Reducing Screen Time: It’s More than Self-Control

At Corpus Christi, we recognise that digital tools are now integral to learning and everyday life. As such, we're committed to fostering strong digital literacy in our students; equipping them not just to use technology, but to understand, evaluate, and engage with it responsibly. We are working to prepare students for a future where digital literacy is a core skill, and true digital literacy also involves understanding the importance of balance. 

Constant connectivity and the expectation of notifications can impact our focus, well-being, and even our ability to think deeply. This is where the concept of "unplugging" becomes vital. It's about intentionally stepping away from screens, allowing time for reflection, face-to-face interactions, and uninterrupted creative thought. Encouraging students to manage their notifications and create tech-free zones helps them develop crucial self-regulation skills. However, this self-control is a lot to ask of students (and adults!) when the technology has been specifically developed to maintain maximum engagement. 

There are a number of tools available to students to limit their distractions on both their laptop and phones, including apps such as ‘Screen Time’ on iPhones, or ‘Digital Wellbeing’ on Android devices. On our school Mac laptops we can set ‘modes’ in System Settings that allow us to turn off certain notifications.  We know though, that our students have mastered many ‘work arounds’ to these self-imposed limits within their phones. This year I have been trialling a physical device for my own iPhone, called ‘Brick Device’. It is a physical tool available for iPhones that I ‘tap on’ and ‘off’ to turn my smartphone into an old-fashioned ‘Brick’ (an Android model is in development). 

The Brick aims to reduce digital distractions by blocking notifications and limiting access to distracting apps on your iPhone. Users can create dedicated categories for concentration, sleep time, or simply being present without constant digital interruptions. For example, students can ‘tap on’ in the morning and leave for school with a phone that can send and receive text messages or phone calls, but not access any site or App that provides a distraction. They are unable to bypass these limits until they are reunited with the physical ‘Brick’ to ‘tap off’. For me personally, I have seen a 70% reduction in my screentime since using the ‘Brick.’  Each household only needs one ‘Brick’ as it can be used across multiple phones. While the ‘Brick’ does have a high initial cost (around $90 + postage), there are discounts for buying multiple devices so if you’re interested, you could pair up with another family and reduce the overall cost. 

This is by no means an endorsement of the product, nor a suggestion that families need to buy one but rather a call for families to investigate options to help support their family’s safe and purposeful screen use. Our shared goal is to empower students in developing their digital literacy so they become discerning digital citizens. This means teaching them to harness the power of technology for learning, while also developing the wisdom to know when to step back, critically evaluate digital information, and protect times where screens are not necessary or beneficial. 

Ms Emily Patterson
Digital Literacy Coach