Good morning, Miss Yang and my fellow classmates.
Let me begin with a simple question: How many of us check our phones before we even get out
of bed? For many students, that habit is completely normal. We wake up to notifications, spend
our breaks on social media, study with our phones beside us, and sleep with screens still in front
of us.
Technology is useful. It helps us learn, communicate, and complete our work faster. But when
screen use begins to control our attention, emotions, and daily habits, it becomes a problem. That
is why I believe digital detox should become part of school programmes.
[Need]
There is a real need for this because excessive screen time affects students in several serious
ways.
First, it affects mental health. Social media often creates pressure by showing unrealistic
lifestyles, appearance, and success. When students constantly compare themselves to what they
see online, they may feel insecure, anxious, stressed, or dissatisfied with themselves. Some even
begin to measure their worth through likes, comments, and followers.
Second, it affects concentration and academic performance. Many students try to study while
checking messages or scrolling through social media. Every notification breaks focus. Once
attention is lost, it takes time to recover. As a result, studying becomes less effective, tasks take
longer, and more mistakes are made.
[Prop: Phone notification interrupting the presentation]
Third, it affects health and relationships. Many students use their phones late at night, which
reduces sleep quality. Poor sleep then affects mood, attention, and energy in class. At the same
time, too much phone use can weaken face-to-face communication. Students may spend more
time online than truly connecting with the people around them.
So this is not just a small habit. It is a problem that affects students emotionally, academically,
and physically.
The solution is not to ban technology completely. The solution is to teach students how to use it
in a healthier and more balanced way through digital detox programmes in schools.
Schools can introduce screen-free study periods so students learn to focus without constant
distraction. They can hold awareness workshops about social media pressure, sleep, and phone
addiction. They can also organize offline activities, such as group discussions, reading sessions,
outdoor programmes, or wellness events, so students spend more time engaging in real life
instead of constantly depending on screens.
[Prop: A case labled "Keep Phone"]
This would help students build self-control and healthier habits. In short, digital detox is not
about rejecting technology. It is about using technology wisely.
[Visualization]
Now imagine two futures.
In the first future, nothing changes. Students become even more dependent on their phones.
Notifications continue to interrupt study and sleep. Social media pressure continues to affect
confidence and mental well-being. Students become more connected to screens, but less
connected to real life.
In the second future, schools take action. Students learn when to use technology and when to step
away from it. They focus better in class, sleep better at night, and enjoy stronger real-life
communication with friends and classmates. That future is healthier, more balanced, and far
more beneficial for students.
[Action]
So what should happen now?
Schools should start introducing digital detox activities into their programmes, even in simple
ways. A screen-free study hour, a digital well-being campaign, or a workshop on healthy phone
use can already make a difference.
As students, we should also reflect on our own habits and ask ourselves: Are we using
technology, or is technology using us?
In conclusion, digital detox should become part of school programmes because it can protect
students' mental health, improve concentration and academic performance, and encourage
healthier lifestyles and stronger relationships. In a generation that is always connected, learning
when to disconnect may be one of the most important lessons schools can teach.
Thank you.