IRISH youngsters are shunning exercise and gorging on their gadgets instead.

New research reveals almost half of Irish teens believe they are addicted to their smartphones and are even smuggling them into school to get their fix.

3 Irish teens are addicted to their smartphones

A survey of more than 2,600 students by Studyclix.ie found technology is ruling young people’s lives, with 54 per cent checking their device during class time.

The report also reveals kids’ attitudes to exercise, Gardai, exercise and Donald Trump.

Speaking about the results. Luke Saunders, co-founder of Studyclix.ie, said: “As a teacher, I think the prevalence of smartphones in schools is the biggest challenge facing our profession.

“Like most of us teenagers feel the need to check their phone repeatedly throughout the school day. It doesn’t surprise me more than half checked their phone in class in the last seven days.”

Here are some of the report’s other findings.



GENERATION SNAPCHAT

SNAPCHAT has consolidated its position as the most used social media platform among students, with Instagram pushing Facebook into third place.

Twitter use has slipped further from 50 per cent usage in 2016 to 42 per cent this year.

Nine per cent of students said they had signed up to dating site, Tinder.

Saunders says: “As much as they would like to think otherwise, the teenage brain is not good at multitasking.

“Having a constant stream of messages and updates arriving is a major distraction to students trying to study. I would advise students to get in the habit of studying in 25 minute uninterrupted bursts with phones on airplane mode.”

RISE OF NO EXERCISE

3 Modern teens can spend hours on tech devices getting no exercise

THE older kids get, the less willing they are to exercise. More than half of girls in sixth year do not participate in PE class, compared to 15 per cent in second year.

Participation in team sports is also lower for girls compared to boys. While 52 per cent of boys play team sports, only 36 per cent of females do the same.

Saunders says: “I was shocked to see the extent of the drop off with 53 per cent of girls not actively participating in PE by sixth year. I was aware there is a tendency for girls to “drop” PE in senior cycle years although it is mandatory at least once a week in most schools.”



POLITICAL ANIMALS?

IRISH kids are not fans of US President Donald Trump, with 71 per cent saying they do not want to see Trump visit this country.

In the light of the recent debate about Brexit and Northern Ireland’s future, 76 per cent said they would like to see a united Ireland.

Reacting to the controversy surrounding the ownership of the new National Maternity Hospital, 60 per cent say the government should intervene to stop the hospital being handed over to an order of nuns.

Some 73 per cent say they are happy with the job the Gardai are doing.

Saunders says: “Students tend to have strong opinions on many issues, things are often black or white with very little grey between.” From my experience, more and more teenagers are getting their news from their social media feeds which often present a very polarised and unbalanced view of many current affairs issues.”

THUMBS UP FOR STUDENT LOANS

3 Some 88 per cent of students were happy to take out student loans and pay them back at a later date

SECONDARY school pupils are mainly happy to take out loans to pay for college and repay them once they leave.

Some 88 per cent were in favour of such a proposal, with 24 per cent saying between €150 and €160 would be manageable.

“Another 26 per cent believe the figure should be somewhere in the region of €30 to €50 a month while just 12 per cent want to pay nothing for education.

Saunders said: “I was really surprised by how many students thought a student loan system was something they would be prepared to take on.

“While I understand the importance of having a properly funded third level system, I think when it comes to the reality of paying off a student loan on top of spiraling rent prices our future graduates will find it

difficult to make ends meet.”



STRESS BEFORE THE TESTS

WE may think young people are obsessed with their appearance, but they worry more about exams.

With 70 per cent of those polled saying studying is the biggest stress in their lives, just 11 per cent cited their appearance as a worry and eight per cent said their family was a worry.

Saunders says: “Exams are by far and away the most common causes of stress in teenager’s lives.

"Feeling some amount of anxiety and stress in the lead up to the exams is completely normal."

“I always advise students being properly prepared is one of the best things you can do to lower exam anxiety.”