"Sixteen-year-old Arnold James has a hard time picturing life without his cell phone.
'It would probably be like drug addicts feel when they're getting off of drugs,' says the Wilde Lake High School student, who often uses his phone during school hours. 'Sometimes your cell phone is a relief from the busy-ness at school and all the assignments.'
American youngsters such as James are now using cell phones, iPods and other electronic devices for an average of 7 1/2 hours daily - more than the equivalent of a full day of school, according to a recent national study tracking entertainment media habits.
The Kaiser Family Foundation study found that children spend so much time multi-tasking - texting, sending and reading e-mail, watching videos and playing video games - that they actually pack nearly 11 hours of activity into 7 1/2 hours.
The Kaiser findings speak volumes about how accessible and widespread electronic gadgets are among young people, and how, often in the absence of strict parental supervision, they're redefining modes"
'It would probably be like drug addicts feel when they're getting off of drugs,' says the Wilde Lake High School student, who often uses his phone during school hours. 'Sometimes your cell phone is a relief from the busy-ness at school and all the assignments.'
American youngsters such as James are now using cell phones, iPods and other electronic devices for an average of 7 1/2 hours daily - more than the equivalent of a full day of school, according to a recent national study tracking entertainment media habits.
The Kaiser Family Foundation study found that children spend so much time multi-tasking - texting, sending and reading e-mail, watching videos and playing video games - that they actually pack nearly 11 hours of activity into 7 1/2 hours.
The Kaiser findings speak volumes about how accessible and widespread electronic gadgets are among young people, and how, often in the absence of strict parental supervision, they're redefining modes"