At Hunter College, exam season will have many students studying hard. Even now, during breaks in between classes, many students can be found sitting at the sky bridge or in the libraries scrolling through their phones, staring at their laptops.
According to Comparitech, the average person in the United States spends an average of seven hours and three minutes of screen time.
High screen times can have multiple health consequences but students at Hunter, and elsewhere, are dependent on their technological devices to perform well at school.
When asked to check what her screen time is at the moment, Mayrenis Fernandez, a freshman student at Hunter who is undeclared, finds it to be just two hours (for that morning). She admits, though, that it is because she has had limited access to her phone. Fernandez finds herself scrolling through her phone often most times. When asked whether it is to delay studying or rather because of it she replies, “I gotta think about that.” In the end, she concludes that she thinks it is because of academic tasks.
One of the many health areas that screen times affect is sleep. Frequent use of technological devices, especially at night or before going to bed, can disrupt healthy sleeping patterns.
Though not always the case, high phone usage can also result in eye strain, dry eyes, headaches, and pains in the neck and shoulders.
Raiha Malik is a human biology student. She also says she mindlessly scrolls through her phone and finds her weekly phone screen time average to be seven hours.
“I feel like it’s a mix of both,” she explains in response to whether her usage was personal or academic. “Because on the train– like I have a long commute– so then I use my phone to read a textbook or articles for my assignment. So part of it, but I think most of it ends up being like me relaxing.”
Multiple studies have found that there is a correlation between screen time and mental health. One effect of too much screen time is the possible development of addictive behaviors. This means that individuals can develop an attachment to their devices and this attachment can lead to a hindrance in everyday tasks. For students, this can also mean an interference in study habits— and a disruption in study habits could result in lower grades.
A 2017 study by the journal Preventative Medicine Reports suggests that screen time duration “is a significant risk factor or a marker of mental disorders among US adults.” The study, more specifically, evaluates the correlation between screen time and depression though other studies have also found a correlation between screen time and anxiety disorders.
“I feel like I could spend a little bit less time on my phone,” adds Malik “and spend more time actually studying or like maybe you know “touching grass” as they say.”
The Athenian reached out to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to inquire about what resources it may offer to NYC students for their mental health support but was unable to obtain a response.
Though it might be difficult for students to find balanced screen time, they can still follow some suggested general tips.
The Athenian reached out to the NewYork-Presbyterian who redirected The Athenian to their Health Matters blog where many wellness, health, and science stories and recommendations are posted for anyone to read.
Some sources suggest lowering the average to two hours, if possible. For students, who have prolonged periods of studying in front of a screen, there is also the advice to “take breaks at least every three to four hours.”
It is encouraged that students have more “green time,” meaning that they spend time outdoors or in the natural world.
Prioritizing “green time” over screen time might be an effective way for students to find balance and reduce their stress during these taxing times.
