Is Tech Taking Over? Newsround Specials

Technology is awesome.

We can use it to create virtual worlds,

send tweets from outer space,

and experts can even predict earthquakes

using everyday smartphones.

Now, imagine a world where you can use technology whenever you want.

You get to make your own rules.

Or imagine if all your gadgets were taken away.

Well, in this Newsround special,

we'll be finding out how important technology is to us,

how much time we're spending on our gadgets

and what would happen if we weren't allowed to use them any more.

We'll also be hearing from the legendary gamer Stampy

about how he manages his tech time.

It's time to find out if tech is taking over.

All my life, I've either had a TV or a tablet by my side.

If I couldn't use tech any more,

I'd feel like I'd just sit in the corner and cry

and I wouldn't know what to do with myself.

If I was not allowed to use tech any more, I'll be lifeless.

I'm addicted.

'I've come to this school in Wolverhampton to find out

'how much time you spend using technology every day

'outside of school.' Quick, quick, quick!

'Each corner of this playground has a time attached to it.

'This lot are going to run to the corner which they think

'has the amount of time they spend looking at screens every day.'

Let's go! KIDS SHOUT

'Over 70% of these Year 7 pupils

'spend over four hours a day using their tech.'

These guys love using all their different gadgets,

so what would happen if we took that tech away from that?

Well, there's only one way to find out.

'We're going to set this class a challenge

'to see how much technology and the use of gadgets,

'like phones, tablets, computers and TVs,

'are taking over their lives.

'And they have no idea what's about to happen.'

We're going to split this class into three different groups today.

Now, the first group is going to be able to use technology

whenever you want over the next three days.

'The guys in this group

'will be able to use their gadgets whenever they want.

'Will this be a dream come true, or too much tech?'

The second group will only be allowed to use technology

for two hours a day over the next three days.

Two hours.

'In America, the government recommends

'that kids spend no longer than two hours a day looking at screens.

'So we're going to see how some of this class get on

'living by these rules for three days.'

The final group won't be able to use any technology whatsoever...

KIDS TALK OVER EACH OTHER

..for the next three days.

'Yep, you heard it. The kids in this group are going to experience

'how tough it is to go tech-free for three whole days.'

No phones.

No tablets.

No TV.

No!

-Why you do this?

-It's only three days.

Three days is like a year.

OK, let's start.

First one's up now.

It's...

-ALL:

-Shakiah!

Shakiah, how would you feel if you couldn't use any tech whatsoever?

-It'd be boring.

-Do you think you could cope?

-Do you think you could do it?

-No.

-You don't think you could do it?

All right, let's find out what group you're in.

KIDS SHOUT

So, for three days, what do you think you'll do instead?

I don't know. Probably just hide in my room.

Hide in your room?

Think about the positives. Maybe you could go out and play.

-No.

-No?

-It's the worst news ever,

because every day when I get back from school,

I'm always on my gadgets.

So now, I'm just going to be bored.

'Shakiah is one unhappy lady,

'and she's not the only one who faces a tech ban

'for the next three days.'

-No tech.

-I'll probably be just sitting in my room,

because anywhere else, there'd be like either a TV on or a phone.

'The thought of no tech for three days is unbearable for this bunch.'

Here we go...

'And those restricted to just two hours a day on their devices...

GROANS

'..aren't taking the news any better.'

-That'll go in seconds.

-Two hours is like, nothing.

I'm going to miss out on, like, group chats.

I'll just feel left out a lot.

'The kids facing a restriction on their tech usage

'may be dreading the next three days...'

Harley.

'..but for some...'

Unlimited tech!

'..it's time to celebrate.'

How do you feel, Harley?

Ecstatic!

Alex. You can use tech whenever you want.

I'm feeling happy.

Cos I get to do what I always do, is just sit down and play my gadgets.

I think I'm quite addicted to technology,

because it's been around for my entire life.

It entertains me and keeps me happy.

