Special Feature: Youth Perspectives
May 2009

This month, we feature seven Youth Perspectives, which come from 10th grade students at a Los Angeles high scool. Their teacher, Shannon, challenged them to spend an entire week without electronic media. Read what that experience was like for them and what they learned from it.

Angie’s Perspective
At first, when I started the media fast, I didn’t really think it would impact my classmates as much as it did. I really wanted to do it because I love challenges. I thought it would be easy because I hadn’t realized how addicted I was to my electronics. Now that I have gone without them, I notice the people around me and how attached they are to their electronics. Not many people take the time to actually stop and enjoy what is around them.

One of the benefits of having gone without my cell phone, MP3 player, TV, and Xbox is that I got to enjoy myself more then I usually would. My singing improved because I did not have music blocking my mistakes, but best of all, I bonded more with my family. As I listened to my classmates talk about their experiences, I heard them talk about reconnecting with the world and people around them. If later on in life someone asks me what one of the most significant things I have done this year was, I will most likely say it was the media fast.

Kimberly’s Perspective
For me, the hardest media to break away from for 7 days was the 46-inch TV in the living room, plus all of the other TVs in the house. I watch TV almost every day. When it is on, I can not resist watching. I thought being without media was hard at the beginning, but while it went on, it got harder and harder, even in the same day. The first day was the hardest. I was left in silence, with everything gone and disconnected.

I think that part was the hardest. Thinking about other things. Usually I like hearing my thoughts, but that day, they kind of got annoying. I didn’t want to listen to myself any more. I think this is what I had to do instead of media. I wanted to write poetry and stories. I also expected to be able to color with the coloring books and do a word search my mom bought for me. However, I expected to do this all weekend, and I was left with a pile of homework. That I did very slowly and with the TV on. Yes, all the LA Times readers know this—I cheated. I would like to rewind and not watch TV or use any other media. Next time I’ll get out my coloring books.

Jesus’s Perspective
The hardest types of media to be without were the television and my iPod Touch. I always watch sports and listen to music, so that was a challenge. Being without media was harder because there was nothing to do most of the time. Running and working out was harder to do without media because I always use my iPod to get motivated and to keep me focused. Instead of using media, I trained harder for the Los Angeles Marathon and played some sports. When the week was over, the first type of media I returned to was my iPod.

This experience taught me that we shouldn’t always use media. We should explore life and live life the fullest it can be. The best parts of the media fast were that I got more exercise and played more outside. The worst parts of the media fast were missing the NBA playoffs and not hearing my music. Overall, this experience taught me many lessons.

Cesar’s Perspective
The types of media that were really hard to live without were my iPod and my phone because I couldn’t text my friends, and when I was sad, I couldn’t listen to my iPod. I gave my phone and my iPod to my mom so I wouldn’t use them. At first, I thought that this media fast would be really easy, but the first day was the worst and the weekend was the hardest. I just sat in my room to think. I did have soccer games all day, so that got my mind off the media fast.

It was also hard not to communicate with my friends. I just sat in my room most of the time, and I slept a lot, so that felt really good. The first media that I used after the fast was my iPod—I don’t think that I could have gone another second without it. I think that it changed me because I don’t really use all that stuff a lot anymore. The best part was that I got to think and to work harder on school. The worst was that I was so used to using all that stuff that I needed it but couldn’t use it.

Andres’s Perspective
The media fast was a unique experience; I’ve never gone through anything much like it. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Parting with the Internet was the hardest part because I have all my music, manga, and video game sites there. Being without media was harder than I ever realized. I thought it was going to be a cake walk, but it turned into a hell. I found myself thinking that I should just give up, and I kept talking to myself. In order to kill time, I was forced to just confront negative things and aspects of my life that I would rather keep away. Basically, I just thought about everything in this world; I also went on calming walks and just strolled about, looking at everything I would normally ignore in my media bubble.

This entire experience will never be forgotten, but at the same time, I still use media just as much. But I am realizing how plugged in people are; it seems as if they enjoy being in their own little worlds. The best part of the fast was waiting for the bus in the morning and feeling the cool breeze and taking in the misty surroundings. The worst part would have to be the weekend. I was ultimately drained of my spirit, like a dried up salamander.

Marisol’s Perspective
I went a full 7-day week without media. That meant no iPods, television, or computers. I found this task difficult because my whole life has had some kind of media in it. For me, it was very hard to be without watching TV—it was harder even than not having my iPod. It was hard to live without media because it has always been in my life, but I was able to go through it longer than I thought. I actually sat in silence in my house, because my family loves listening to the radio, and I had to stay away from that. It was comforting, though. I had time to myself, and I was able to complete things like my homework that I wouldn’t have been able to do if I had the television or even the iPod on.

When the week was over the first thing I used was the iPod, and it felt so good. This experience made me realize that I need more time to myself and to stop my habits that can sometimes take over all of my time. I really don’t watch TV on a daily basis, but I know it’s not good to live so surrounded by electronics. The best part was having time to myself, and the worst part was trying to restrain myself from all the electronics. Overall, it was a good experience, and it was comforting.

Charlyne’s Perspective
My cellphone and my laptop are the LOVES of my life. When Mrs. Meyer told us that we were going to be unplugged for seven days, I was like, “Oh no! I don't think I can do this.” But here I am, proud to say that I did it! With all the temptations that I faced, I did it! At first, I thought that this challenge would be really hard for me because I really love texting and going to MySpace, but as the days pass by, it’s all in the mind. I use my cellphone as my alarm clock and I use my laptop to watch my Filipino TV series in YouTube and, of course, to visit MySpace. It was so hard for me to wake up in the morning because my cell phone is in my drawer, and I missed a lot of my favorite TV series.

During the week of being UNPLUGGED, I spent my time working out and caring for myself. I also went to sleep earlier than usual due to the fact that I had no one to bug by texting, which was a big advantage for me because I felt good on the next day. I think that this experience is one of a kind! People were interested in what we are doing, and they shared our experience with other people through media, which for me is kind of ironic. Right now, we are back to our normal lives. Sometimes, technology is the reason why some people change (loss of time to study, loss of time to communicate with loved ones and ourselves). I’m with my beloved cell phone and laptop again, but I think this experience made me realize how I use these media to connect with myself and to the people around me.

If you'd like to share your own experiences or suggestions in a Parent Perspective, email us at cmch@childrens.harvard.edu. We look forward to hearing from you!