3 in 4 US teens say they are happy or peaceful without their smartphone

The effects digital platforms are having on children is a growing concern across the world [File: Jenny Kane/AP]

Nearly three out of four teenagers in the United States say they feel happy or peaceful when they do not have their smartphone with them, a survey has found, underscoring concerns about the effects of digital media on minors.

But despite their positive associations with putting their smartphone away, only 36 percent of teens reported cutting back on using their devices, the survey by the Pew Research Centre showed on Monday.