Gen Z’s Screen Time: A Double-Edged Sword
As evening descends over Reno, Cameron Cobbin, a 20-year-old journalism student at the University of Nevada, finds himself in a familiar spot: on his couch, scrolling through TikTok. What starts as a quick check-in often stretches into hours, a testament to the magnetic pull of digital platforms.
Cobbin is acutely aware of the toll this habit takes on his mental health. “I think for mental health, sometimes it just gives me insecurity issues. I’ll see guys with the perfect physique or someone being able to just remain active all the time,” Cobbin admits.
This scenario is far from unique among college students. The pervasive nature of online activity has become a norm for Gen Z, but it carries hidden consequences. John Santana, a 19-year-old student of criminal law in Las Vegas, observes that the generation is “always on their phone, always on Instagrams, Snapchats. Man, it’s just normalized in this generation.”
Many young people believe they can juggle screen time with other tasks, but their attention is often more divided than they realize. Aaron Boyson, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota Duluth, emphasizes that the human brain is adept at task-switching rather than true multitasking. “The human brain is a master at switching tasks very fast. So it seems like you’re multitasking, but you’re really not. You’re just good at switching back and forth,” Boyson explains.
The ramifications of this digital immersion are evident in everyday life. Students report fatigue, distraction, and a sense of disconnection. Soleiva Sarallano, an 18-year-old biology student from Las Vegas, shares her personal experience: “The brain fog. It definitely makes me feel more sleepy and just like wanting to just stay in bed longer, it makes me feel less energetic.”
Recognizing the adverse effects of excessive screen time, some students are taking steps to alter their habits. “Log Off,” a national initiative, encourages youth to engage more in face-to-face interactions and reduce their reliance on screens. Tariq Lawal, a representative of the movement, states, “Log Off basically exists to help people see the negative impact that social media can have on them, and how to avoid those negative effects, which can affect their self-esteem, their mental health, their relationship with other people in their lives, and so much more, even their academics.”
As dusk falls outside Cobbin’s window, he places his phone aside, contemplating the hours lost to digital distractions. Reflecting on the need for balance, he notes the importance of self-awareness with technology use: “Managing your time and being able to recognize when something is getting out of hand on social media and knowing how to de-escalate wherever you are.”
