By Caleb Wakefield

This school year, we have had a new cell phone policy put into place. It restricts students and teachers from using their cellphones in class and during the school day. However, during lunch at school, and outside of school hours the students can use their cellphones. Many students have struggled with not using their phones. Some students who claim they are addicted to their cellphones, including students like Jackson Landers, say that it’s a natural way to fill downtime. “When I feel like, when I’m not like actively doing something in the moment, my first instinct would be to pull out my phone,” he says.

Another student, Jericho Wendt, claims that he has a hard time staying off of his phone even when he should be focusing on his class work, “I would say I do have a cellphone addiction because I’m usually pretty eager to go on my phone during class.”

Not all Nighthawks claim they are dependent on their devices. When asked about the matter, Genesis Lima says “I do a good job at making sure I’m not on my phone all the time.” Similarly, Brody Young says he uses his phone rarely. “I feel like I don’t really even really need my cellphone.” Says Young, “I use it for necessities like calling my parents. Communicating with them. Talking to my friends.” He also claims to play games on it during downtime, but is not necessarily addicted to them.

Sierra O’Leary Jackson brings a unique perspective on teenage use of devices, “ Phones are very addicting for most kids my age. In my family the age limit for us is 18 to have a phone because it’s better and you get to have a phone free childhood” She says.

Recently a los angeles court handed down a guilty verdict in a case regarding the addictive impacts of meta and youtube on Teenagers. This is a significant turn of events in the wake of recent concerns over the impacts of social media on young minds. This is a first step in addressing an issue that impacts individuals across our campus.