Mountain View, CA – A new survey by El Camino Health reveals that many parents and caregivers struggle to distinguish between typical teen behavior and signs of digital distress. Digital distress refers to the stress, anxiety, or emotional strain caused by excessive use of digital technology, such as smartphones, social media or constant notifications, which, in severe cases, can be life-threatening.
The survey found over half (55%) of adults believe that irregular sleep patterns, such as too much or too little sleep, are simply a normal part of being a teenager. However, experts warn that this assumption may cause parents and caregivers to overlook a critical red flag.
“For a lot of our teens, their phones are with them 24/7, including in bed,” said Jennifer Zumarraga, MD, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology at El Camino Health. “I’ve had many teens tell me that they are on their screens in the middle of the night, oftentimes checking their social media when they wake up.”Â
Other behaviors, including isolation (25%), aggression (19%), and disinterest in usual activities (24%), were recognized by caregivers as signs of distress in their teens. Dr. Zumarraga emphasizes the importance of acknowledging these symptoms, explaining that they can be a teen’s way of signaling distress. These behaviors are often a silent call for help.Â
“A lot of the teens that I work with are aware that they're using their screens too much and they feel like they can't decrease their use,” said Dr. Zumarraga. “Because of this, I see an increase in anxiety and depression and a lot of symptoms that go with these things, such as eating disorders or even self-harm, suicidality.”Â
Dr. Zumarraga recently led a community event on digital distress alongside national and Bay Area experts and offered the following advice for recognizing the warning signs and helping teens develop into healthy adults:
- Create a family digital plan with clear screen time limits. Use built-in tools to monitor your teen’s device usage. Setting boundaries may be tough at first, but it’s essential for their long-term health and safety.
- Be the example—kids learn digital habits by watching the adults around them.
- Prioritize face-to-face conversations and eye contact with your kids. Digital distress can lead teens to withdraw and reduce family communication. Reclaim daily conversations—especially with teenage girls—by discussing what’s real vs. manipulated online. This can support healthier self-esteem.
These strategies are crucial as digital devices increasingly impact teenagers' emotional and physical well-being. Dr. Zumarraga notes that while there are helpful apps and online resources to manage screen time, they aren’t enough on their own. It's important to get kids involved in physical activities and hobbies that promote offline interaction and real-world connections.Â
Dr. Zumarraga encourages parents to be patient with themselves while establishing new boundaries or habits. She advises, “It's okay to acknowledge that you're learning alongside your teen to find solutions. The key is to have an ongoing dialogue about their screen time, how it affects them, and how they can achieve a healthy balance. However, if you notice changes in your child's behavior, especially signs of anxiety or depression, seek professional help."Â
About El Camino Health
El Camino Health has served the communities of Silicon Valley and the South Bay for more than 60 years, with nationally recognized physicians and nurses at two not-for-profit acute care hospitals in Los Gatos and Mountain View, and 19 primary care, multi-specialty care, and urgent care locations across the region. El Camino Health is dedicated to giving patients high-quality care utilizing the most advanced technology and research. As your healthcare partner of choice, we focus on keeping you healthy and getting you back on your feet when you need it, so you can live your best life.
Aside from achieving outstanding patient outcomes, the hospitals have earned numerous awards for clinical excellence, including being named one of the World’s Best Hospitals 2024 by Newsweek, one of the Best Hospitals for Maternity Care by U.S. News & World Report, one of America’s 100 Best for Cardiac Care by Healthgrades and becoming the San Francisco Bay Area’s first Magnet hospital, earning four consecutive designations from the American Nurses Credentialing Center for nursing excellence.
