Should screen time be limited for high school students? Most teenagers would strongly argue no to this question, but it is more complex than it first appears.

I would say no, it shouldn’t be an enforced limit on all students. That takes away their sense of freedom and independence at an age where such concepts are crucial during a young adult’s transition into adulthood. However, I would argue that all students should feel encouraged and want to limit their screen time.

High school students pride themselves on their freedom and ability to make choices. By forcing a time limit on every kid, it could cause anger and feelings of frustration. 

However, I believe that with encouragement and motivation, everyone can learn the good effects time limits can have on teens. 

The National Library of Medicine states, “More hours of screen time are associated with lower well-being in ages 2 to 17. Twice as many high (vs. low) users of screens had an anxiety or depression diagnosis. Associations with well-being were larger for adolescents than for children.”

You may think that surely if you were to limit your screen time you would be unhappier, not the opposite. 

I have limited my screen time and my average daily screen time used to be 10 or even 11 hours spent mainly on Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram and have felt a difference in my life. 

Now, with a limit of one hour on all social media platforms a day, my average daily screen time reports have changed drastically. Just this past week my daily average was just above three hours, with the majority of time spent on iMessage. 

But, my reports aren’t the only thing that has changed by implementing screen time on my phone. I’ve also noticed a change in my sleeping patterns. I used to find it hard to fall asleep without the urge to grab my phone and respond to my friends or scroll through social media. I would often get less than 8 hours of sleep per night, leaving me feeling groggy and slow the following morning. Now, I can set down my phone, turn out the lights, and fall asleep quickly – with no urge to pick my phone back up. I wake up and immediately feel refreshed and ready to start my day, whereas I used to sleep through alarms constantly and had trouble getting out of bed. 

In addition to feeling well-rested, I have also felt a change in my mental health. Being the kind of person who seriously suffered from FOMO (fear of missing out), it would be hard for me to watch stories and view posts of what other people were doing constantly. 

I fell into a never-ending cycle of comparison, convincing myself that I was not having enough fun, did not have good enough clothes, or that even at points – my lifestyle just wasn’t as good as others.

Now, with my limit, I often do not even view others’ stories or posts and have become ignorant of the online presence that others are maintaining. Of course, I still post on social media and interact with posts, but I no longer feel the stress of “being the best” or glorifying my activities and lifestyle. 

I can confidently say that while the change was hard to accept at first, ultimately I have become a happier person with a more limited screen time. 

I no longer envy what others have or do, I no longer am overwhelmed by FOMO, and I can go about my day focused on the things that directly matter to me, like my relationships with others, schoolwork, and activities.

I am not here to say that social media is a bad thing, because I find joy in seeing my friend’s photos and sharing my own, and I enjoy communicating with my friends as well, but I do firmly believe that with more usage of those platforms, more issues arise.

Limiting screen time may seem to be a daunting task at first, but I can assure you that the benefits you will face go beyond what any article or statistic could convey. 

You are not just reducing hours on a screen, but giving yourself more time to foster better mental health, deeper connections and a more fulfilling daily life. 

Limits shouldn’t be looked at as a restriction but as a key to reclaiming your joy, time, and well-being. 

Just take the step, and trust me, you’ll feel the difference.