From what started as a passion project to what is now something more serious. Radhika Soni, class of 2027, has started the Phone Detox Challenge to help many students at Lenape to limit their phone usage.
“I realized that social media has a lasting negative effect on many students and I’ve seen it on some of my peers and even my classmates at school.” Radhika noticed. “I’m not saying social media is bad, there are also many positive effects to social media, but I believe it is a distraction to our learning environment.”
When interviewing Radhika, she explained that the frontal lobe of the brain controls judgment, reasoning, and planning. This is not fully developed until around the age of 20. Social media apps send dopamine, otherwise known as the ‘feel good hormone’, to our brains. She says that this is why it is challenging for teenagers to control their usage of social media.
Radhika believes that as students, we should have a limit on how much time we spend on social media. With this, she went out to create the Phone Detox Challenge.
It all started during last year’s Lenape Passion Project. Radhika was selected from a group of students to present her presentation about the negative impacts of social media on teenagers in the classroom. She was able to share her findings and present them to around 100 teachers. After realizing that she wanted to do more to prevent the negative impacts on students because of social media, Radhika started the Phone Detox Challenge.
With the huge support of Mr. Cattani, Radhika has been able to spread the Phone Detox Challenge to many students with the notion of helping them control themselves through social media. Over 100 students have participated so far and they are aiming for 150 participants by next year.
“Last school year, we launched the pilot program, where the first 10 students participated in the challenge. After completing the challenge, we sent them a feedback form and the outcome of the challenge showed many positive factors,” Radhika says. “Mr. Cattani and I decided that we should make it a school-wide challenge open to all students.”
The Phone Detox Challenge is a five-day program in which participants lock their phones in a case during school hours. Students can lock and unlock their phone cases at the main office each morning and afternoon from Monday to Friday. While students can keep their phones with them throughout the day, they can not be used because the cases will be locked. At the end of the challenge, participants will receive a certificate of completion. Additionally, a bonus incentive such as extra credit or a homework pass may be offered, depending on the teacher and the class.
Out of the 100 students who completed the challenge last year, 50 of the students were surveyed. According to the data from the completion survey:
- 80% of the students experienced a reduction in procrastination
- 44% students turned off notifications
- 30% students set screen time limits
- 14% students deleted social media apps
- 10% students set no phone zones
- 66% students put away their phones during class
- 60% students felt more concentrated
- 58% students had a stronger connection with their friends during school
“We want to continue this at Lenape for as long as possible,” Radhika says, “With the help of Mr. Cattani and many teachers at Lenape, we want to allow students to gain the most benefits from their learning.
Conclusion:
The Phone Detox Challenge, started by Mr. Cattani and Radhika Soni, is a challenge that allows students to earn a certificate and possibly extra credit while being able to limit their time on social media during the school day.
Radhika and her team are looking for participants. If you would like to join, look out on the school’s TVs for a QR of how to sign up or, go to the main office for more information.