Eight in 10 teens nervous when separated from cellphone

How many germs live on your cellphone? If you take your phone to the toilet with you‚ probably more than you would like.

This was one of the issues raised by Professor Deon Tustin of the University of South Africa's Bureau of Market Research when he presented the findings of a report on compulsive cell phone‚ internet and texting behaviour of school pupils at a Youth Research Conference in Pretoria on Tuesday.

The research was done in 11 Gauteng high schools in 2014.

Tustin said just more than half of the participants in the survey said they used their cellphones in the bathroom‚ which posed a hygiene risk.

Behaviour like this can be considered an indicator of addiction and teens are far more likely to become "addicted" to their cell phones‚ he said.

He however cautioned against the use of the term "addiction"‚ saying behaviour considered addictive by some is seen as normal by others.

On average the 1684 learners included in the survey received 35 calls and made 26 calls daily.

Eight in 10 participants said they constantly had their cellphones with them‚ six in 10 use their cell phones while socialising and two in 10 said they would rather miss a meal than lose cellphone time.

Tustin said the research also showed that cellphone use impacted on the emotional well-being of teens.

Eight in 10 participants said they became nervous when they misplaced their cellphones and four in 10 felt uncomfortable and distracted when they could not hold their cellphones.

Sixty percent of the surveyed learners experienced conflict with friends due to their cellphone use and 59% reported the same with parents.

Sixteen percent of the participants admitted that they had stolen money for airtime.

Petronella Linders‚ the chief director of gender‚ youth‚ disability and children in the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services‚ said that parents should take responsibility and prevent their children from misusing technology.

She reminded parents that they are the ones who purchase cellphones for their children.

"As parents we should [ask]: 'How can I lead by example and make sure my child does as I do and not as I say?'‚" she said.