Rugby teenagers accept challenge to fast from their phones for a week

Imagine being challenged to give up your cell phone for a whole week. Could you do it? Could a typical teenager do it? That’s what State District Judge Michael Hurly of North Dakota’s North East Judicial District wanted to know.

Judge Hurly teaches a Wednesday night Religious Education class with Mary Schmaltz to 11th and 12th graders from Little Flower Church in Rugby. In a recent meeting with the students and their parents, Judge Hurly talked about the growing body of evidence he sees that cell phone use and social media are having an increasingly negative effect on teens. Using real data, statistics, and experience from his own court room, he brought home the message of the dangers kids face with social media and technology.

The result was his challenge to have the teens and their parents give up cell phones for one week to see how it would affect their decision making, communication with friends and family, and their social interactions. He gave up his phone in solidarity with them.

At first the teens didn’t want to do it, but the idea eventually caught fire and they gave up their phones as a group. The results surprised many of them:

Katelyn Duchscher – “It was kind of scary because the whole world is powered by phones. It gave me more time for prayer and family, and I took up some fun hobbies like crossword puzzles and playing the piano again.”

Amber Selensky – “I had to plan out my day more and let my mom know what I was doing beforehand. I couldn’t make spontaneous plans like I usually do. I think everyone should try to take small breaks from their phones, but I don’t think people should completely disregard them because they are a useful tool.”

Alec Wolf – “I didn’t think I could do it and thought it was a bad idea, but it turned into a good experience. I spent more time with my family and did more socializing with them.”

Isabella McCabe – “I’m currently writing a paper on how social media is affecting the mental health of teens, and this was a great way for me to get information. Going to bed without my phone allowed me to have more time and to focus on talking with and praying to God.”

Judge Hurly says he hopes the teens learned something about themselves by interacting more with their families and peers first-hand rather than through technology. He thinks it’s ironic that teens are losing communication skills while communicating with each other virtually. He hopes to see other schools in the area take up the challenge as well.