How the COVID-19 pandemic has affected digital device usage in students’ free time
By Eva Edmondson
When the covid-19 pandemic hit the United States in March 2020, and we all went into quarantine, things definitely changed. Of course, many have considered the toll that this had taken on education, work, the economy, etc, but what most people have not thought about is how this affected day-to-day life and activities, specifically for the younger people. Of course, it is now about a year past our original quarantine, and most people are back in school or work feeling a bit more comfortable out of their homes. However, things are definitely not back to “normal.” The majority of activities have been transferred to a digital format, and people still find themselves at home much more than they used to be. So, with all of these changes, what are high school students choosing to do with their extra time? How has this digital growth changed them?
Obviously, now that everyone is home most of the time and almost everything has become digital (when possible), it would be expected that device usage has increased since the pandemic began. According to Statista.com, a statistic and information website, mobile phone usage has increased by 70% worldwide since last March, when the pandemic hit the United States. Laptop usage has increased by 40%, PC usage by 32%, TV usage by 30%, etc. Overall, that is a pretty dramatic increase in media device usage. Matthew Willibey, Freshman at Timber Creek, says, “Lately I’ll just either go out with friends and do something or simply stay in my room all day on my phone and xbox. I do go to baseball too which takes up some time, but overall I’ve definitely had a lot more time this year to just chill in my room and game.” Being home, especially since it’s been almost a year now, there are only so many new things you can do and healthy activities to fill your time with. Many high schoolers have turned to gaming to fill their excess time, which they now have much more of. Furthermore, Amanda McInis, also a Freshman at Timber Creek, says, “I have [volleyball] practice three times a week, so I don’t have a ton of free time I guess. Even being home with covid I usually have something that I need to do most times. Whenever I do though I’ll usually walk my dog, or go outside, or watch a movie with family. I also really like just laying in bed and watching videos when I can, it’s like the most relaxing time I get.” Even for the students who try to find other things to do, laying in bed scrolling on a phone is one of the most reliable, relaxing activities that will keep them busy.
Secondly, coronavirus has also changed the way high schoolers, or even people in general, communicate with and “hang out” with friends. Though things have improved greatly since March, many people are still avoiding big crowds or groups or even just avoiding seeing other people in person to be safe. McInis says,“Probably the biggest difference is that I just don’t go out to do things as much now…I think I’ve hung out with friends a bit less this year just because of trying to stay safe with everything it’s hard. I’ve definitely been facetime-ing people more often to stay in touch.” With everything going on surrounding the risk of the pandemic, many have decided to resort to digital contact, when spending free time with their friends. 57% of Americans have begun to use video chat platforms more frequently and regularly since March 2020.
Overall, covid-19 has definitely affected the usage of digital devices, causing high schoolers to adjust their choice of how they spend their free time.These changes have brought many positive and negative changes to our world. They’ve led to technological improvements and advancements, which have brought a lot of positive growth. However, it is also commonly known that extreme device and social media usage can have negative effects on one’s overall health. So, after hearing all of the changes that this pandemic has brought to online usage, maybe reflect on how you spend your time. A good balance is always key.
