The No Screen Challenge

Shawn Ketchem
Delta Upsilon

I’m almost positive that there is a rule in place that ensures no brain stimulation on the first day of class, but I’ve been wrong before. That being said, my syllabus week started out just like all the others; alarm clock woke me up, and I started my day feeling like a complete failure.

With my second class of the day finished and zero brain cells used, I felt like I was in the home stretch. However, the laziness high was immediately shot down as my communications lab started. After the standard syllabus read through and an invigorating game of “Hi, my name is and this is my interesting fact,” my instructor cynically began to mutter the word assignment. Now I’m not sure if I was hallucinating or not, but I slightly remember the sounds of thunder and lightning followed by hatred-fueled cackling.

I admit I was quick to judge, but the word “assignment” carries with it extreme negativity in the mind of, well, everyone. But in a strange changing of the winds, the reality of the assignment was actually extremely interesting.

The assignment was entitled, and I quote, “ The No Screen Challenge.” A seemingly blunt description of the challenge, when in reality the task of going a complete day without any screen use is extremely daunting and horrifying given today’s culture. The detailed description of the assignment breaks down the devices that are prohibited during the scheduled 24 hours. The list included everything from television to iPhones and the only exception is to make phone calls or text messages.

From the get-go, I was extremely invested thought-wise with how hard this assignment would be to carry out. I was basically trying to weigh the pros and cons of success. Sure, at the beginning, successfully completing the task at hand is rewarding and a great feeling of accomplishment. But when you really look into it, you end up giving up so much more than I personally think is worth it.

Take, for instance, just giving up your computer for the day. Getting emails is already tossed by the wayside. To be completely honest, I am a self-proclaimed social media junkie. I along with many others tend to use social media sites and applications a little more than the average user, so nixing social media would cut a little deeper for a person like us; but in all honesty, you show me a person in our generation who doesn’t use social media and I’ll show you a liar.

That tragic picture I have just painted becomes so much more grim when I think about adding all the other “screens” I use on a daily basis into the mix. I am so reliant on television and Internet to keep me connected and updated on the world. Admittedly, I feel naked without my cell phone, and the thought of having no update on what’s happening around the world makes me want to assume the fetal position.

It's not every day you find a class project that is so immediately captivating. It’s amazing to me how such a measly task of not using objects with screens can completely turn my world upside down. The mere thought of actually succeeding left me shaking. I’m not really sure if our generation's attachment with technology and social media is a good thing or not, but I know that from where we stand now, our lives and technology are intertwined to a substantial level. Personally, I don’t want to find out what happens if we unweave that web.

Shawn is a junior studying public relations and communication. You may contact him at sqkdm6@mail.missouri.edu.