It’s 11:58 p.m. You tell yourself you’ll go to sleep after just one more video. Suddenly, it’s 2:07 a.m, and you have no idea how you got there. The glow of your screen is the only light in the room, and algorithms have trapped you in a never-ending loop of entertainment. This is a common shared experience among many NAHS students. In a world where notifications, texts, and endless scrolling are part of daily life, students’ screen times are at an all time high. The average screen time for North Atlanta students is around 6.5 hours.
Despite knowing their screen usage is high, most students struggle to cut back. Some have tried setting app limits, only to mindlessly tap “Ignore for 15 minutes” until they have ignored it for hours. Others attempt more severe measures, like deleting social media entirely, only to redownload it days or weeks later. The pull of social media is powerful, and many students admit that even when they are aware of their overuse, they can’t seem to stop. Many students describe their screen habits as more of a reflex than a conscious decision. They unlock their phones without thinking, open Instagram or TikTok on autopilot, and suddenly find themselves having scrolled for an hour. Apps are intentionally designed for this to happen. App designers create features like infinite scrolling and autoplay videos to keep users engaged for as long as possible. “The number of times I have deleted TikTok just to reinstall it the next day is crazy,” said junior Sadie Barber. “I tell myself I need a break, but then I get bored, and suddenly, I’m back on it.”
One of the biggest challenges with reducing screen time is that phones aren’t just entertainment devices – they are essential tools for daily life. Students rely on their phones for school, communication, and safety. Apps like Google Docs, Infinite Campus, and Waze are regularly used and needed by students. Completely unplugging isn’t realistic when everything from class assignments to practice schedules to communicating with parents is managed through a screen. “I’ll check something for school on my phone, but then I check one notification from Instagram or Snapchat and end up scrolling for an hour,” said junior Piper Curnow.
Excessive screen time doesn’t just affect students’ sleep schedules – it has real consequences on mental health, focus, and productivity. Many students report feeling drained, anxious, or distracted after spending too much time on their phones. Academically, high screen time has its negative effects. Some even experience phantom vibrations, feeling their phone buzz even when it hasn’t. This level of dependency makes it hard to focus on schoolwork, leading to procrastination and last-minute cramming. “I’ll sit down to do homework, but my phone is right there, so I end up checking it every five minutes,” said junior Blair Carter.
Cutting back on screen time isn’t easy, but some students have found some measures, such as activating Do Not Disturb while at school and when doing homework putting their phones in another room while studying, to be effective. Phones aren’t going anywhere, and completely avoiding screens isn’t realistic in today’s world. But students are slowly beginning to recognize the importance of setting boundaries with their devices
