Teenagers today face constant questions about our screentime. Gaming, texting, and watching videos all come under scrutiny for detracting from our education. So, what is the impact? And how can we make the internet a positive influence on our studies, rather than a negative one?
Research suggests that in many cases, excessive internet use can lead to limited academic performance. Short-form social media, like TikTok videos, Instagram reels and YouTube shorts, pose a particular issue. These platforms use algorithms to ensure you stay hooked. They account for likes, shares, comments and even watch-time to select videos for you. Highly addictive, every social media user knows the feeling of checking the time and being left wondering where the last two hours went.
Not only can this take crucial time away from your day, but it also decreases your attention span. Most of these clips last fifteen to sixty seconds, far less time than it takes to do your English Literature homework due tomorrow. Compared to the ability to switch videos at any moment, staying focused on a single task for an hour or two can be challenging for the typical ‘screenager.’
But are there any benefits to social media use? Kai, an Oundelian who achieved eleven grade 9s at GCSE says, ‘You can learn lots of things in a bitesize’ form. For him, Instagram reels have been a source of inspiration for his favourite subject, Mathematics, discovering a plethora of new ideas and topics to explore. The algorithm forces educational creators to make their content interesting, helping young people to engage with their subject areas more broadly.
The addictive nature of gaming can also be converted into an educational tool. Duolingo, a language learning platform, helps learners to consistently develop their abilities by using Streaks and Achievements, a common tactic in online games to make players come back. Clearly this idea has great potential as Duolingo has more users than there are language learners in the entire USA.
There are various platforms that, like Duolingo, gamify education to help students build consistency. One of these is Habitica, an app which allows you to build healthy habits such as regular revision, waking up early, or eating well.
Not only that, but the internet can be an invaluable revision tool. YouTube videos can provide vital explanations on misunderstood content; the massive variety of flashcard websites help pupils with memorisation and platforms, like OneNote and Word, allow pupils to collaborate remotely. Oundle School also gives pupils access to paid platforms such as JSTOR and Massolit, allowing its pupils to access a wealth of academic articles and lectures, enriching their education.
To best exploit these benefits, some screenagers may also need to take steps to reduce or even prevent their negative use of screen time. The School laptops do not allow pupils to download apps or access harmful websites, a tactic which we can extend to our personal devices. There are a variety of app and website blockers you can download to prevent your access either on a permanent basis or on a schedule, keeping key focus hours social-media free.
Deleting social media altogether, of course, is another viable option and one that I have adopted myself. I am predicted straight A*s and was fed up of procrastinating on TikTok and potentially, damaging my chances of achieving these grades, and so, deleted it entirely and downloaded website blockers to prevent access on the web. Even once I deleted TikTok, at first, I would absent-mindedly click on the spot on my home screen where it used to be. Realising that TikTok was so ingrained into my muscle memory, I knew I had made the right choice.
Rather than innately good or bad, the internet can either help or hinder pupils in achieving better grades. Invaluable when used positively, a well-disciplined pupil can take advantage of their devices, establishing them as a useful, educational tool.
