Students unaware of their screen time

Many students use their devices to pass the time when they are not working. Or even when they are. They play games, go on social media, stream their favorite music, or text and call their loved ones.

But do they realize how much of their day is spent on their phones?

In 2018, Apple introduced the screen time feature so users can be better aware of how much time they spend on their mobile devices.

“It shows how much time I procrastinate doing what I need to do like homework, cleaning, just putting that out to the side,” says high school senior Mia Gaitan about the feature.

The screen time feature was first introduced as a way for parents to see how much their children used their devices, according to an article in Forbes,

Years later, it has gained more importance and realization.

I conducted two polls on Fresno State’s subreddit recently to find out more about students’ daily average screen times and the most used social media. Respondents reported the highest amount of screen time at seven to nine hours while their most used social media platforms were YouTube and Twitch.

Most high schoolers say they know how much time they spend on their phones, and college students are just as aware.

“If you just put your phone away for at least an hour or two a day, and actually focus on yourself, and do things that you love, it would really help you,” says senior Kaitlyn Shapazian about having less screen time.

An article in the Journal of American College Health found that higher levels of screen time are associated with increased anxiety, depression, and stress.