Half of teens in the U.S. are addicted to their phones, according to a survey released recently.

Phones disrupt driving, cause tensions in the family and negatively affect homework and family time, but not just teens are to blame. Adults are teaching bad habits to their children. Over half of teens say they see their parents use phones while driving, and the adults admit to it. Keep in mind that using a cell phone while driving is illegal in all but nine states including Georgia.

Common Sense Media, a nonprofit group, polled 1,240 parents and children, and over half of the parents said their teens cannot give up their phones.

Teens feel a pressure to instantly reply to texts, and most check their devices every hour.

“It is causing daily conflict in homes,” James Steyer, CSM founder and CEO said. One-third of people surveyed said they argue daily about screen time.

Eighth to twelve-year-olds spend nearly six hours a day using media, while teens spend almost nine.

“The seemingly constant use of tech, evidenced by teens immediately responding to texts, social-networking posts and other notifications, is actually a reflection of teens’ need to connect with others,” CSM reported.

If one thinks about it, parents existed twenty and thirty years ago without cell phones, so why is it so hard now to hang it up? Phones may be legal, but is the addiction any safer?