Concerns regarding smartphones’ and social media’s impact on youth remain high amidst a growing realization that current research is not designed to confirm (or refute) such concerns. This study aims to answer fundamental questions regarding youths’ use of smartphones, by implementing a novel user-centric research method. The smartphone use of 114 emerging adults was recorded, followed by in-depth interviews that incorporated the recording and in-app information to help participants recall their behaviours, motivations, and feelings. Results indicate that smartphone use is indeed ubiquitous; 88 out of 114 participants started using their smartphone as soon as they were left alone. However, the findings of this study also demonstrate great diversity in smartphone use, in e.g. social media platforms used and motivations for using different apps. These results illustrate that it no longer seems sensible to refer to “screen time” as if it represents a homogeneous phenomenon across youth. Additionally, preliminary indications have been found of relationships between individual differences in mental health indices and variations in smartphone use. The current study provides new insights into youths’ smartphone use and its relationship with wellbeing.

随着人们越来越意识到当前的研究并非旨在证实（或反驳）此类担忧，对智能手机和社交媒体对青年的影响的担忧仍然很高。本研究旨在通过实施一种以用户为中心的新型研究方法，回答有关青少年使用智能手机的基本问题。记录了 114 名新兴成年人的智能手机使用情况，然后进行了深入访谈，其中结合了录音和应用内信息，以帮助参与者回忆他们的行为、动机和感受。结果表明智能手机的使用确实无处不在；114 名参与者中的 88 名在被单独留下后立即开始使用他们的智能手机。然而，这项研究的结果也证明了智能手机使用的巨大差异，例如所使用的社交媒体平台和使用不同应用程序的动机。这些结果表明，将“屏幕时间”视为代表青年人的同质现象似乎不再明智。此外，还发现了心理健康指数个体差异与智能手机使用差异之间关系的初步迹象。目前的研究为青少年使用智能手机及其与幸福感的关系提供了新的见解。