Guidance Counsellors’ 

Mobile Phone Dependence in Teens - How to Help

Mobile phone use amongst teenagers is on the rise and while there are many advantages of having phones in our young people’s lives there are also risks. Recent research shows that:

• Nearly all teens aged 13–17 in Australia now own a smartphone, with usage often described as almost constant. A 2023 survey found young people reporting a rate of 91% ownership and ~45% near-constant screen time (The Courier Mail).
• Recent data from the Black Dog Institute shows a complex but concerning link between screen use and adolescent mental health: higher screen use is correlated with anxiety, poorer sleep, and heightened emotional distress in many teens.
• Victorian and South Australian students show troubling effects: nearly 75% of 15-year-olds are constantly connected.

Tips for addressing excessive phone use:

1. Set family-wide screen time boundaries 

   Australia’s health guidelines recommend ≤ 2 hours/day recreational screen use for 5–17-year-olds (excluding schoolwork).

2. Create tech-free zones and routines

   Designate bedrooms and meals as screen-free and enforce at least 30–60 minutes phone-free before bed or switching to flight mode an hour before sleep.

3. Model healthy behaviour

   Parents and caregivers who check phones constantly unintentionally normalise heavy use. Model balance by reducing your own screen time.

4. Engage in open discussions

   Talk with teens about their online experiences, who they follow, and how content makes them feel. Avoid bans—use curiosity and empathy instead.

5. Offer digital detox opportunities & incentives

   Introduce screen-free days, rewards like outdoor play or face-to-face interaction, and structured offline activities as “privileges,” not punishments.

6. Teach digital literacy & self-awareness

   Use programs like Teens & Screens from the Black Dog Institute to help teens learn about well-being online and emotional regulation strategies.

Seek professional help early if needed. 

Many teens exbibit compulsive and disruptive screen use resulting in anxiety, withdrawal, social decline, academic decline or sleep issues that may require intervention. Please reach out to the Guidance and Counselling Team if you feel you need support with your young person.

By adopting a balanced, empathetic, and informed approach—modelled by adults, supported through open communication, and reinforced with evidence-based strategies—families can help teenage children navigate the digital world more healthily and resiliently.

References (APA style)

Black Dog Institute. (2024). Adolescent screen use and mental health: Future proofing study (2023).

Brewer, J. (2014). Screen-time reward pathways and teenage addiction. ABC 7.30, as cited in Turner.

Department of Health (AU). (n.d.). Australia’s Physical Activity & Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines.

eSafety Commissioner. (2021). The digital lives of Aussie teens.

Palfrey, N., & Burgess, Z. (2024). On teen mental health risks from social media. Headspace & APS.

Shannon, J. (n.d.). Smartphone addiction in Australian teens: 5 Ways We Can Help.

University of Sydney. (2023, Jan). Parental support linked to teen internet addiction.

University of Sydney. (2025, Feb). NSW screen use & addiction research fund announcement.

University of South Australia. (2024, Sep). Sleep-deprived, cyberbullied teenagers addicted to smartphones.

Victoria Education/ OECD PISA data. (2024). Students’ mobile phone addiction causing math grades to plummet.

Peter Graham, Katharina Lane and Havva Murat-Maksuti

Guidance Counsellors