Are Hispanic teens using smartphones too much? A recent Pew Study has one psychologist wondering if overuse of smartphones might be widening, not closing, the education gap.

The new Pew study shows that 71 percent of Hispanic teens have access to a smartphone, the same as white teens but lower than the 85 percent of African-American teens, and that 32 percent of Hispanic teens go online "almost constantly." The numbers are among the highest in demographics. Roughly 34 percent of African-Americans are online "almost constantly" and only 19 percent of white teens "go online that often."

"The transformation of the cell phone into a media content delivery platform... [has] facilitated an explosion in [recreationally-based] media consumption among American youth," reads a Kaiser Family Foundation report.

Could this smartphone usage be contributing to the education gap displayed between Hispanics and other demographics?

"Such differences are partially explained by income, as families of color, who are more likely to have limited resources, may forgo the purchase of desktops/laptops in favor of smartphones, which are relatively less expensive," writes psychologist Richard Freed.

Freed argues that the inordinate amount of time spent on smartphones may be keeping children from learning valuable skills. However, Freed admits there are plenty of other factors that might make smartphone usage a safer alternative.

"Another factor propelling high smartphone and online use by kids of color is the lack of opportunities these kids have to participate in positive real-world activities," writes Freed. "Parents from less-advantaged families often tell me that their neighborhoods are too dangerous to let kids outside so they feel that time on the phone is a better choice."

Teens tend to use their smartphones for mainly social media purposes. They love to message and post pictures, and while studies have shown that boys are more likely to have games and girls more likely to engage in social media on their phone, the overall trend tends towards messaging. Is it too much, however?

Thing is, messaging is important for Hispanics in the United States. Many care to stay in touch with their vast families in and out of the United States -- it's such a trend that huge telecom companies (T-Mobile and such) have launched deals for communicating down south.

Smartphones in lower-income families, Hispanic or not, are often seen as a replacement for a higher-cost computer or laptop. In a sense, the exorbitant smartphone usage by the Hispanic community not only reflects a willingness to participate but also the income gap evident in the United States. Whether or not it leads to an education gap is a far larger story, especially when you consider how the tables can be turned by a generation wielding a smartphone versus an older generation of immigrants.

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