of influence.

6. I hate everyone!

Addicts can be very hateful people. Many teens’ default disposition is one of vitriol and enmity. They may not even realize the misery that they are projecting on to the world.

They throw garbage on the floor, because “that’s a janitor’s job.”

They steal your homework, because “they coulda done it but they got a life.”

They criticize people for things over which they have no control. “I’d have surgery if my nose looked like that.”

7. Teachers are stupid.

This is most often psychological projection. Being egocentric, addicts often believe that others have the same operating system they have.

8. Parents are stupid.

I love the Mark Twain quote about his stupid parents who finally came around to his way of thinking when he had reached adulthood. Parents were once the children.

At age 16, our children may believe that they have reached the pinnacle of knowledge. I often ask them if they are smarter now than when they were 10. The obvious answer is yes. Then I follow up with whether they think they’ve topped out at 16. Do they believe that their 25-year old selves will be smarter than their 16-year old selves? This is often met silence or an occasional “that’s stupid.”

9. Shut up or I’ll poop my pants.

I have literally had high school students soil themselves when they were not allowed to do what they want, when they want, the way they want. “I want my phone and I want it now!”

However, more often than not, students make empty threats But I have had my share who tattle to the building principal thinking it’s going to affect your job. (Yes, cancel culture is alive and well among the student body.)

10. Poor me…

Addicts play the victim card on a regular basis. I think it’s called being a vulnerable narcissist, maybe? These students can develop into a hot mess if we’re not careful to provide appropriate guidance. Just give ’em their phone and they’ll be great… they think. But adults don’t use their phones all day at work… at least not the adults I associate with.

So revisit the list of 10 above, and keep them in mind when you see children on phones.

Until next time…

Remember that success is a planned event. Believe in yourself.

Pay attention, do the work, and don’t give up!

And don’t forget to check out my new YouTube channel!

www.youtube.com/@PlanetNumeracy