Shortened attention spans, prolonged screentime, and worsening mental health – these issues are increasingly discussed as the result of our collective ‘smartphone problem’. We have seen unwanted impacts creep up on fully grown adults well into the later stages of life, which begs the question: how does smartphone usage impact children, teens and young adults who are still developing?
The repercussions of extensive smartphone and social media exposure may not be completely understood until this generation has grown older. Yet studies show that mental health in young people has deteriorated, no doubt worsened by the pandemic, a time when students were required to be more online than ever. Social psychologist, Jonathan Haidt, spells out the alarming statistics in his book, “The Anxious Generation”. Since 2010, the American College Health Association reports increases in anxiety (134%), depression (106%), anorexia (100%) and even substance abuse (33%). These findings are corroborated by other evidence that smartphone usage not only worsens mental health, but that heavy usage can have “negative effects on cognitive control, academic performance and socioemotional functioning.” (Abi-Jaoude, 2020).
Schools in the UK recognise these challenges and are beginning to implement policy changes regarding smartphone usage. In June this year, 17 secondary schools in London jointly banned the usage of smartphones in school for 11 to 14 year olds, with some extending the policy across all ages. They agreed to disallow phones during the school day. Phones being used by pupils will be confiscated. If the phone is a “brick” phone without access to wifi, the period of confiscation could be relatively short, but smartphones would not be returned for as long as a week or until collected by parents. Boarding schools are taking similar approaches: the BBC reported that Eton College will issue brick phones to its Year 9 students, and they will not be allowed to bring their own smartphones to school. Meanwhile, at Oundle School, pupils in this same year group are not permitted phones at all for the first three weeks, after which they will be allowed a brick phone for use after 5pm.
The question of whether smartphones should be allowed in boarding schools, where students do not have home time, is a grey area. Smartphones do provide the opportunity for students to stay more connected with family and friends outside school. On the other hand, excessive contact could make the transition to being a boarder more difficult as they do not immerse themselves as fully in activities with their peers. To strike the right balance, students should have opportunities at pre-arranged times to use their phones and call home, with more flexibility allowed for international students.
School is not just a space for academic learning, it is where children cultivate social skills, form meaningful friendships and develop emotional self-awareness. To quote Jonathan Haidt again: “We are embodied creatures; children should learn how to manage their bodies in the physical world before they start spending large amounts of time in the virtual world.” We must make it our mission to facilitate the involvement of young people in enriching activities. All schools have many opportunities to engage in pursuits away from the virtual world. Seeing the schools adapt by restricting access to smartphones while raising awareness of the dangers of excessive use should hopefully teach students to stay on the right path. The schools at BESSA, with their holistic philosophy, are an excellent environment for young people to develop their whole person. Each has a rich and varied co-curricular programme, providing their students with possibilities to engage in a huge range of activities – from sport, art, dance, music, drama to enterprise, debating, language and faith groups. Haidt’s observes that “the heaviest [smartphone] users were also the most depressed, while those who spent more time in face-to-face activities, such as on sports teams and in religious communities, were the healthiest.” At BESSA, you can find the best fit to enable a well-rounded and holistic education.