This is actually what it's like to be a 14-year-old boy in 2024.

Every morning the first thing I do is check that the kids' phones have been left in the kitchen overnight to charge. Yes, even before I have coffee.

As a mother of three sons (16, 14 and 11) and one daughter (13) I worry constantly that the devices, an extension of their hands, are too addictive to let go of even when they sleep. Its new territory for me; as a teen I didn't have to worry about what my friends were doing on Snapchat.

My greatest concerns were would I make the tennis team, could I hang out at Pacific Fair all Saturday with my girlfriends and why was my dad making me do typing as an elective (I kid you not!). I feel truly grateful there was no Insta to capture my ridiculously awful 90s perm.

There is little doubt being a teenager in 2024 is different to the 90s (except perhaps for the fashion), after all Gen Alpha only know a world where technology has always been in the palm of our hands. And yet I can't sleep at night worrying that my teens are missing out on the joy of, well, their teens, with their heads buried in their phones.

So, I decided the only way to find out what teen boys think about was to ask the oldest of Gen Alpha, 14-year-old boys. I was curious to find out if their phones were the focal point of their lives or if I was worrying about nothing.

What did they tell me? Their answers might surprise you...

Watch: POV: Your tween son just got his first phone. Post continues below.

14 is no longer a kid, not yet an adult.

Tom: "It's frustrating because my parents expect more of me, like doing the dishes and helping with chores, but don't treat me like an adult. My parents always nag me like I'm a little kid to brush my teeth and tidy my room."

Jake*: "I like having the freedom to do things on my own, catching the train to school, getting a haircut, meeting my mates at the movies. But it's annoying when you want to do stuff, like go to the gym or get a job, and you can't because you are too young."

Oliver*: "I'm not the youngest or shortest kid on the bus, which is good, but teachers still treat you like the Year 7s, telling you to tuck your shirt and pull up your socks; they don't treat you like the seniors who they joke around with."

School is a source of stress.

Noah*: "Everyone talks about their grade and rankings at school. I want to do well at school, but it always feels like a competition, even with your friends."

Lucas*: "School is stressful. I had two tests today and two next week. It feels like there is always something to study for or an assignment around the corner. It's hard to keep up and not fall behind."

Will* "Mum is always hassling me to study for exams. It's only Year 9!"

Friendships matter most.

Lucas*: "My friends have changed since Year 7. I hang out with people who like doing what I want to do; sometimes, that's the kids who play soccer, and other times, it's the boys who like to play Fortnite. It just depends on who is around and wants to do something."

Jake*: "I shoot hoops with my friends after school. It's a chance to hang out without teachers or parents, and we can do our own thing."

Tom*: "My parents always tell me to get off the Xbox. But I play it to hang out with my mates."

Will*: "I surf on my own, but I always prefer to go with a friend. It's more fun when someone else is there."

Looking good to fit in with their mates.

Lucas*: "Acne is a pain. I wish it would just go away."

Jake*: "I always save money to buy the latest basketball shoes. Everyone in the team has them."

Oliver*: "I like to try different colognes to smell good. My friends give me s**t, but they wear cologne too."

Tom*: "A new fade is how I look good."

Socials are just another point of connection.

Tom*: "Snapchat is where I talk to my friends. Mum worries I am on it all the time, but I'm just chatting with friends."

Noah*: "I have a TikTok account but never post to it. None of my friends do. I use it to learn about the news and follow sports teams."

Oliver*: "You know who spends too much time on Insta? My mum."

They take their sport seriously.

Will*: "I always think about rugby: playing for my club, watching the NRL, talking about the games. My mates are all on my rugby team, and the days I train are my favourite days of the week. It hurts to lose, but that's all part of it."

Oliver*: "I play and train for AFL five times a week. I feel the pressure to do well, trying to impress the coaches and make it into the top team each week. It's tough but worth it."

Jake*: "Soccer isn't just for fun anymore. The teams we play against are super competitive, and we go out on the field to win. Everyone on the team can tell you their stats for the game and season."

Being exposed to the world around them.

Lucas*: "I watch the news on TikTok. There is a lot going on in the world that I never had to think about before. I feel a bit helpless because I can't do anything."

Tom*: "A homeless man sleeps near my school. Some days, I give him a hot drink on the way to school. It’s not much, but I hope it helps."

Jake*: "One of the hardest things about being 14 is seeing the world for what it is. You hear about problems in the world, and it's overwhelming. I sometimes wish I was still young enough not to know."

14. Wow. They really don't think about their phones; it's a tool that enables them to constantly be in contact with their mates and the world around them. And while they may not like to know this, they are a lot like I was at 14; focused on sport, friends and school.

Will this stop me checking the phones are safely out of bedrooms at night? Nope. But it does stop me worrying that the teens are missing out on their teen years. I am sure I will think of something else to keep me awake at night instead.

* Names have been changed.

READ MORE: This is actually what it's like to be a 14-year-old girl in 2024.

Feature Image: Getty.