Students Raise Awareness About Screen Time and Mental Health

Two Oakland County high school students are encouraging people to spend less time on phones and other digital devices through a health awareness campaign called The Unplug Project.

Students Anushka and Ruha created the project as part of a Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) competition focused on community health education.

“We’re competing in an event called community awareness, where we get to choose a topic and raise awareness about it to our community,” Anushka said during a recent appearance on the Now You Novi Podcast. “This year, we chose the overuse of screens.”

The students define screen time as time spent using phones, computers, tablets, televisions and other digital devices.

As part of their campaign, they share practical tips for reducing screen use and encouraging healthier habits.

One suggestion they highlight is the 20-20-20 rule, often recommended by eye doctors.

“Every 20 seconds, take a look 20 feet away to give your eyes a break,” Ruha said. “Make sure you’re blinking and giving your eyes a rest from constant strain.”

They also encourage people to pay attention to posture when using phones or computers, noting that crouching over screens for long periods can lead to soreness and strain in the neck and back.

The students say screen overuse can also affect mental health, particularly among young people.

“Nowadays we see kids from when they’re toddlers having iPads and social media,” Anushka said. “It’s backed by data that being on social media from a young age can affect mental health and cause people to compare themselves to others.”

To promote the initiative, the students have organized community events, partnered with technology tools designed to limit app use and created an online pledge encouraging people to “unplug for an hour.”

They also host regular “offline clubs” where participants gather for activities such as soccer, drawing, painting and other screen-free events.

“We’re trying to reach everyone, not just kids,” Ruha said. “We want people to know there are healthier alternatives to being on your phone all the time.”

While the project began in Oakland County, the students say their goal is to encourage teens everywhere to think more intentionally about how they spend their time online.

More information about the project is available at theunplugprojecthosa.weebly.com.