Aliso Niguel High School students of 2023 are negatively impacted by social media and are not reaching their full potential because of their access to technology. Students’ phones and other devices are a source of distraction from completing their work or staying focused in school.
If one were to walk through a school hall, one would notice that the majority of students can be seen captivated by their phones. Whether checking a friend’s instagram story, taking a BuzzFeed quiz, or scrolling endlessly through Tiktok, all of these have shaped a students work schedule and their behavior.
Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy states, “Studies have also shown a relationship between social media use and poor sleep quality, reduced sleep duration, sleep difficulties, and depression among youth.”
With the popularization and advancement in technology, students at ANHS will continue to find it difficult to stay on track at school due to their irregular sleeping schedules and their risk of having mental health issues. When students are struggling with their own problems outside of school, their grades are prone to fluctuate or plummet rather than improve.
Students’ exposure to social media has also given them opportunities to make fun of their peers without their consent. During pep rallies or school performances, some students will record performers to degrade them or embarrass them online. Students may also take pictures or videos of other students without their consent and post it on a social media platform. School resources such as Text-a-Tip have been established to help remove this behavior and teach students the consequences of their actions.
Students have become so engaged in their social media platforms that even when they are in school, they tend to hide their phones away from their teachers and continue using them during the time they are supposed to be learning. Some teachers even go as far as forcing students to store their phones away in boxes or hangers in order to prevent them from using them during class.
Mrs. Macdonald states, “Technology is a big distraction and students are tempted to use it, and some of them seem like they can’t live without it”
Mrs. Macdonald has made her students lock away their phones in boxes, and yet some of her students go against her rules during class by managing to grab their phones during a lecture or working time. Not only does this affect students themselves, but teachers must spend time out of their own day to figure out what ways will keep their students engaged throughout the entire period.
ANHS tries to facilitate their students’ learning paths by providing students ways for them to interact with their community. Students can engage with their community through sports, after school activities, or clubs.
When students separate themselves from social media through these activities or by participating in class, they will feel less reliant on technology. As a result, students who are not dependent on their phones will have significantly better physical and mental state, and they will ultimately be more prepared to set a good path for their future by confronting the hardships they may face.
