I would like to start off by saying I most certainly do not support DCPS’s new phone policy. It is inconvenient, unnecessary, and, not to mention, absurd to be regulating an adult’s (or almost-adult’s) phone usage. However I cannot deny that, despite how frustrating it has been, it has its benefits.

First off is what I believe to be the most obvious and direct effect of locking our emotional support lithium pocket bricks away: screen time has gone down. My screen time before the policy was far too frightening for me to admit to the whole school, but now I can boast about having sub-three hours every school day. At first I experienced withdrawals from not being able to waste my time trolling on the internet every second of the day. Yet, slowly, as I shed the shackles of chronic social media usage, I began to see the appeal of putting down my phone for longer than two minutes a day. I saw colors I had never seen before, heard the morning birds chirping for the first time in years, and my skin actually completely cleared up. Okay, okay, perhaps that was a little much, but I know that my fellow students, whether or not they want to admit it, actually enjoy being forced to focus on something other than their phone (even if that something is the non-paywalled New York Times Games).

As a student body composed mainly of Gen Zers (does this mean the freshmen are Gen Alpha?), we have all heard the criticism from older generations that ours lacks creativity and individuality. While this is obviously untrue (phone ban or no phone ban), our wonderful personalities have definitely shone through after being forced to part with our phones. The example I want to talk about, since it’s clearly the coolest one, is the rise of old-school music streaming devices. I, among others, have revived old iPods and have spent my walks to class jamming out to the selection of 2010s bangers that I cannot seem to change. Apparently, however, iPods are simply an entry level device as I have seen, believe it or not, a Walkman whilst roaming the halls. Though I previously thought it impossible, I now see potential for portable cassette players (or even full on record players if we’re feeling crazy) to make an appearance. 

Now lastly I want to talk about arguably the most important effect of DCPS’s newest attempt to torture their students: increased social interaction. Now before I lose you, think about how much COVID has impacted our generation’s ability to simply interact with people, both familiar and unfamiliar. Previously when given free time in class, the precedent has been to go on your phone and tune out those around you, meaning that the most social interaction you could expect would be your friend (sitting directly next to you, of course) sending you a mindnumbing Instagram reel. Now don’t get me wrong, I think a little nonverbal phone time is important for everyone, but, just maybe, it doesn’t have to be every waking moment when you aren’t doing work. I am 100% guilty of this too, which is probably why it’s been so terrifying to actually talk to the people at an assigned table. I’ve learned that it’s actually kind of fun to talk to new people, and that those awkward silences that I would have previously been avoided by going on my phone, are actually not so unbearable. 

Again, I want to be clear to any administration or supportive teachers reading that this is not an endorsement of this poorly thought out policy, I just wanted to reflect on our current reality. Given DCPS’s previous track record I had not expected this to last so long but alas, it has, so we might as well embrace what positive aspects there are .