In February, Atlanta Classical’s administration and health services team invited students and families to participate in the first annual February Freeze challenge to limit social media and technology use as a school community. The middle school team created a House competition around these challenges, and many students, their parents, and ACA’s leadership team committed to accepting the challenge.
At the beginning of the month, the team surveyed middle and high school students to learn how social media impacted their lives. The survey revealed that 31% of 6th-12th graders rated the value of social media in their lives at either a 1 or 2 out of 10. 40% said they used technology 3+ hours per day, and most reflected that they wished they used it less. Some of the quotes from the survey included:
- “My phone is something I wish I could be freer from.”
- “Technology is the best and worst thing in my life.”
- “I find myself drawn to my phone and use it to escape reality.”
As the month progressed, parents shared noticeable differences in their students as they limited technology:
- “My student started practicing the drums again.”
- “My student started reading again.”
- “My student hosted a party with his friends, and everyone put their phones away. They had such great conversations!”
Many parents also noted that their children went to bed without any complaints. Overall, the February Freeze challenge has been a game-changer for many families, and the school looks forward to its second rendition of the challenge next year!