Screening Yourself For Screen Dependency | Physical Wellbeing Blog Post

Ironic isn’t it? Here I am staring at my computer screen as I type away about screen dependency, in the hopes that sometime later, you’ll stare at your screen to read it. Maybe I could try the dictation function, or you could try text-to-speech. But really the point of this blog isn’t that screens are evil and you shouldn’t ever look at them to protect your wellbeing; it’s that our intention when engaging in screen culture (phones, tablets, computers, gaming, TV, smartwatches etc…) is meaningful and valuable to our lives.

It’s sometimes hard to think of life without screens. Our lessons, work, hobbies, relationships, navigation, entertainment, literature, and more can largely take place within the confines of our shiny little rectangles. But those rectangles (or circle or square depending on the device) are just the display for a wealth of information within. PCs, television sets, cinema screens, smartphones, all have the power to bring people together positively, and have opened up opportunities for people to connect and access information they may otherwise never have been able to experience.

Even though it’s strange to imagine a life without screens (especially for younger generations), they are a relatively recent phenomenon, which exponentially grew last century, and then even more into this one. Do we need all that data though? When do we know that we’ve been overstimulated by what we see and hear from screens? There is no concrete answer currently as media consumption and technology is rapidly evolving our habits, and smartphones (a relatively recent sensation) haven’t existed for enough time for us to witness their longer-term impact on our health.

Research into Problematic Interactive Media Use (PIMU) does highlight links between excessive use of screens and comorbidities such as sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, ADHD, altered cognitive function, problems with vision, along with compulsive behaviours. Social media and “infotainment” (soft news packaged in an entertaining way) are most often linked with these concerns when it comes to the types of screen consumption. They are also closely linked to Oxford University Press’ 2024 Word of the Year: brainrot, a term used for mental and intellectual deterioration from excessive consumption of low-quality and low-value content.

But it’s not all just abstract talk until more research is released. Action is already being taken to restrict social media access to certain age groups. Australia is the first country to pass law on the issue, banning under 16s from having social media accounts, a decision that has sparked much debate, for and against. The UK government have opened discussions about imposing something similar. And here at Nottingham High, our Senior School phone policy was reviewed at the beginning of 2024-25, which made changes to how our students access their devices during their day, depending on year group.

The idea behind these restrictions and policies isn’t to cut young people off from their social connections or limit knowledge. Instead, they seek to promote healthier relationships with screens and those around us, and encourage more conscious use of devices for our young people, throughout their school day, and hopefully beyond. With more conscious thought, screens can remain a useful tool which enhance our social connections, academic/work engagement, physical and mental wellbeing, rather than a potential burden to those things if we become too dependent on them.

And while rules and regulations can help establish a change in culture, it’s also important that we check-in with ourselves and our habits to review how they might be impacting our wellbeing. Let’s have a try right now. Screen yourself for screen dependency. Have you checked your phone notifications while reading this blog? How many hours have you been on your screen/s today (most modern devices can tell you in the settings)? What value does all your screen engagement offer you? And what might it take you away from?

Asking ourselves these questions is just the beginning. Evaluating the role screens have in our lives will unveil things we might want to change longer-term about how we interact with friends and family, how much time we spend sitting, doomscrolling, and absorbing data we don’t really need to. Equally, it might highlight the positives in staying connected to friends and family that might otherwise have become distant, stimulating our curiosity with new ideas, and keeping physically active via fitness trackers and apps. From here, we can take action to tweak our habits to boost the helpful role screens have in our lives, while reducing the areas they don’t add so much value to.

To screen yourself just means to check-in with your wellbeing. So, you needn’t be self-judgmental if you catch yourself binge-watching the latest Netflix documentary series or scrolling until your thumbs are sore. But over Christmas break and other school holidays especially, remain mindful of your screen habits as you find yourself with more time to play with while there’s less school and work on. Thank you for taking the time to read through this blog, hopefully it has added some value to your day. I think you’ve earned yourself a break from your screen now.

If you are a student concerned about your screen habits, or a parent concerned about your child’s, please do not hesitate to get in touch via email at samra.bs@nottinghamhigh.co.uk to discuss how the school can support. This article from Optimum Performance Institute based in California, USA also provides some useful advice for parents and carers.

Mr B Samra

Physical Wellbeing Lead

Nottingham High School