Opinion: The Problem With Technology in Schools

My school iPad made my life worse.

This wasn’t entirely the case in middle school, when my parents would assist me in monitoring my screen time, but later, in high school, getting another school iPad at a time when I was just beginning to get more freedom, was not good for me.

    The rise of technology and more specifically, social media, has had a noticeable effect on today’s teenagers.  We have begun to observe more teenagers spending more and more time on their phones.  Most of the responsibility for this newfound addiction is placed on parents, but could schools be the real culprit?  Kids spend six hours a day at school; what, and more importantly, how, are they learning?

     It is common knowledge that many schools have begun to provide students with iPads or other devices for the purpose of completing schoolwork online and facilitating communication between teachers and students.  But these devices have few restrictions, and are rarely just used for schoolwork.  They give students the option (and temptation) of playing video games or using social media.

Why is it important for schools to teach students how to manage their time on social media?  Obsessive use of social media greatly impacts mental (and sometimes physical) health.  And the rate at which teens are using social media is off the charts.  The average time spent on social media for a 13-17 year old is about four hours, with 15-17 year olds using it more than 13-14 year olds.  Excessive time spent on social media is linked to feelings of isolation, eating disorders, self-harm, and even suicide.  And once you start using social media, it is hard to stop–so much so that some have even compared it to withdrawal.  

In addition to leading to isolation and depression and being addictive, social media also plays a role in making teenagers more self conscious and critical of themselves.  They will see others online doing amazing things and posting pictures of themselves that look amazing.  In reality, people only really post highlights, and many people edit their pictures to make themselves and their surroundings look different.  But the teens that see these posts will only take away that everyone else looks perfect and has a perfect life, making them feel alone, even if their life isn’t all that different.

 So how are schools currently dealing with social media use and the new introduction of iPads and other devices into the classroom? While students do sometimes get punished for use of social media during class time, it seems that schools are not actually teaching them how to effectively use these apps, and how to manage their screen time, and resist the pull of the phone.  One strategy that some schools, including both SPHS and Portland High School, are using to prevent students from using their phones is simply taking them away during the school day.  This tactic has increased test scores, but has also been correlated with higher suspension rates.  One possible explanation for this influx of bad behavior is that students lost something that had previously taken up a great deal of their time, only for no one to teach them other ways to effectively use that extra time.

  As I have gone through school, I have found that almost everything that the school teaches surrounding technology is about how to use it, but very little on how to stop using it.  Sure, in health class there might be a few classes dedicated to teaching about some of the effects of social media, but that information is useless when you don’t know how to stop using it.  And this is not just my experience.  In both the interviews I conducted on this subject, the students expressed that the school does nothing to assist students when it comes to navigating social media use, and the school should “put more effort into having students unlearn that addiction.”

     It is clear that our schools need to do better, but how?  There are a few options.  One option would be to stop providing iPads for schoolwork, or to provide iPads with more restricted app and website options.  While this idea would clear the school of a lot of responsibility for this topic, it does nothing to help students outside of school, and students are supposed to get an education that is relevant to their lives, and technology and social media are now a large part of that life.  

Another option would be to have a class on this subject.  This would allow students to decide whether learning about social media use/management is something that is necessary for them, and gives them a choice in the matter.  It would probably go more in depth on the topic for longer than many of the other options.  As for downsides, this would mean that a lot of the students who need this education the most would likely not get it.  They might not realize how much they need it and not sign up for the class, the class might be full, or they might simply be too busy. 

One more option is for schools to include regular talks or lessons (minus the homework and grades) on managing social media use and its effects.  This would be helpful in a way that a class might not be able to, as detaching the school aspect from the topic gives the offer of help a more genuine feel, as it is not simply an assignment to be completed.  These options are all a step in the right direction compared to what the school is doing now, and instead of just one, the best choice might be a combination of all three.

     In conclusion, providing students with devices for learning purposes does give schools a responsibility to help teach students to manage social media time better. This is an important part of dealing with the teen mental health crisis we are facing, as the effects that social media is having on teens are very serious, and often harmful.  The ubiquity of technology is something that we are all learning to cope with, and school is, after all, a place for learning.