Is teenagers’ smartphone obsession really bad?

Parents’ fears about their teenagers’ heavy use of cell phones and social media may be exaggerated as the youngsters’ online worlds may be an extension of their offline lives, a new study suggests.

“We see young people constantly on their phones and assume ill effects, but much of the research to date tells a more positive story,” said lead researcher Candice Odgers from Duke University. “When we look closely, we see considerable overlap between the underlying motivations and content of online versus offline communications and activities,” Odgers explained.

Rather than connecting with strangers, most adolescents use digital media to interact with friends and acquaintances in their face-to-face social networks.