The doom behind scrolling: A campus-wide epidemic 

By Andi Arroyo

When I recently went on one of my daily walks around campus, I found myself looking up from my phone to see a lot of people like me. Students walking around campus, their faces bent down toward their screens heading to their next class. While I do not know their reasons to be on their phones, it made me wonder how many students chose to look down at their screens while walking around campus. 

It is well known that people today have more access to technology than ever before, especially for students. Next time you take a walk around campus, try to count the number of students who are looking down at a screen — more so, try and count how many who are not. 

In my case, I was scrolling through TikTok from the time I left my dorm, walked across the bridge and made it to the bookstore. I felt quite embarrassed, and a little ashamed, from how glued to my screen I was, which I think many of us can relate to. 

Technology has become a fundamental part of college students’ lives, as it is how we stay in touch with our family and friends at home, how assignments are submitted and a source of entertainment after a long day of classes and activities. However, it goes without saying that technology, especially smartphones, can impact students’ academic and social lives.

With how often students use the internet, it is certainly difficult to put the phone down when doing an activity, assignment or trying to go to bed. Some may think they have no willpower to turn it off, but there is science behind it. According to an article published by Psychology Today, using our phone, particularly for social media, releases dopamine into our brain, creating an addictive cycle to check our phones. So, while you may feel as though you are not disciplined enough to put the phone down, it is just how the program is designed; keeping you hooked while walking five minutes from class to your dorm!

It may not seem concerning that companies have mastered how to keep a platform growing, but take a moment and think: When was the last time you finished an assignment without scrolling on TikTok every 10 minutes? Is your screen time over six hours every day? When was the last time you took a walk around campus without staring at your phone? Did you notice how beautiful Centennial Lake looks when you are walking over the bridge? Has your phone kept you up late a night before an exam? It is these small instances that make you wonder how much a five-inch rectangle with a screen is affecting your life. I get it; going on your phone can seem like the perfect way to wind down after a long day, but your brain needs a break, too. 

So, what good can putting down the phone do for you? According to the Mayo Clinic Health Systems, cutting down your screen time can improve your physical health. It can aid in catching up on some sleep you may have lost, as the blue light from your screen signals to your brain it is not time to sleep yet! Reducing screen time can give you mental energy to get activities and tasks done. It can boost concentration, creativity and even motivation. Finally, reducing screen time can encourage more face-to-face conversations; it can aid in improving social skills and connection towards your friends and family!

For the most part, I think what most students want at the end of the day is to feel relaxed, so we instantly turn on our phones as a little reward for getting through the day, but there are alternatives! Reach for a book you have been meaning to read. Pick up a piece of paper and write how your day was. Listen to a podcast on a topic you are interested in. Go on a walk — without your phone. Catch up with others! There are so many things you can do instead of scrolling through your phone. I find myself less anxious when I purposely reduce my screen time for the week, which is something I recommend others should try! 

Going on our phones is a tough habit to break; it is an action that feels innate, but it is not. Next time you are leaving class, try to focus on what surrounds you, not what is on your screen. Put your phone across the room next time you work on an assignment or even add a screen-time limit. 

It will seem difficult at first; it is something I am still trying to practice. However, your brain and body will always appreciate some time to rest over scrolling through an endless amount of reels at 1 a.m.

Andi Arroyo is a sophomore journalism and political science major