Teenagers spend an average of 1.5 hours glued to their mobile screens during school hours, spending what should be focused study time on social media, messaging, and streaming.
Lost in Phones
The new study, published in JAMA Pediatrics, has found that a significant number of U.S. teenagers enrolled in grades 7 through 12 use their smartphones for at least an hour every school day, with many of their online activities incongruous with the more acceptable purpose of using the devices for communication and learning, according to researchers.
To conduct this study, researchers collaborated with the survey research firm Ipsos, which recruited a national sample of participants meeting specific criteria: U.S. residency, ages 13 to 18 years, English-speaking, and being the primary user or owner of a smartphone. A total of 117 participants were recruited for the study.
The study used a smartphone application called RealityMeter to objectively track cellphone usage among the participants. The findings showed that adolescents spent an average of 1.5 hours on their smartphones during school hours, accounting for approximately 27 percent of their total daily phone usage. Also, 25 percent of participants spent more than two hours on their phones while at school.
“As a parent of two middle schoolers, my concern is that students are missing out on learning and social opportunities during the day,” Lauren Hale of Stony Brook University, senior author of the study, told The Epoch Times. “In my opinion, school should be a place for listening, asking questions, reading, writing, and engaging with peers in real life. Smartphones during the school day are a distraction from those types of activities.” […]
— Read More: www.theepochtimes.com
At Last, a Company With Integrity in the Gold IRA Industry
For several years, I’ve been vetting out precious metals companies in search of the best. I believe in gold and silver but it’s hard to find integrity in the Gold IRA industry. The vast majority operate with shady tactics and gigantic spreads that take advantage of Americans who simply want to protect their life’s savings.
I’ve found a handful that I like and I’ve worked with some of them. By no means would I “unrecommend” them because, again, I vetted them out and found them to be above the fold. Unfortunately, it isn’t hard to be better than the rest when the rest are so darn awful.
After years of searching, I finally found a company that truly operates with integrity. Augusta Precious Metals has three important attributes that set them far above the competition:
- Non-Commissioned Sales Team: I cannot stress how important and unique this is. With just about every other company in the Gold IRA industry, the sales teams make commission from every account they open. This means they steer their clients toward the gold and silver products with the highest commission. With Augusta Precious Metals, the team is solely focused on putting the best gold and silver for their clients into their IRA. They get paid to serve the best interests of the Gold IRA client, NOT their own commission pay.
- Incredibly Low Fees: Most Americans would be shocked if they knew the spread other Gold IRA companies charge. Augusta charges just 5% versus up to 45% elsewhere.
- No Pressure, No Gimmicks: There’s an understanding among most in the Gold IRA industry that fear and pressure is the way to go. Augusta Precious Metals takes a sober approach when working with clients because they hold integrity in the highest possible regard. This is why they don’t offer gimmicks like “free” or “bonus” silver. It’s also why they do not apply pressure tactics to get quick sales. Their educational and transparent approach to doing business is exceedingly rare in the Gold IRA industry.
