Pirates Screen Time: Addicted to Their Phones

Screen time has become a natural part of everyday life for many young people, especially in today’s digital society. Mobile phones are used for entertainment, communication, and inspiration, but how much time do young people actually spend on their screens, and what do they use them for?

Evelyn Nannie is one of the students who has relatively low screen time compared to many of her peers, and spends around two hours a day on her phone. Nannie mainly uses her phone for creative and social activities. “I usually take pictures and go on Pinterest and go on Instagram,” Nannie said.

Nannie uses Instagram the most,  not only to look at content, but also to be active herself. “Occasionally I watch reels, and I like to look at other people’s stories, and I make my own stories on Instagram,” said Nannie

When it comes to Pinterest, Nannie uses the app as inspiration for hobbies. “I just look at ideas of crafts and stuff I want to make,” Nannie said. She explained that she often uses her free time on creative projects, and that her phone therefore functions more as a tool than just entertainment. Nannie also mentioned that she rarely uses her phone during school.

On the other hand, Keoki Romero has a significantly higher screen consumption. “My daily average is six hours and 17 minutes,” he said, adding that the day before, he had five hours of screen time. Romero uses his phone for several types of entertainment. “Instagram reels and TikTok are really good,” Romero said. He explains that he often scrolls through videos and watches YouTube. He also uses his phone to watch series on Netflix and “Play video games on my phone like Brawl Stars,” Romero said.

Unlike Nannie, Romero occasionally uses his phone during the school day. “Sometimes when I’m walking between classes, I usually scroll,” Romero said. He explained that it often happened during short breaks. Romero explained that the reason for his spending so much time on apps like TikTok is because of the accessibility. It has become a habit for him, “I’m like interacting with my phone,” Romero said.

Although Romero spends a lot of time on his phone, he is also social off his screen. “In my free time, I like playing sports with my friends, and just hanging out with friends,” said Romero. And that he doesn’t just sit on his phone all the time, but combines it with other activities.

The difference between Nannie and Romero shows how screen time can vary greatly from person to person. Some people use their phones mostly for practical purposes, while others use them more for entertainment and pastime.  At the same time, the interviews show that mobile use does not necessarily replace other activities, but rather becomes part of everyday life. For many young people, it’s about the balance between screen time and reality.