‘How to Break Screen Addiction’

Students do a Think-Pair-Share on the clip using the following:

1. What is your initial reaction to the video? How did it make you feel?
2. Which word best describes your relationship with screens? addiction, dependency, occasional misuse, use
3. Have you ever taken a break from technology, and if so, did you experience the stages that Andy describes?

• Clip: Appreciating the abundance of the ordinary (1:59)

As a class watch the short video (filmed during the Covid lockdowns) ‘Appreciating the abundance of the ordinary’. Survey the class on their personal experience of ‘zombie scrolling’, ‘FOMO’, ‘time sinks’, ‘gaming addiction’ etc. Discuss our natural tendency to miss the significant because we are being distracted by the screens in front of our face. Students reflect on and share the last time they enjoyed the ‘ordinary’.

Students research recent statistics on device use, and compare their own habits and screen time to the average. Invite the class to share their opinions on what healthy limits for teenagers should look like these days.

Students create an infographic with the title:

‘How to break screen addiction – and the benefits of doing so’.