Smartphones. Snapchat. Twitter.

To this generation of teens, phones and social media are a part of everyday life. Some even view them as a panacea for boredom.

“People can now get lost in something mindless or something totally engaging and mentally challenging,” sophomore Nathan Lamothe said. “It’s the one medium where everyone truly has something they can do or get to that will truly appeal to them.”

Freshman Ben Palivan added: “Most of the time (my friends and I) have nothing to do, like, we just go on social media and watch YouTube.”

Spending too much time on social media can have negative consequences and turn into addiction.

However,  addiction isn’t necessarily a certain amount of time spent on a cellphone, according to psychologist Mark Fabbi, who works at South University in Georgia.

“Addiction is related to a compulsion to consume something or engage in a set of behaviors to the point that it significantly interferes with a person’s life,” Fabbi wrote in the article “Does Social Media Addiction Really Exist?”

The explanation is in line with junior Jay Ander’s definition of addiction — one that she learned through experience.

“Every day I ended up never getting off of it and my grades started slipping,” Anders said. “It ended up really ruining the friendships that I had because I was always on my phone, always on my computer or always doing something else. It’s like my friendships were beginning to unravel and things were beginning to change.”

Other students have seen Fabbi’s explanation come to life among peers and family, although more subtly.

“I just see so many people in class that the moment the teacher stops talking, they rush their work or just don’t do it and get on their phones,” freshman Chloe Simmons said. “In choir the girls will be on their phones while singing or on (them) the minute he says our section can rest.”

Senior Alex McGill said: “(My sister) kind of separates from her friends because I think that if she communicates through text or social media, I feel like you don’t have the same connection you have in-person.”

Too much usage can also affect one’s relationships and personal well-being. According to psychologist Jean M. Twenge, “recent research suggests that screen time, in particular social-media use, does indeed cause unhappiness.” It can also lead to increased the chances on loneliness and depression.

For Anders, her social media addiction affected her mood, further isolating her from her friends and family.

“I was always negative, I was always having a negative impact and it wasn’t good for me,” she said. “But it wasn’t all because of social media. It was all because of the (choices) I was making.”

With society demanding students and employees alike be connected through emails or text, one must learn how to manage screen time effectively.

James Roberts, author of “Too Much of a Good Thing: Are You Addicted to Your Smartphone?”, advises setting aside times and places with no technology usage, especially when trying to be productive.

“It’s all about finding your ‘digital sweet spot,’ that magical place where you are still plugged in but have carved out time for the things that really matter. You, your relationships and community are the bedrocks of living a happy and meaningful life,” Roberts wrote in his article.

In addition, the Washington Post suggests disabling notifications and not using the phone immediately after waking up.

As for Anders, she ended her addiction after reaching out to her mother.

“My mom was like, ‘It’s really helping you stay away from your computer and stuff. And it’s really helping you become more positive’,” Anders said.

Now, Anders can prioritize on her own, balancing her responsibilities while making time for creating digital art and engaging in online communities.

She advises any student facing social media addiction to seek help like she did.

“And the life lesson if you’re addicted to it, do something, get help for it,” Anders said. “But you’re not alone. Because if I can get through it just fine, you can too.”