Dozens of students at Adelphi University, a private university in Garden City, New York, abandoned their smartphones for a week, it was part of a college course that would break the cycle of addiction of their dependence on technology, reported CBS NewYork.

CBS2's Carolyn Gusoff interviewed several students last week who were finally reunited with their smartphones.

Jacob Dannenberg, a student who took part in the experiment, said he had to use an 'old school alarm clock' to wake up.

Dannenberg had to write notes and keep a journal of tasks because without a smartphone, he was basically paralyzed from completing some of life's simplest tasks.

One student told Gusoff that "I'm freaking out, I could probably cry right now." The student said she didn't have a smartphone for a week.

Professor Donna Freitas, who experimented with students, said it was a bold challenge for students to recognize just how dependent they're on technology.

Dannenberg told Gusoff that after ditching his smartphone for a week, life is truly amazing. "I'm having a lot of better relationships… it's a stress-free environment no pressure about social media," he said.

Student Adrianna Cigliano said, "I think it's really refreshing and relaxing… I was able to fall asleep a lot easier" without the phone.

Cigliano added that "Doing homework was 100 percent easier. I got it done faster, and I was in the zone."

Freitas said she wanted students to recognize their addiction level to smartphones.

"Are the conveniences worth it because the drawback are pretty significant," Freitas said.

"The fact that no one can focus, that my students can't sleep… They feel bad about themselves because of social media, and the list goes on and on."

Students told Gusoff that after the week challenge, they would change their smartphone habits and lessen their screentime.

"I want to keep that balance and figure out the healthy relationship that we deserve to have with our phones," Cigliano added.
"My screen time is definitely going to go down, and I'm going start to appreciate my surroundings more because usually I'm looking at my screen all the time," Ashley Castillero said.

Students overwhelmingly said they want to live more in the moment, rather than have their heads buried in the fake social media world.

Originally published on Zero Hedge on November 19, 2019.