Cambridge IELTS 17 Test 2 Writing Task 2: Sample Answer

Many children now spend several hours a day on their phones, a trend that I believe is mostly harmful, although it has some benefits.

Several factors explain this habit. First, smartphones are designed to be addictive. Games, video platforms and social apps use notifications, endless scrolling and reward systems that keep young users engaged long after they intended to stop. Second, many parents are busy and hand over a device to keep a child occupied while they cook or work. Once the pattern is established, it is difficult to break. Finally, peer pressure plays a part, since children whose friends chat and share videos online fear being left out if they are not connected.

Turning to the consequences, I consider the trend largely negative. Prolonged screen time reduces the hours available for exercise, face-to-face play and sleep, and doctors have linked it to obesity, poor concentration and anxiety. Children who communicate mainly through messages may also struggle to read facial expressions or resolve disagreements in person. Parents who monitor usage closely often report that sleep suffers first, because children scroll late into the night, and tired pupils then find it harder to learn at school. In addition, unsupervised access exposes them to inappropriate content and online bullying.

That said, phones are not entirely harmful. Educational apps can make learning languages or mathematics enjoyable, and video calls allow children to stay close to relatives living abroad. Moderate use may also develop digital skills that will be valuable in future careers.

In conclusion, children use phones excessively because of addictive design, parental convenience and social pressure, and on balance this is a negative development. Families and schools should set clear time limits and encourage offline activities so that technology serves children rather than controls them.