Eagle Era

By Sachi Ladole

If phones are bugs, AHS is crawling with them—and they’re feeding on our attention and conversations. What used to be classrooms full of conversation and collaboration have sneakily become seas of screens and silent scrolling.

These days, phones are everywhere, and their presence is changing the way we focus, learn, and interact with others. While phones offer access to information and organizational tools, their constant use comes at a cost. Attention is divided, and real-world social connections are weakened. Often, when students have free time, their automatic reflex is to check their phones.

This habit makes it harder for them to talk to their peers in class, meet new people, and form meaningful bonds. Even casual conversations are easily replaced by scrolling and texting. But texting lacks the same depth and body language that make in-person conversations feel genuine. Talking face-to-face helps people build trust and connection in a way that screens can’t replace. 

Students often become engrossed in their phones, ignoring the world around them (Photo Credit: Sachi Ladole (9)). 

Ms. Sanfacon, who teaches Health, said, “I know that we have a lot of really good students here, but still if you’re being obsessive and compulsive about interacting with your phone and people on the other end of it, how can you accomplish as much? You can’t.” Phones don’t just interrupt lessons, they interrupt interactions outside the classroom. It’s about more than just missing a few words in a conversation; phones make it harder to be present. You are present physically but not mentally, making those moments feel less real.

Students recognize the problem too. Jared Soto Reyes (10) said, “I use it to distract myself from anything, to check up on my friends, see if anyone texted, the time. Really just general things that progress me through the day.” Like many students, Reyes recognizes that phones help us get through the day, but that they also get in the way of learning. “It allows students to access Google Classroom from their phones, but at the same time, there’s a lot of kids that use their phones in class when they should be learning.” Phones have warped the norms in social settings. “I feel like maybe my social life would improve and I could interact with people more,” Reyes said.

Regular face-to-face interactions aren’t just pleasant, they are essential for mental and emotional health. A study published in 2023 in the National Library of Medicine highlights how crucial in-person communication is for mental health. A collection of around 10,000 daily surveys split between over 400 individuals found that participants who spent the majority of their time communicating face-to-face reported lower stress levels, while those relying on phones experienced fewer emotional benefits.

Akshaj Khanduri (9), who doesn’t have a phone, sees both sides. “If I have nothing to do, I’m just standing around and not having a phone makes me bored.” At the same time he noted a benefit; “I feel like [people with phones] think more about playing games and social things, while I’m just trying to lock in for school. I don’t have that distraction.” Khanduri explained how he believes that the impact of phones can range from person to person, adding that, “If you are really organized and know your priorities, it is good because you know when and when not to use your phone.”

Schools and students must find a way to balance the benefits of technology with the need for focused learning and genuine interaction. Phones definitely have the potential to connect us together—but only if we choose to put them down every once in a while.