Author: Shelia R. Cotten, Provost's Distinuished Professor of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice and Communication, Clemson University

What is the first thing you do in the morning after you awaken? Many people immediately check their phones for notifications of messages, alerts and social media updates by their social ties. Ninety-seven percent of U.S. adults report owning a cellphone, with 90% reporting that they own a smartphone. While some researchers and media outlets portray phone use as detrimental, the reality is that the effects of technology use, including phones, vary depending on multiple factors. These include the amount, type, timing and purpose of that use. What is best for one group may not be best for another when…