UNR researcher urges delaying smartphone access and expanding phone-free spaces to support teen mental health

Britney Avala, a professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, told the Ward 3 Neighborhood Advisory Board on June 2 that the near‑universal use of smartphones among teens is associated with higher rates of anxiety, depression and declines in academic performance.

"With children ages 13 to 17, almost all of them, about 95% are using social media, have access to smartphones on a regular basis," Avala said, citing recent survey data and research that show three or more hours per day of screen time is linked to a higher risk of anxiety and depression. She said average daily use now is around five or more hours.

Avala outlined mechanisms researchers are studying, including sleep disruption from blue-light exposure and continual notifications that activate reward pathways in adolescents' brains, which are still developing executive-control systems. She recommended community and family approaches: removing devices from bedrooms, creating phone‑free public spaces, increasing recess and unstructured outdoor time, and promoting media literacy and parental modeling.

Avala described a local, grassroots effort tied to the national Wait Until 8th movement that encourages families to delay granting full smartphone access until at least the end of eighth grade. "As of May 5th, we've had 530 pledges across 36 schools," she said, calling the local response an indicator of community interest.

Board members and attendees offered a range of responses. Marie Rodriguez said parents must model healthy habits; Valerie Tilson and others raised safety and exploitation concerns tied to predators on gaming platforms. Ed Park agreed with concerns about social media’s harms but urged education and supervised, guided introduction rather than an absolute ban: "I would use the example of alcohol… teach, educate, role model," he said.

Avala and other speakers distinguished overuse from moderate use: Avala said evidence of harm is strongest where use exceeds about three hours daily or involves harmful social-media interactions, such as bullying or exposure to unrealistic body images.

The board took no formal action on the presentation. Members requested follow-up materials and local contacts (including the Wait Until 8th coordinators) and discussed possible future agenda items on school‑technology policies and community-based programs.

The meeting moved on to other agenda items after a short question-and-answer period.