'It's day one of the Tech Challenge,

'and Alex has wasted no time in getting stuck in with his gadgets.'

I've been playing my tech since I woke up.

So, about five hours.

'Alex is loving having no restrictions on his tech use,

'but for 12-year-old Cerys,

'who is limited to spending only two hours on her favourite devices,

'this is going to be really tough.'

I reckon I use tech around eight hours a day.

So, two hours is just going to be like nothing.

'It's 11.30 on the first day of the Tech Challenge,

'and so far, Cerys has avoided using any of her gadgets.'

It's been very difficult.

All I've been doing is reading books,

sitting in the living room, being bored.

'After a tech-less morning, Cerys finally gives in

'and gets stuck into some online videos with the help of Dad.'

She goes to bed, she has to have her gadgets.

As soon as she wakes up in the morning,

she has to have her gadgets.

She tends to throw a little bit of a wobbler if she hasn't got them.

This is very, very true.

Yeah.

'Cerys cracks on with her Stampy video,

'and it's not long until she's used up half of her daily screen time.

'And it's not even lunchtime yet!'

I feel sad, cos I haven't really got much time left.

It's making me think, like, I use a lot of tech.

Definitely makes me think I'm addicted.

It's not just us in the UK

who can feel like tech is taking over our lives.

In China, there are around 24 million children

who are addicted to their tech.

That's roughly the same number of people who live in Australia.

'The authorities in China say that a person is addicted

'when they use tech for six hours a day for three straight months.

'And they've even set up military-style boot camps

'to try and help kids get over their tech addictions.

'If you feel that you might be spending too much time

'in front of a screen,

'then the legendary Stampy has some advice.'

Try and keep checking what time it is,

and just kind of be aware of how long you've been looking at a screen

doing whatever you're doing, and I think that way,

you're more likely to kind of force yourself to have a break.

MUFFLED SCREAM

'It's day one of the Tech Challenge for Shakiah,

'and the only gadget she's got her hands on today is...

'a vacuum cleaner.

'Shakiah is in the No Tech group,

'meaning she's banned from using all her devices for three whole days.

'Which is quite a bit different to what she's used to.'

I spend at least seven to eight hours on my tech.

And I'm going to feel quite bored and upset,

because now I'm going to have nothing to do.

In that room, they're playing games.

And I feel very sad, because I can't join in.

It's going to be really difficult for her.

We'll try and join in the challenge,

but this house is kind of nonstop with technology.

So, it will be really difficult.

'Shakiah's only half a day into the Tech Challenge

'and she's already finding it really tough.'

I would rather be in there, playing games than changing my bed.

'It's day two of the challenge,

'and Cerys is off to work with her dad to help keep her mind off

'being restricted to just two hours of tech.'

Today, I'm at my dad's paintball site,

and I'm here because I'm, like, helping around

and, like, clearing all the stuff.

When she's down here, she's got to be prepared to do a bit of graft.

'But despite keeping herself busy around the paintball site,

'Cerys is still struggling without her tech.'

I miss, like, watching videos,

going on social media...

Like... I miss it a lot!

That's your flour.

'Meanwhile, Shakiah's also hoping

'that lending a helping hand to her gran will help take her mind off

'spending a second day without any gadgets.'

Instead of using my technology,

today we're going to be making mutton soup.

You're going to start with the dumpling.

-Mixing it, like that?

-Yeah. That's it.

It's more fun mixing dough for dumplings than watching videos.

I think that should do it now. So, roll it all in, and press.

'Getting stuck in with her gran's soup

'is having a surprising effect on tech-obsessed Shakiah.'

I'm not missing my gadgets as much as I would think I would.

I am missing them, but just not a lot.

'It's the morning of day two,

'and Alex, who is in the Unlimited Tech group

'is starting the day with... well, a bit more tech.'

The plan for today is going to be playing for a bit in the morning,

and then going outside later.

And then coming in when it's dark.

And then playing a bit more.

'Alex leaves his brother and sister to it

'and carries on with one of his favourite games.

