A study by a research team in Singapore found that young people's smartphone addiction reached the point that they become anxious or stressed out when they don't have access to them. Students whose smartphones were taken away scored 17 percent points lower on working memory than their peers who were permitted to have their phones with them during class. The study found that simply having their smartphones in their pockets is enough for these students. The study’s author, Andree Hartanto, said being separated from their smartphones for long periods can push students to use it more. They are also likely to experience poor cognitive functioning and emotional issues, which could affect their academic performance.