For many under-30s, the smartphone has become an extension of themselves, from the moment they wake up until the second they fall asleep," Mr Bloch said.
"This love affair with the smartphone is both enabling and crippling at the same time.
"They check for texts, emails and social media at least once every 10 minutes. That's checking the phone 96 times a day, assuming eight hours' sleep."
Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, official adviser to the Queensland Government on computer safety, said the jury was still out on the hi-tech human "appendages".
He said children and adolescents will - whether we like it or not - be continuously connected, meaning they will all be "real wired children".
"While the media focus has been on the downside of the technology in the form of cyber bullying, sexting, malware and scams, there is a substantial upside," said Dr Carr-Gregg.
"Smartphones and tablets have created unprecedented opportunities to promote positive mental health, enabling diagnosis, prevention and treatment of mental illness on a scale never imagined.