Face it: almost everyone at Etowah has a phone. Phones seemingly make life easier by aiding everyday needs, but they can be also be highly addictive. Phones can have an impact on the ability to focus, the ability to sleep, and the ability to socialize. 

“Unless I have something productive to do or a friend next to me that I’m talking to, I’m always on my phone,” Beth Leak, junior, said.  

Most students complain they are tired, or they did not get enough sleep. The blue light cell phones radiate restrains the production of melatonin, a hormone that aids in sleep. Students could reduce this blue light, but it still is harmful. Some students could develop depression, irritability, and insulin resistance which could lead to heart disease. Watching just one more episode or staying up to finish that conversation on FaceTime could be a contributing factor to waking up in the morning still tired or even oversleeping. 

“I usually spend six to eight hours on my phone, and I stay up a little later than I normally would because of my phone,” Abby Lukens, sophomore, said.  

Average phone users check their phones 85 to 100 times a day. That may not sound too crazy, but imagine doing something else that excessively, like eating a piece of chocolate or sipping coffee. Students can download an app that tracks their overall activity and screen time. Unlocking and checking the phone too often can increase stress and anxiety levels. Students become stressed because when they check their phones, and they end up procrastinating. Something as small as checking notifications while in class can be a distraction and set a student back. Most freshmen have reported that they have at least three hours of homework each night, raising stress levels even higher.  But if students finish their work early, some teachers might reward them by letting them pull out a phone.  

“Not having our phones out helps the class be less distracted; everyone is always on task,” Kiana Walker, sophomore, said. 

For those students whose teachers do not allow phones in class, this can be the added boost they need to focus. 

“When I don’t have my phone in class, I am less distracted, and everyone else seems less distracted, too,” Logan Chenault, senior, said. 

By sending that last Snapchat streak or simply scrolling through Instagram, many people may be impacting their everyday lives without even realizing it.