Findings
People Struggle to Differentiate Between Productive and
Unproductive Screen Use
Many participants believed that their screen time was justified for work or
studies, but when asked to track their usage, they discovered that a
significant portion of their time was spent on social media, gaming,
or other distractions rather than productive tasks.
Social Interactions Have Shifted to Digital Platforms
Many participants admitted that they now spend less time meeting
friends or family in real life because it feels easier to just send a message
or have a quick call. Over time, this shift has affected relationships, as
people may feel less emotionally connected compared to when they
interact in person.
Decline in Outdoor Activities
Because of people prioritizing screentime over real-life interactions, it
leads to social isolation and reduced outdoor engagement. Instead of
spending time with friends, family, or hobbies, participants found themselves
absorbed in digital content, which affected their relationships and overall
lifestyle.
Excessive Screen Time Negatively Affects Health
Prolonged screen exposure leads to eye strain, headaches, back pain,
and fatigue, along with mental health concerns like stress, irritability,
and difficulty sleeping. Many individuals reported experiencing physical
discomfort and emotional exhaustion due to their excessive screen
habits.
Reduced Focus and Productivity
Increased screen usage caused difficulty concentrating,
procrastination, and lower efficiency in both academic and professional
settings. Many participants admitted that distractions from social media,
gaming, and entertainment made it harder to complete tasks on time.
Difficulty in Reducing Screen Dependency
Even those who acknowledged the harmful effects of excessive screen
time struggled to reduce their usage. Some participants experienced
anxiety or restlessness when disconnected from their screens, indicating
signs of digital addiction. This shows that breaking screen habits
requires structured interventions, not just personal effort.
EXPERIENCE
Awareness Doesn’t Guarantee Change
One of the biggest lessons from this project was that knowing the
negative effects of excessive screen time does not automatically
lead to change. Many participants were fully aware that too much screen
exposure was harming their health, productivity, and social life, yet they
found it difficult to limit their usage. This showed us that breaking digital
habits requires strong discipline, external support, and structured
interventions, not just awareness.Reducing Screen Time Requires
Structured Support
Simple advice like “take breaks” is not enough—effective strategies like
screen tracking apps, scheduled offline activities, and group
challenges work better for long-term change.
Screen Overuse Has Serious Health Consequences in the long term
Excessive screen time leads to physical issues like eye strain,
headaches, and poor posture, as well as mental effects like fatigue,
irritability, and sleep disturbances.
Digital Addiction Is More Common Than We Expected
We initially believed that only a small percentage of people would
struggle with screen dependency, but during our research, we realized
that a large number of individuals, especially students and
professionals, showed signs of digital addiction. The fact that some
participants felt anxious or restless without their screens was a clear
indicator of how deeply embedded digital consumption has become in
everyday life.
Resistance to Changing Screen Habits
A common challenge we faced was the reluctance of participants to
acknowledge or change their screen habits. Many individuals,
particularly students and working professionals, defended their screen
time as being essential for studies or work, even when it was clear that
excessive usage was causing harm. This resistance showed us how deeply
ingrained digital habits have become in daily life.
