Classroom Chronicles

Social Media trends and cell phone addictions

Part Three

One of my pet peeves is cell phone use in the classroom. I tell my students that unless we’re on a break or we’ve finished the lesson early, cell phones should be off and out of sight. Despite telling students of the cell phone policy on a daily, I still have to tell a handful of students to put their phones away. It’s aggravating and frustrating to keep repeating myself in regards to cell phones.

Most students listen to me. They’ll come into the classroom, turn off their phones, and put them away. Some students will enter the room, check out a post or two, and then put their phones away. The remaining students come in, phone in hand, texting and reacting to their friends’ posts. They have to be spoken to on a regular basis. These students are the most resistant when it comes to our school’s cell phone policy.

Many students have a cell phone addiction. Their phones are constantly in their hands. Putting the phones down is a struggle for them. I can barely finish stating that it’s a break and students can take out their phones. The phones are already out.

Students communicate through social media. Many of my students are on Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok. These platforms allow students to connect with each other, people in their communities, and their favorite celebrities. That would explain the addiction to their phones. As a user of some of these platforms, I find them useful in discovering innovative ideas, learning a new skill, or searching for like-minded people.

However, everything has a downside and that includes social media. Sometimes, people post things on social media that have negative consequences in the real world. For example, there’s a challenge on TikTok called the “Devious Lick.” It encourages kids to destroy and./or steal items from their schools. Many schools across the country have been vandalized due to this challenge.

Another TikTok challenge is the crate challenge. People have posted videos of others walking up and down a bunch of stacked crates. I saw a video where a young woman did the crate challenge in high heels. Incredibly, she completed the challenged unharmed. If they can complete the challenge without falling off or knocking over the crates, they receive major props for the accomplishment. The clout factor is high.

Because so many students are violating school policy, it’s difficult to get them to see the error of their ways. Many students don’t care about the impact on their school work. They have to read a text, send a text, or post a comment. They hide their phones in their desks, on their laps, and behind their binders. Even if I offer an incentive, there’s at least one student who’ll go on their phone regardless. Consequences are damned.

Some teachers collect phones at the start of class. Some teachers, like me, give warnings about phones at the start of class. Others walk around to make sure students aren’t on their phones during class time. It takes considerable time and effort. But it’s worth it. Teachers want students to focus on their learning and leave their phones alone.

If you’re the parent of a tween or teen, please talk to them about cell phone use. Explain there’s time and place to use their phones. They can use them before school, during lunch, and after school. When they’re in class, students need to pay attention to the lessons and leave their phones alone.