Digital device usage impacts student academic performance and mental health

Digital device usage is significantly impacting classroom engagement and adolescent mental health. According to data from the OECD, 30 percent of students report being distracted by devices during most or all mathematics classes. This distraction is linked to academic performance, with affected students scoring at least 15 points lower, a gap equivalent to approximately three-quarters of a school year.

Regarding mental health, 45 percent of students report feeling nervousness or anxiety when they do not have their mobile phones nearby. Data from the U.S. Surgeon General indicates that adolescents spending more than three hours daily on social media face double the risk of experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Furthermore, social media addiction among adolescents has risen from 7 percent in 2018 to 11 percent today. Among youth aged 13 to 17, 95 percent use social media, with 46 percent stating that these platforms worsen their body image.