'But there's a problem.'

I can't play this.

I've come back to play.

Of course, it corrupted...

and I'm not playing it ever again.

'Alex's memory card isn't working properly,

'meaning his hours of gaming has been a waste of time.

All right, you two, can I go on the computer now?

'And things are made even worse for Alex

'when his brother and sister won't budge from the other computer.'

-You can't kick us off.

-You're always on it, though.

You can't kick us off, though.

I want to go on the computer, but I can't at the minute.

No. Mum!

Mum!

HE SIGHS

Getting quite bored of all the stuff now.

'The Tech Challenge is well under way.

'Time to check in and see how the rest of the class are getting on.'

I feel good about myself, not using technology.

I don't think I can do it all the time,

but, like, I feel more confident.

Don't know what to do with myself. I'm just so bored.

Maybe we do spend too much time on our gadgets.

Maybe we should take a step back from it...

and...go outside.

'It's the final day of the Tech Challenge...'

Jasmine!

'..and everyone is heading out for the day.

'Even Alex.'

We're going to probably go swimming.

It is the first time we've come out since the challenge started.

'Alex is leaving the house, and his unlimited tech behind

'for a couple of hours, after a late night spent using his gadgets.'

This morning, when I went into Alex's room,

it appeared to me that he was fast asleep

and the iPad had been left on since last night.

It says here that using tech before bedtime can also affect your sleep.

That's because gadgets like mobile phones and tablets

emit the same kind of light as the sun.

It's known as "blue light".

Now, these light rays react with the cells behind our eyes

and can trick us into thinking it's daylight.

Not very good when you're trying to get to sleep.

'If you guys like to use your tech before bed

'but worry that it may be affecting your sleep,

'then the online phenomenon Stampy has some advice for you.'

At least an hour before you go to bed,

just try to not look at a screen

or do anything too active, you know, mentally.

I guess that's the thing I might be able to recommend.

Yeah, that is something that I have struggled with.

'Back at the challenge, and Shakiah, who's in the No Tech group,

'is getting stuck into a game of footy with her brother Shiloh.'

Shiloh is a bit good,

but he could work on his techniques.

He could be more accurate.

Really, Shakiah? Really?

'Shakiah would usually be glued to her gadgets...'

Next goal wins!

'..but having her tech taken away means she's got more time

'to teach her brother a few tricks.'

-Goal!

-No goal!

-I win.

The challenge has been good...

because it hasn't been as hard as I thought it would.

It was actually quite easy.

'The challenge is nearly over,

'and Cerys, who's in the group limited to two hours of tech,

'is avoiding the temptation of her gadgets

'by walking her dogs Beau and Coco in the local park.'

-Come on.

-'But despite getting out and about,

'the challenge of cutting down on her time online

'is starting to take its toll on Cerys.'

I'm finding it extremely hard.

Like, I really miss tech.

And like, I'm not really talking to my friends as much.

I'm really looking forward to it being over,

cos I get to talk to my friends again.

I get to, like, watch videos online.

'The challenge has come to an end

'and the limits have been lifted.

'Have the last three days changed what these guys think

'about the role tech plays in their lives?'

I have missed my gadgets,

but I haven't used them as much as I thought I would.

The last three days has not changed the way I use tech.

I would always use it for the time I use it,

and nothing's going to ever change about it.

I think I'm going to play less games.

Cos then you get to socialise, and you make new friends.

'So, Alex is going to cut down on his tech.

'But what about the rest of the class?'

It surprised me with the challenge, because I actually enjoyed it.

I think people use tech too much,

because half the time, they're always on it

and they don't really communicate with their family members as much.

It's actually more fun to play with family and have fun then,

than spend time with electronics.

It made me understand that you have to value the things around you -

even with or without tech.

Modern technology is awesome,

and we can do some pretty amazing things with it.

But we may well be spending too much time in front of our screens.

And as this lot have shown us,

when we reduce our tech time,

we don't miss it quite as much as we think.