As screen addiction among children becomes increasingly concerning for parents and educators, recent research suggests that allowing students to use smartphones for a brief period can actually enhance their classroom performance. A study conducted by a team of U.S. researchers revealed that permitting college students to use their phones for just one minute led to reduced phone usage during class and improved test scores.
Professor Ryan Redner from Southern Illinois University, the lead author of the study published in Frontiers in Education, stated, “We show that technology breaks may be helpful for reducing cell phone use in the college classroom.” This study marks the first evaluation of such technology breaks in a college setting. The researchers observed that during classes where one-minute breaks were implemented, students consistently achieved higher average test scores, exceeding 80%.
The findings suggest that these brief breaks may help minimize distractions during lectures, ultimately leading to better academic performance. Many students report using their phones for non-academic purposes multiple times a day, which can detract from their focus in class.
Over the course of a term, the researchers tested different lengths of technology breaks—one, two, and four minutes—during which students were encouraged to ask questions but were not allowed to use their phones. The results showed that one-minute breaks were particularly effective at reducing phone use, as students tended to engage less with their devices compared to sessions without such breaks.
“One possibility is that one minute is enough time for students to send a few messages without getting too distracted,” explained Redner. The study highlights the potential benefits of structured technology breaks in educational settings, suggesting that they can help students maintain focus and improve their learning outcomes.
