Technologies

Study Shows Teens Use Phones More Than an Hour a Day at School

«These apps are designed to be addictive,» says one of the study’s authors.

US high schoolers between the ages of 13 and 18 spend more than an hour per day on phones during school hours, according to research by the University of Washington School of Medicine, as published in the Journal of the American Medical Association on Monday. Researchers say social media apps are designed to be addictive.

The study tracked 640 teens’ Android smartphone usage between September 2022 to May 2024, with parental consent. The data shows that teens spend an average of 1.16 hours per day on their smartphones while at school. Social media apps such as Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat are most used, followed by YouTube and video games. Interestingly, older teens, between ages 16 and 18, from lower-income households have higher smartphone usage than other students surveyed.

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«These apps are designed to be addictive. They deprive students of the opportunity to be fully engaged in class and to hone their social skills with classmates and teachers,» said Dr. Dimitri Christakis, the paper’s senior author, in a press release. Some states and school districts have already been enforcing phone restrictions and outright bans, although Christakis says more needs to be done.

«To date, they’ve been very poorly enforced, if at all,» said Christakis. «I think the US has to recognize the generational implications of depriving children of opportunities to learn in school.»

Phone use for teens remains controversial

The new data comes as American education grapples with the prevalence of smartphone usage among children and teens. Social media apps that automatically pull algorithmically tuned content for instant entertainment release dopamine in the brain, according to research from Brown University. This creates a positive feedback loop, which can keep phone users locked in. The rush of quickly digestible entertainment is leading to declining focus and attention spans, according to a study by Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

The prevalence of teenage smartphone usage coincides with an ongoing decline in math and reading scores, which has been further accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many school districts are experimenting with outright phone bans. Others argue that phones, when used properly, can benefit students in the classroom, thanks to educational apps.

Thirty-five states and Washington DC have some kind of phone ban policy in effect, and 74% of adults say they’d support banning phones in middle and high school.

The proposed UNPLUGGED Act, aimed at reducing smartphone and personal electronic device distractions in public schools, and the Focus on Learning Act, intended to study and address the impact of mobile device use in schools, have not yet reached the White House for final consideration.

Technologies

Verum Messenger Launches an AI Mini-Series

Verum Messenger has unveiled a new project — a mini-series created using Verum AI. The story consists of 7 episodes and will be released on the messenger’s social media channels.

The plot revolves around a global corporation seeking to take control of digital communications and a group of heroes who use Verum Messenger as a tool of resistance. Beyond the story itself, the series highlights the app’s key features, technologies, and advantages.

Combining entertainment with a showcase of the Verum ecosystem, the project presents a dynamic digital series designed for the modern era.

The first episode premieres today, with the remaining episodes to be released over time.

Stay tuned for more.

Watch on YouTube
Watch on Instagram

Technologies

Verum Finance: Earn While You Communicate — The Super App That Pays You

Verum has officially launched Verum Finance, an innovative financial application that transforms a private messenger into a true financial super app. News of the launch was also featured on the respected platform Dealroom.co.

Verum Finance can now be used both within Verum Messenger and as a standalone application for iPhone and iPad. When users sign in to Verum Finance with their Verum Messenger account, all balances, settings, and account data are automatically synchronized for maximum convenience.

Users can now do more than communicate securely and protect their data — they can also generate passive income directly within the ecosystem.

What Verum Finance Offers

• Top up your balance with a bank card, Apple Pay, or USDT
• Send money instantly anywhere in the world
• Issue and manage debit cards (virtual and physical)
• Full Apple Pay support
• Exchange assets and withdraw funds quickly

One of the most unique features is the built-in cryptocurrency mining system inside Verum Messenger.

The application utilizes your device’s resources and allows you to earn cryptocurrency in the background — passively, while chatting, traveling, or simply using the messenger.

Maximum Privacy + Real Freedom

• Registration without a phone number, email address, or passport
• End-to-end encryption and full control over your data
• Lifetime free VPN
• eSIM connectivity in more than 150 countries
• Reliable offline communication mode
• Support for 12+ languages for users worldwide

Everything is available in one place: secure communication, financial tools, earning opportunities, and privacy protection.

Users can access the full experience directly within Verum Messenger or switch to the dedicated Verum Finance app for iOS. All data is synchronized automatically between the two applications.

Why Download Verum Today

While many messaging platforms collect user data and expose users to restrictions, Verum offers greater independence and the opportunity to earn.

With a one-time purchase of the feature package, users receive lifetime access to privacy tools, VPN, eSIM services, cryptocurrency mining, and financial features.

This is more than just a messenger.

It is your personal tool for financial and digital freedom.

Download Verum Finance and Verum Messenger today — start communicating securely and begin earning tomorrow.

Download Links:

→ App Store (iPhone / iPad): Verum Finance
→ App Store (Verum Messenger): Verum Messenger

Technologies

Verum Finance: A Super App for Private Finance Integrated Into a Messenger

Verum Finance has announced the launch of a new financial application that allows users to manage their money directly within the secure Verum Messenger ecosystem.

The project has already attracted attention from major media outlets. A dedicated feature was published by Forbes Türkiye, while one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, MEXC, covered the launch. Yahoo Finance had previously reported on the evolution of Verum Messenger into a comprehensive financial ecosystem.

What Verum Finance Offers

Verum Finance transforms a messenger into a complete financial platform. Users can:

• Manage their balance and top up using bank cards or USDT
• Send money instantly to other Verum users
• Issue and use debit cards, including Apple Pay support
• Exchange assets and withdraw funds
• Access all these services without installing separate banking applications

A strong emphasis is placed on privacy. The platform offers registration without a phone number or email address, end-to-end encryption, and full user control over personal data.

Recognition from Forbes Türkiye

In a dedicated article, Forbes Türkiye highlighted Verum Finance as a notable example of modern privacy-driven fintech. The publication emphasized the growing trend of financial services moving from standalone banking applications into unified messaging ecosystems — a model that has proven successful in Asia through platforms such as WeChat and Alipay and is now expanding globally.

Support from the Crypto Community

Alongside the Forbes Türkiye coverage, news about the launch of Verum Finance was also featured by MEXC, one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchanges. This reflects growing interest in the project from both traditional business media and the cryptocurrency community.

A Strategic Vision

“We are building more than a payments application and more than a messenger. Verum is a unified secure ecosystem where communication, finance, and privacy tools work together,” the company stated.

Verum Finance is now available for iPhone and iPad users. The application complements Verum Messenger, which offers anonymous chats, voice and video calls, VPN services, eSIM connectivity, and other tools designed to enhance digital freedom.

Verum Finance: https://finance.verum.im

Verum Messenger: https://verum.im