On the second floor of the U-High building on Nov. 7, students came together in the lounge to find something to do in their free time. To entertain themselves in this break between classes, they turned to their screens to start playing video games, but instead of taking out their phones and swiping and tapping their fingers while playing mobile games, they made the sounds of keys clicking on their MacBooks.
Amid this commotion, there was indistinct chatter and laughs, just like when these kids play mobile games, except that is not what’s happening after U-High’s new phone policy. Not only has this happened at the second floor lounge but in several other areas around Lab.
The recent phone policy, which limits the use of phones, has caused people to find a different device to play video games on, leading them to play games on their computers during lunch and free lab periods as a source of entertainment and socialization.
On that same Friday during his free time, Graeme MacKay-White, a senior, was playing a game on Roblox called Lexington and Concord.
Graeme said there were benefits to being able to play video games during times when he isn’t busy with homework or in class.
“You get to turn off your brain for a little bit,” Graeme said.
Graeme added that after the phone ban, the way that students are accessing video games has changed.
“I’ve definitely noticed people doing all the same stuff they would be doing on their phone, but on their computer,” Graeme said about the phone ban. “It has changed the method we [use to] interact with technology.”
Sophomore Cooper Hannan said that during his free periods, he’s also started to play games like Roblox with his friends after his homework is done.
Cooper said this is a good opportunity to hang out with friends and just have a good time without being outside or going places.
“It’s just fun to sit down and relax,” he said.
Cooper said that due to the phone ban, he has changed the way he uses technology compared to before the policy was created.
“I definitely play more games on my computer now,” Cooper said.
Despite the new phone policy, the free time that students are given remains an opportunity for them to find their way through this problem, playing video games on their computers during their free time across U-High.
