I always assumed my screen time was low. I played sports, participated in activities, and tried to limit my screen time. However, upon checking it, I was shocked by how high it really was. I wondered if I shared this misconception with other students at Boulder High. To find an answer, I decided to interview a diverse group of students, asking them first to estimate their screen time, and then verifying it through the screen time feature in the settings app. Here’s what I found:
The results were surprising. In total, a whopping 81% of students underestimated their screen time. On average, students underestimated their screen times by an hour and forty-five minutes. Many students reached numbers of six or even seven hours daily, far more than they expected. Roger Shen, ‘26, lamented, “That’s crazy. I use my phone way more than I thought. That’s a bad habit.” His reaction reflected a larger theme. Students simply didn’t know how much time they spent on their phones.
Other students vowed to make a change: “I’m going to work on this as we move through the new year,” promised Adam Toronyi, ‘26. Despite being the only person to correctly guess their exact screen time, Toronyi still hopes to reduce his time spent on Instagram reels. However, resolutions were not limited to him. Lennon Mallan, ‘28, said he would try to “keep mine under three hours a day” until he graduated. The goal was optimistic, and Mallan’s commitment was tangible.
While many students vowed to regulate their time spent on a phone, this can be easier said than done. Nationally, smartphone addiction is a critical issue. According to Google Gemini, 50%of teens consider themselves addicted to their phones, a statistic that reveals just how common high screen time really is. Excessive phone usage has been proven to cause shortened attention spans, suicidal and other dangerous thoughts, depression, and social isolation. An anonymous source confessed, “I get home after a draining day and just want to look at my phone. I know it’s bad, but the more I look at it, the less energy I have to do my homework.” Despite this, ignoring temptations can be difficult as we grow accustomed to our phones.
However, even though phones can be necessary in this society, students at Boulder High have found techniques to limit their screen time. An anonymous person who had a screen time of under two hours had words of wisdom: “I fill my days with activities, so that rather than forcing myself to ignore my phone, I don’t even think about it.” Interestingly, other students have expressed similar sentiments. Owen Mulloy, ‘26, stated, “If I have nothing to do, my screen time will be high, but I am always playing basketball or lifting weights with my buddies.” He expressed that by the time he arrives home, he has no time left to be on his phone because of his numerous homework assignments.
Ultimately, students at Boulder High have high screen times, not because of laziness but because of a widespread underestimation of how much we use our phones. It seems that for students, replacing a bad habit with something fun or new is the best way to end their addiction. Reducing screen time isn’t about giving something up, but about making room for experiences that matter more.
