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Cell phone free for two weeks: teenagers experience surprising freedom!
5B at the Neulandschule in Grinzing is starting a two-week cell phone withdrawal to promote communication and sleep.
Cell phone free for two weeks: teenagers experience surprising freedom!
On Sunday evening, 5B from the Neulandschule in Grinzing started an extraordinary challenge: two weeks without cell phones. In a world where these “handy” devices[2] often considered essential, 20 teenagers, accompanied by their parents, handed over their cell phones. It all started with a sleepover in the gym, where everything revolved around movies and pizza.
The idea behind this experiment came from class teacher Katrin Monschein-Oberreither. Inspired by an ORF documentary about the effects of cell phone use, she wanted to give her students the opportunity to experience life without their constant companions. Topics such as the addictive nature of certain apps and the influence of influencers were also discussed. Loud The press, the students documented their screen time in advance, some of which was over ten hours a day.
What motivated the students to take the challenge?
Girls and boys had different motivations: While the girls primarily used social networks, the boys were mostly immersed in the world of games and TikTok. However, some students took this challenge seriously: five of them received old push-button phones, while one kept his smartphone with zero screen time. In some cases, communication options such as WhatsApp via laptops or passing Snapchat accounts to friends were used.
The upcoming two weeks brought mixed feelings for many students. Some were skeptical about whether they would be able to cope without a smartphone. However, Jana, a participant, noticed that not much changed in her everyday life, but missed her cell phone before going to bed.
Positive feedback after the cell phone break
After the first few days of the challenge, it is now clear that the students are benefiting from this experience. Many reported positive changes: They slept better, had more time for their hobbies and communication with family members noticeably improved. The mood in the class became more lively, and the students also increasingly resorted to personal conversations during breaks.
Director Eva Fessler, who supports the initiative, puts it in a nutshell: She would like to see legal regulations on cell phone use in order to avoid developmental delays and dissatisfaction among children. Loud The press The participating teachers also see the need to further restrict access to school apps and phone calls in order to give students new perspectives beyond the digital world.
Overall, this challenge shows that life without a cell phone can not only be possible, but also enriching. It will be exciting to see how many of the students will put their newfound time to good use when they get their cell phones back after the two weeks.