Kids Ditch Smartphones for Brick Phones and Love the Refreshing Break!

At Ecclesfield School in Sheffield, a group of students took part in an interesting experiment. For three weeks, they gave up their smartphones and used basic 'brick phones' instead. These phones could only make calls and send texts, just like the ones people used in the early 2000s. Many of the students described the experience as 'refreshing' and 'quite amazing. ' They noticed they were sleeping more, spending more time with their families, and going outside more often. The trial made them realize how much time they usually spent on social media and how it affected their daily lives.

Maliah, a 14-year-old student, shared that before the trial, her screen time could reach up to 13 hours a day. She would wake up and immediately start watching TikTok, sometimes until 8 in the morning. This habit made her late for school, and she often missed out on seeing her friends. After school, she would go home, eat, watch more TikTok, call her friends, and then go to sleep. During the trial, she found herself sleeping better, finishing tasks faster, and having more time for herself. However, after the trial ended, she went back to using her smartphone a lot and felt disappointed in herself. She realized that she should probably spend less time on her phone, especially after hearing that some people think six hours a day is already a lot.

Olivia, who is 11, said she usually spent about seven hours a day on her phone. At first, the trial was challenging for her, but she soon started playing more sports and spending more time with her family. She learned that she didn't need all the apps she used before and that simple texting and calling were enough to stay in touch. Zerdesht, another year seven student, said he was nervous about using a brick phone at first, but he got used to it and ended up enjoying the experience. He also spent more time outside and with friends. Some students, like Flynn, thought that banning social media could help people get closer to each other, but most students believed that a ban would not work because kids would find ways to get around it. Instead, they suggested making social media safer for young people. Teachers at the school noticed that students were paying better attention in class and getting more sleep. The government is currently asking the public if social media should be banned for children under 16, and they plan to take action based on the results. The goal is to make sure young people have a safe and positive experience online.