The series “We Create the Culture We Want,” named after the mantra, highlights certain aspects of culture at the high school that impacts students and teachers alike. This installment explores phone usage among students.

About one half of teenagers in the United States spend four or more hours on their phones daily, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

At a time when smartphones are used for everything from social media to schoolwork, they have become a constant presence for students throughout the day. As smartphones become further integrated into daily life, their impact, both beneficial and disruptive, is becoming larger.

A survey conducted by The Cypress of 249 students found that only 8 students reported never checking their phones between classes. Phone use also extends into class time, with 61 percent of students saying they occasionally or often check their phones during class.

Outside of school, many students recognize both the benefits and drawbacks of frequent phone use. Some find that spending a lot of time on their phones makes it harder to maintain healthy sleep habits or stay focused on schoolwork. Simultaneously, many view their phones as an important way to communicate with friends, stay updated on social events and maintain social connections throughout the day.

How Students Use Their Phones

According to the National Library of Medicine, over 95 percent of teens ages 13 to 17 have access to a phone and over 90 percent of teens report that they use their phone to pass time.

In The Cypress’s survey, over 80 percent reported an average screen time of at least two hours per day, with nearly half exceeding four hours.

For many students, phones are a primary means of communication, both during and outside of school hours. Texting and messaging apps allow them to stay in touch with friends and to coordinate plans. Sophomore Abe Linke said he primarily uses his phone for watching TV and texting his friends.

“My friends are all super busy, so it’s useful to be able to talk to them whenever,” Linke said. “I can talk to my friends anytime, especially on weekends.”

In addition to messaging, social media use is a big part of a student’s daily phone use. Many use platforms like Instagram and TikTok for entertainment or to take a break from their workload. Junior Laila De Oliveria said she uses her phone for a couple hours a day on average and that it reduces her stress.

“I usually use [my phone] for social media and just to decompress from all the work I’m doing,”
De Olivera said. “It’s a way to take a break from everything.”

Teacher Phone Policies

The high school’s student handbook does not prohibit students from carrying phones in their pockets, but teachers can require students to store them in backpacks or phone caddies.

Phone policies vary widely among teachers, as some enforce strict rules by using phone caddies, while others are more lenient with phone policy. Many students keep their phones in their backpacks or pockets during class, depending on the teacher’s expectations.

Sophomore Amarachi Ikonne said that she thinks most phone policies at the high school are relaxed, but they still vary between teachers.

“I have one teacher who uses phones to take attendance. At the start of class, we have to put our phones in caddies. If your phone isn’t there, you get marked as absent,” Ikonne said.

French teacher Alexander Craven said he dislikes phone use during school hours and has a firm policy on phones in class.

“When students come into class, phones must be put away. I shouldn’t see them at all. Zero tolerance,” Craven said. “Maybe once a class, I have to remind a student, and they put it away.”

De Oliveria said that her phone sometimes distracts her in class and that most of the current phone policies are reasonable.

“I think we should be able to keep our phones with us and not have to put them in a phone caddy or anything like that,” De Oliveira said. “But I understand why teachers don’t want us using them during class, since they can be a big distraction.”

Craven said it could be beneficial for all teachers to ban phone use in class.

“Teachers across the board should be strict,” Craven said. “We should have as little phone use as possible. The less, the better.”

Impacts of Phones on Students

Although there are concerns about distraction, about half of the surveyed students reported that their phones positively affected their social lives.

Sophomore Nate Lawson, who estimated his daily phone use at four to five hours, said he mainly uses his phone for connecting with his friends and listening to music.

“Since I live in South Brookline and most of my friends are in North Brookline, [my phone] helps bridge the gap,” Lawson said. “It has so many uses and always helps when I need something.”

According to some students, phones can also serve as academic tools. The majority of respondents in The Cypress’s survey reported using their phones for school related tasks during the school day. Several students said that apps such as Canvas Student allow them to access assignments and announcements from teachers more efficiently.

De Olivera said that her phone can help her stay informed about broader topics.

“[My phone] helps me see things that are going on,” De Olivera said. “It helps me figure out information about the world, like current events.”

However, many students reported that they struggle to focus on schoolwork because of their phones. Ikonne said that her phone can be a major distraction.

“If I can see my phone in my vicinity, I’ll want to use it instead of working,” Ikonne said. “I get distracted by games like Block Blast. Instead of doing my work, I’ll just keep playing, and then I end up staying up really late.”

Several survey respondents said that they often “doom scroll” on TikTok or Instagram when opening their phones for a different purpose. Senior Max Delaney said that his phone often leads to procrastination.

“I scroll on reels and TikTok most of the time. It’s more distracting than helpful,” Delaney said. “I procrastinate a lot because of my phone, which makes me less productive.”

Craven said that he noticed phone use creates less social interactions between students.

“One thing that stood out to me was when I had lunch duty last year. I’d walk around and see students sitting next to their best friends but still on their phones,” Craven said. “That made me a little sad because, as a 90s-2000s kid, that’s a big difference from how I grew up.”

The National Library of Medicine has also identified excessive screen time as a factor contributing to negative effects on physical health, mental health and overall well being of users. These include potential eye strain and neck, shoulder pain and back pain. In The Cypress’s survey, about a quarter of students reported experiencing each of these symptoms.

Phones in the Future

The World Health Organization advises that adolescents should limit the amount of time spent being sedentary, particularly recreational screen use.

Many survey respondents said they feel their screen time is excessive, often leading to distraction. Popular methods to combat this included using screen time limits, deleting social media apps and storing their phones in another room.

As students work to manage their screen time, the role of phones in daily life can continue to evolve. Some students from the survey considered how advancements in technology could deepen reliance on phones. Lawson said that the rise of new technology may influence how students use phones in the future.

“As AI becomes more accessible on phones, [phones] might play a bigger role, but people already use their phones a lot, so I don’t think it’ll change much,” Lawson said.

Ikonne said that phone use could become more problematic over time, especially as students become more dependent on their devices.

“I think we’re at the point where it’s actually becoming a problem because people are getting addicted,” Ikonne said. “I hate phone caddies, but I get why they’re used.”

As students work to manage their screen time, the role of phones in daily life continues to evolve. Craven said that he thinks there may be a stronger shift in the future to prevent phones from negatively impacting students’ educations.

“In the next five to ten years, I see schools realizing that phone use is detrimental and moving toward a zero-phone policy,” Craven said. “I could see phones being something you use outside of school, while in school we focus on being present with each other.”