BAD HANGUP: FIVE THINGS ON PHONES

1 APPLE ASKED TO HELP PROBLEM

Apple shareholders Jana Partners and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System, which control around 0.2 per cent of Apple shares, published an open letter on Saturday urging the company to respond to phone addiction among youth.

2 TEENS TREATED FOR PHONE ADDICTION

Children as young as 13 are being treated for digital technology addiction. In 2017 a “smartphone rehab” centre near Seattle started offering “intensive recovery programs” for teenagers struggling to control their use of electronic devices.

3 TOO MUCH USE A DANGER SIGN

The shareholders worked with Prof. Jean Twenge, a psychologist at San Diego State University, to assess smartphone usage in young people, and identified “a clear need for Apple to offer parents more choices and tools to help them ensure young consumers are using your products in an optimal matter.” Twenge’s research found U.S. teens who spent three hours a day or more on electronic devices were 35 per cent more likely to have a risk factor for suicide than those who spent less than one hour.

4 CALL FOR ABILITY TO LIMIT TIME ONLINE

The investors called on Apple to change its operating systems for younger users, allowing parents greater control to limit the time their children spent on devices. They also recommended installing an advisory board that could monitor the issue.

5 HOPING TO CONNECT

Apple has not issued any guidance on age groups using its products or advice on how parents can monitor its usage, but CEO Tim Cook has been vocal about becoming more socially responsible.