Clifton High School Teens Test Screen Time Solutions With Surprising Results

Three students at Clifton High School in Clifton, New Jersey, participated in a week-long experiment to reduce screen time, testing practical tools designed to curb excessive smartphone use among teenagers.

The students — senior Gianna Colon, and sophomores Sebastian Fazio and Hamza Ramach — each reported spending between four and 13 hours daily on their phones, with late-night scrolling identified as a significant challenge. For one week, all three agreed to stop bringing their phones to bed while also adopting separate daytime strategies to limit usage.

Colon tested Brick, a physical external device that blocks selected apps until the phone is tapped against it, creating a tangible barrier to mindless scrolling. Ramach used ScreenZen, a free app that introduces a waiting period before allowing access to distracting applications. Fazio activated his phone's grayscale mode, stripping the display of color to make apps visually less appealing. After seeing Instagram in black and white, he remarked it took away all the enjoyment.

By the end of the experiment, all three reported measurable improvements. Fazio reduced his daily screen use from approximately three hours to just 20 minutes. Ramach's father independently noticed a positive change in his son's behavior and motivation. Colon said the experience made her more productive and encouraged other young people to recognize that life offers far more than hours of scrolling through social media platforms.