Side Effects: The Details Hiding in Plain Sight

Phones in class, a 25-year prescription gone wrong, pickleball's hidden danger, and why your spin class is too loud — four findings hiding in everyday care.

By
Kerri Miller
March 9, 2026
6 min

MDSpire News

Overview

Revise to include study methodology and clarify the correlation between phone pickups and cognitive control.

Background

The pervasive use of smartphones among adolescents during school hours raises concerns about cognitive control and academic performance. Understanding the impact of phone usage patterns is crucial for developing effective interventions. This topic is particularly relevant given the increasing integration of technology in educational settings and its potential effects on youth development.

Data Highlights

Age Group	Average Phone Use (hours)	Frequency of Phone Pickups	Impact on Cognitive Control
11-14 years	1.1	32 times	Better control
15-18 years	2.2	64 times	Worse control

Key Findings

Zero students kept their phones away during school hours.
Older teens used their phones roughly twice as much per hour compared to younger students.
Social media and YouTube accounted for 70% of total phone usage.
Frequent phone pickups, not total screen time, predicted poorer cognitive control.
Students averaged 64 phone checks during school hours.
Addressing checking habits may be more actionable than reducing overall screen time.

Clinical Implications

Healthcare providers should consider counseling patients on the frequency of phone usage rather than just the total screen time. Targeting the habit of compulsive checking may lead to improved cognitive outcomes for adolescents. This approach aligns with recent recommendations for managing digital device use in educational settings.

Conclusion

The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions that address specific phone usage behaviors among adolescents to enhance cognitive control and academic performance.