Doomed to Scroll!

Have you ever wondered how screen time affects your social life in the long run? Or how you interact with the world? Many students at CSArts rely on the technology of their computers to do just about everything. Whether they are finishing schoolwork, surfing the web, or playing games, they have everything at the edge of their fingertips. With cell phones and social media within reach, students are easily influenced by misinformation, and therefore, it gets harder every day to form an original thought or get more nuanced feedback from people beyond the screen.

With the rise of false information, students become more impressionable and ultimately buy into political bias, continuing to spread like wildfire. “You inevitably get drawn in one direction. So, I think students can be at the mercy of being further radicalized to either side if they’re just getting their info from social media,” Principal of Academics, Nicole Read said. Read encourages students to gather second opinions to find balanced perspectives, rather than relying on social media as the first and final source of information. 

The biggest concern Read has about the effects of social media on students’ academic performance is the increase in inattentiveness and poor time management skills. She mentioned a study where students were given a test with the distance of their phones changing for each study group. When the phone was absent, they noticed that GPA and IQ levels were higher. “Your brain is self-consciously tracking what it [the phone] is doing…even if you’re not focused on it,” Read said. With social media being used as a platform for information and validation, social media works as a catalyst to pre-existing personal narratives. 

Remember to be mindful of the media you indulge in and question your sources. Ask community members and trusted individuals for their viewpoints for balanced, non-biased information.