Shashank Inampudi

three seniors sit on their phones at lunch.

These features follow movements to address technology addiction. With the fast-paced growth of technology, there hasn’t been enough time to fully study the effects of smartphones. The early results don’t look very good.

According to Forbes, “About 48% of those who spent five or more hours a day on their phones—a lot of time by any measure—had thought about suicide or made plans for it, vs. 28% of those who spent only one hour per day on their phones.”

This problem is widespread in Pleasant Valley. “It’s really common to see people pull out their phone mid-conversation, and it’s a little scary how many people are addicted to their phone. A lot of people can barely go 45 minutes without using their phone.”, said Senior Justin Sehlin.

However, it’s not necessarily clear how to solve this problem. Junior Nabeel Affarka says, “My parents limited my Wifi to 15 minutes a day on my phone and it was just terrible. It was a huge struggle for me because I was barely able to use my phone for research or studying. I could never ask my friends for help or talk about the problems I was facing.”

Moreover, these restrictions can cause students to try and circumvent the apps. Affarka says, “I’ve spent my free time trying to find a way to bypass MyCircle. I have friends whose parents track their location or limit their Wifi and they have found ways around it.”

However, everyone understands the benefits of limiting technology. Affarka states, “I still believe MyCircle is a good thing, parents just have to use it responsibly. Because of MyCircle, I was able to get my homework done quickly and have a decent amount of sleep.” Reasonable restrictions, whether self-imposed or parental, go a long way towards leading a happier life.