Cell phone addiction is a problem, but the answer is even tougher

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As I talk to my classmates, peers and friends, they’re always on their cellphones. 

During class, they sit itching in their seats, longing to take their phone back. Some might believe it isn’t that bad, but anyone who takes five minutes to observe people just walking in the hallway or talking during lunch will see exactly what I do; phones everywhere. 

This addiction to our phones is getting out of hand, but what is happening to stop it?

The truth is there isn’t a way to control the majority of users. Most social media platforms install screen time protection timers. Some phone brands offer them, and there have been apps created to prevent screen time from being too high — yet it’s all optional. 

Mindless scrolling is what these apps were designed to do. They’re programmed to keep the user interested and on the app for as long as possible. We, the users, are the only ones who can control the time spent on these platforms. One of the only permanent solutions to this is happening in Australia right now, a mass ban.

As of Dec. 10, Australia has implemented a total social media ban for all of their users under the age of 16. Over 77% of Australian residents find the ban to be a positive solution to this issue. Other countries are waiting to see how this phone ban will conclude with the potential of creating their own if the law goes well. 

However, I don’t believe the U.S. will create a ban, even if Australia sees positive outcomes.

A search of the words social media and mental health yields thousands of articles about the negative effects of phones regarding mental and physical health; thousands of studies prove the negative sleep patterns and self confidence upon thousands of other bleak outcomes that come almost directly from phone usage.

I’m aware positive outcomes can result from social media, but they appear as a pebble compared to the boulder of issues with social media. Unless the U.S. follows in Australia’s footsteps, not a whole lot is going to be done about our social media consumption. 

Therefore, we need to gain some self discipline and fix it ourselves.

I’ve met people with a daily screen time of over 12 hours, which is absurd. I can get behind maybe 4 or 5 daily, but 12? Obviously, students must occasionally be online with a majority of our current curriculum, but spending that time mindlessly scrolling through Tik Tok is plain unhealthy. 

Everyone is aware of the negative effects social media have on the mind and the body. Those who aren’t aware shouldn’t have access to the Internet. It’s up to us how much we will allow ourselves to succumb to the black hole that is social media.