Lexi Torres decided it was time for at least a 15-minute change to her day after hearing Delaney Ruston speak.
Ruston, known for a series of documentary films on screen time, is a filmmaker, author and Stanford-trained physician who addressed students in grades four through 12 in three assemblies on Nov. 21.
“I’m going to put 15 minutes on my calendar to take time away from every screen and do something I really want to do like a different activity every day. One of them could be painting because I really like art,” said Torres, an eighth grader who added competing in athletics and participating in other activities helps her limit screen time.
Ruston returned that evening for a community event titled “Parenting Screenagers: Tips for Success” and offered a tip for parents and students.
Tech time breaks are important in each home and how to do that first and foremost is a commitment to do a once a week tech talk, a five-minute talk because the issues in our tech evolution are so many that once we dedicate ourselves to a little bit of a conversation each week, it can transform households,” said Ruston.
Ruston shared in her talk some cases from her documentaries where screen time became addicting as well as some interesting numbers:
- Movies and streaming generate $39 billion in annual revenues while video gaming produces $365 billion.
- Since 2012, 51 percent of students are sleeping less than seven hours per night, and 82 percent have screening devices in their bedrooms. Students need an average of eight to 10 hours of sleep each night.
- Facebook started in 2004. Between 2004 and 2006, there was a reported 20% rise in anxiety cases among college students, and a 7% increase in severe depression among college students.
Ruston highlighted in an interview her support for Bulkeley Middle School following the Away for the Day national initiative to promote cellphone-free schools.
Bulkeley students are asked to leave their phones in their lockers at the start of the school day and are not permitted to remove the phone until the bell rings to end the school day. If a student needs to make a call during the school day, they may use a phone in the conference room near the main office.
We’re seeing it change all over the country, but we still have a long way to go,” said Ruston of programs like Away for the Day.
BMS Principal John Kemnitzer, who had the opportunity to meet with Ruston, said only a few students have violated the Away for the Day policy during the 2024-2025 school year.
“I think one of the positive benefits from the program is that it’s research and support that we’ve already made or a direction we’re already going in terms of eliminating cellphones and limiting screen time during the school day,” Kemnitzer said.
“This gave students an opportunity to hear a little bit more of the research behind that and why the choices are being made.”