When Driving and Technology Don’t Mix

When researching the statistics on teenagers and their relationship with technology, specifically social media and their phones, the conclusion was complex. In order to find a solution, delving into the problem itself is the first step. I not only needed to know how to reduce dangerous driving habits but understand why teenagers are so attached to their phones that they would risk their lives for it. The core issue is people’s relationship with social media, and it all begins in their teenage years.

A report by Influence Central found that the average age for a child to get their first smartphone is 10.3 years old and 39% of kids get a social media account at 11.4 years old. This study was performed in 2016 so just imagine how much younger the average is for this year. It is shocking how kids are gaining access to social media before they even begin to discover the developmental stages of their life. This creates an environment of comparison to unrealistic standards and starts to become the teenager’s reality. Not only are these kids scrutinizing themselves against their fellow classmates but now they have the entire world at their fingertips to judge themselves against. This is where the unhealthy relationship between a teenager and their smartphone begins.

Teenagers start to lose their self-confidence when the unrealistic world of social media tells them that their life isn’t as good as the next person. However, instead of building self confidence using life experiences like 20 years ago, confidence is built by what you share and how popular it becomes. Yet the depiction of popularity is a fad and a constant unknown that children are chasing after. This leads them to become addicted to knowing what is popular at the time and the best way to find this knowledge is by checking social media. Since this information perpetually changes, teenagers feel like they need to be on their phones even if that means risking their lives while driving.

Both good and bad driving habits are developed over time but specifically good habits when it relates to phones, starts before teenagers even sit in the driver’s seat. The biggest influence in a child’s life is the actions of their parents or guardians and their relationship with social media. Adults can fall into the same insecurities as teenagers, but they have the mental maturity to not let phones control their actions. The first thing we can do as a collective society is set a good example for the younger generation to not let the importance of their smartphone trump the importance of their life. Children are always listening and watching what you are doing, and they mimic your actions. As cliché as it sounds, it is also true.

In combination with setting a good example for our kids, we also need to change where teenagers receive their self confidence. We need to build interpersonal relationships with our kids starting at a young age and create an understanding that these are more important than any connection with technology. We can do this by increasing the age of when kids gain access to social media and when they do, talk with them about the pros and cons. Communication with your children is the single most important tool in developing a good relationship with them and helping them build their self confidence. We never want to hold our kids back from challenging situations, but we can prepare them to the best of our ability and that starts with talking about it.

Making universal changes to the core properties of our society is no easy feat but this is the only way to solve the complex problem of distracted driving. There are a variety of apps that could be used in limiting phone use while driving, however, it is a broader commitment that will make a long-lasting cultural transformation. It could be as simple as starting a program that teaches parents and guardians how to lead their children through social media. There could be a platform where parents discuss how to safely introduce their children to phones without the internet exploiting their innocence. More than anything I wish there was a single answer to solve the problem of distracted driving but there isn’t. Fortunately, there are so many great resources that are available and many more to come that will help bring this conversation to the forefront of our society. All we can do is to practice what we preach and just talk.