In a world where a glowing screen follows us from dawn to dusk, the difference between productive and addictive behavior is blurring. As our lives become more intertwined with digital devices, understanding the impact of technology addiction and mastering screen time management has never been more important.
“I spend at least 6 hours on screens and I feel addicted to mostly my computer because I’m on it mostly since it’s convenient. I can message friends easily, keep multiple tabs open, do work and also binge watch. However, because of that, I find it hard to find stimulus or anything exciting nowadays because of my computer” said Keana Mei.
The convenience of messaging friends, multitasking with multiple tabs, completing work, and binge-watching shows has made the computer an essential part of their lives. However, this reliance has resulted in an unexpected consequence: a decreased ability to find excitement or stimulation outside of the digital world.
“Although I don’t use any apps to limit my screen time, the screen time notification makes me wary and cautious of how much time I spend on a screen. I’ve tried to set a rule to not look at any screens ~30 minutes before I sleep because it helps me have a healthier sleep and this has been helping me wake up energized and get more sleep,” said Thwenic Thanwin.
Although regular screen time notifications do not rely on apps to limit usage, they serve as an important reminder to be mindful of digital consumption. Thwenic has seen significant improvements in his sleep quality since implementing a personal rule to avoid screens for about 30 minutes before bed.
“I think I’m especially addicted to my phone as any free time that I get I always just go grab my phone and I’ll watchTikTok,” said Jake Yang.
This confession highlights a common struggle: the desire to fill every free moment with digital content and mindless entertainment, especially on engaging platforms like TikTok.
“I don’t use any extra apps or tools, I try to limit myself to less than 6 hours and use music to try and limit it,” said Eric Kim.
