Video Essay: Addicted to the Screen…Until We Finally Look Away

Link: https://youtu.be/baMmT7LxErI

Description:

What do you do first thing in the morning? Our phones are the first thing we touch when we wake up and the last thing we see before we go to sleep.

This short video shows how screen time affects our lives by showing how it stresses us out, keeps us up at night, and makes us miss little things without even realizing it.
You’ll learn how to break free from this cycle and find balance again by the end.

References:

1. Elhai, J. D., Yang, H., & Mitchem, D. (2021). Fear of missing out, social media use, and smartphone addiction: A review of current research and future directions. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(12), 6492. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18126492
2. Harvard Medical School. (2019, Summer). Screen time and the brain. Harvard Medicine. https://hms.harvard.edu/news-events/publications-archive/brain/screen-time-brain
3. King, E. (2023, December 30). 12 ways to spend less time on your phone and reclaim your day. Medium. https://christianityai.medium.com/12-ways-to-spend-less-time-on-your-phone-and-reclaim-your-day-b7f5b16ccbaf
4. Panova, T., & Lleras, A. (2023). Fear of missing out (FoMO) and social media use, and the prediction of screen-device dependency: A systematic review of mediation and moderation mechanisms. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1135721. https://doi.org/10 .3389/fpsyg.2023.1135721
5. Wagenaar, W., Rozema, A. D., Bovens, R. H. L. M., & Kisjes, H. J. (2025, January 27). Smartphone use and smartphone addiction in the Netherlands: Attitudes towards interventions. Tilburg University. https://www.tilburguniversity.edu/nl/onderzoek/instituten-en-researchgroepen/tranzo/academischewerkplaatsen/verslaving/onderzoeksprojecten-verslaving/attitudes-towards-interventions

Footage:

1. Adobe Stock: https://stock.adobe.com/ca/video/journey-into-human-head-with-brain-and-neurons/22104383?prev_url=detail
2. Adobe Stock: https://stock.adobe.com/ca/video/girl-showing-thumbs-up-like-sign-positive-something-good-has-happened-finger-gesture-for-fine-result-well-done-young-attractive-woman-wear-green-linen-dress-brunette-hair-green-background/630095571?prev_url=detail
3. Adobe Stock: https://stock.adobe.com/ca/video/man-using-mobile-phone-whilst-friends-watch-tv-at-home-in-evening-shot-in-slow-motion/392154032?prev_url=detail
4. https://www.pexels.com/video/autumn-leaves-in-sunlight-34590498/

Music

1. Music by Anastasia Chubarova from Pixabay
2. Music by Andres Rodriguez from Pixabay
3. Music by Alana Jordan from Pixabay