What Happens When Teens Unplug: Dr. Hanan'el Rosenberg's Groundbreaking Study

Smartphones have become an inseparable part of our lives, a fact well known by all. However, Dr. Hanan'el Rosenberg not only acknowledges this reality, but has been studying it diligently for 17 years. As a teacher and researcher at the School of Communication at Ariel University and Herzog College for Teachers' Education, he focuses on the psychological and social effects of smartphones, as well as social networks and digital media in general. "When I began exploring this field, the internet was primarily about accessibility anywhere," he explains. "Then came social apps, offering accessibility not just to places, but to people. The most transformative, in my opinion, are smartphones, with their ability to connect people everywhere. This reflects the most significant shift—an alteration in human consciousness itself. Only now, many years after smartphones have penetrated society, are we starting to grasp the full scale of their impact—both positive and negative." Investing in Research What happens when we try to detach from smartphones? This question has intrigued Dr. Rosenberg, particularly concerning teenagers and children. "In Israel, the average age for receiving a first smartphone is nine, around the third grade," he notes. "Given that average, half the class already has a smartphone. We're observing a generation born into a digital world, making it essential to understand its effects on them." "In addition, children and adolescents undergo significant changes at these ages. It's a time of developing social, cognitive, and psychological skills—years critical to their development. Something as massive and potent as the digital medium is likely to have a strong impact on them." This curiosity led Dr. Rosenberg and his partner, Professor Menachem Blondheim from the Hebrew University, to conduct a pioneering study involving 100 teenagers starting their day without smartphones. "Embarking on this research posed a challenge," Rosenberg explains, "as comprehending the impact or the dominant role of smartphones in our lives is complex." To explore these effects, the researchers employed a deprivation method, derived from addiction studies. This technique involves removing an addictive element to observe the resulting deprivation's effects. Dr. Rosenberg says, "This seemed like the most accurate approach for our study." Teens Join the Study How was the study conducted? How were participants selected and conditions monitored? "We faced numerous dilemmas," Rosenberg recalls. "Initially, we aimed at high schoolers and started collecting participants. We understood that voluntary participation might skew results towards those comfortable with smartphone detachment. Thus, we offered financial incentives obtained through various research foundations, making recruitment easier than anticipated." Ultimately, 100 diverse participants were gathered, representing different backgrounds and levels of smartphone use. But another challenge emerged when presenting to the ethics committee, which argued against mandatory smartphone detachment over potential social or psychological distress, insisting participants be compensated regardless of study completion. "At first, this felt like a setback," Rosenberg admits, "as we thought participation might dwindle. However, we were astonished when 98 out of 100 participants completed the study, managing a full week without smartphones." Documenting the Experience Dr. Rosenberg found another intriguing discovery: "Parents were unexpectedly part of the experiment, as teens were asked to deposit phones with them, signing agreements not to return them for a week. Surprisingly, parents struggled as much as their children, used to their constant availability and distraction." How did you record the study's findings? "We debated methods and decided against concrete questions to prevent influencing participants' thoughts or feelings. Instead, each participant received a blank journal to freely document feelings of absence and experiences throughout the week. Reading through the 98 journals after the study was captivating, revealing the complex relationships, even mysteries, that teenagers have with their smartphones." What appeared in the journals? Can you provide examples? Dr. Rosenberg shares some insights. Ayelet wrote: "Ugh! Ugh! Ugh! I want my phone back! But I won't break. I have enough self-control not to go to my dad's closet and take my phone. The curiosity almost wins. I just want to check my messages for a moment." Like Losing a Part "Overall," Dr. Rosenberg observes, "journals reflected a dual experience—both difficulty and discomfort, mainly physical complaints. Some reported phantom vibrations in pockets or imagined hearing message alerts. Some even compared the loss to an amputation, like using prosthetics. For instance, a participant used an old phone for pocket presence, while others reported using wristwatches or rings for distraction." Simultaneously, some participants described positive, liberating feelings. As one young man beautifully noted, he recognized his friends remained digitally bound, while he felt freed. Many shared similar experiences, even within family dynamics, realizing smartphones shaped their familial interactions as well. Some shared newfound attentiveness to family conversations and activities in the absence of phones. Conversely, they realized parental phone dependency, a revelation new to many." Not Just Functional How do you scientifically analyze such research? "Great question. We chose to highlight teen voices in our analysis, featuring journals prominently in our report. These narratives naturally unveil the complex relationships and roles smartphones play in daily life." Another researcher effectively used a deprivation study when New York newspaper staff went on strike in the 1940s. He found people coped well functionally without newspapers but struggled losing their ritual—a reminder that digital devices, like newspapers then, hold deeper connections beyond their primary functions." Can this be considered an addiction? "It's a question we considered during our research. The answer is no—it’s not classified as an addiction in psychiatric textbooks." "Complex solutions exist for smartphone issues. Unlike addictions solved by eliminating the problem substance, smartphones integrate into modern life. It's a complex relationship needing thoughtful navigation tailored individually and for families." Has the Charedi community successfully resisted phones, or is there hope? "The Charedi community is remarkable. Globally, researchers marvel at their ability to challenge tech companies to adapt technology to their moral standards, achieving significant impact. Yet, smartphones are gradually penetrating the community. However, the significant delay in receiving first phones provides a valuable example of reduced digital intensity, strengthening hope. While smartphones won't vanish, a careful, thoughtful approach can lead to positive outcomes for families."