by Jasmine Ely

With the new year approaching, it’s that time of year again when we’re recounting our achievements and setting new year’s resolutions. An increasing number of New Years Resolutions appear to surround the topic of screen-time.

For Example: 

• “Spend less time on my phone”
• “Be more present” 
• “I feel like I’m always working” 

So, why can’t we put our phones down? I’ve interviewed a couple of university students to pin down the answer. 

How many hours a day would you say you spend on your phone?

A – I would probably say I spend 3 or 4 hours on my phone each day.

K – Maybe, 5 hours. I think it changes day-to-day. 

What do you primarily use your phone for?

A – Social Media and Entertainment. I mostly watch TikTok and use Instagram, I get most of my news from these apps but also watch them for my own entertainment. Trouble is, when I start scrolling, I get sucked-in and I’m on there for hours. 

K – Keeping up to date with my friends on Snapchat or Instagram. Since coming to university, I’ve tried to make more of an effort to keep in contact with my friends although we’re all spread out across the country. 

What motivates you to pick up your phone the most?

A – Boredom. If I’m not doing something spending time on my phone fills that gap. 

K – Habit. It’s always in my hand or pocket. I find myself reaching for it for a scroll without even thinking about it and rarely for anything important. 

Do you feel pressure to be online or respond to messages quickly?

A – I wouldn’t say I feel pressured to be online as I don’t post on social media, I’m very much a silent viewer. However, I do think it is polite to respond to messages quickly. 

K – Yes, if someone messages me, I always reply when I first see it. I don’t want to appear rude.

Do you think your phone usage is typical of other people in your generation? 

A – Roughly, I think I’m on the lower side. I don’t use social media as much as others as I choose not to share my life online. I enjoy looking at what others are up to though.

K – I would imagine so; I would consider myself a middle ground in my friendship group.

If you had to give up your phone for a week, how do you think it would affect your daily life?

A – Quite a lot. Since moving away from home for university, I use it to communicate with my family and friends. I would say that as a means of communication I need my phone.

K – I think I would be more proactive in getting jobs done around the house. I think I spend a lot of time on my phone when I could be doing something useful. I would however miss knowing what everyone is up to.

Have you ever felt like your phone use was too much? 

A – Yeah, if I have no plans, I use it to fill time. I could be using that time to be more productive, but sometimes I don’t and would rather relax on my phone. 

K – For sure. I’ve never done anything about it though. Maybe I should. 

Is there anything about your phone habits that you would like to change?

A – Not really, I think I have a healthy relationship with my phone. I turn off notifications at times to give myself a break. 

K – I could do with using my phone less and making more of an effort to connect in person with those located close by to me. 

How do you think your phone usage might change as you get older?

A – I think I will use it more for work and just to communicate with people. When I work full-time, I won’t have as much time spend using it for entertainment.

K – I don’t see it changing that much to be honest. Maybe when I have more responsibilities, I will have less time to spend doom-scrolling.

Here’s what we’ve learnt:

• Short Attention Span

We unlock our phones at the first sign of boredom. Whether that to watch short-form video on TikTok, play mobile games, or scroll on social media.  

• The Algorithm Trap

Social media platforms are designed to keep us engaged, entertained and most importantly online on the app. The downside is that when we start scrolling, we just can’t stop. 

• Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) 

Having grown up in today’s digital world, we’ve never been disconnected.  Fancy knowing what your friend had for dinner last night? Simply check their stories. Although our interconnectedness can be fun, it’s so easy to develop FOMO. 

Do you relate? Could you cut down your screen time for a bit of me time. We’ve developed a quiz to help you determine a productive use of your time.