Want to Curb Tech Overuse? Start with Belonging.

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

At JOMO(campus), we talk a lot about screens. But the real conversation is about connection.

Behind every doomscrolling teen, there’s a deeper need: the need to belong. When students feel deeply connected—to their peers, their teachers, their school community—they’re not just happier. They’re more balanced. They’re less drawn to the black hole of infinite scroll. And science backs this up.

The Research Is Clear

A growing body of evidence tells us that a strong sense of belonging helps protect against technology overuse.

🧠 A 2019 study of Turkish high schoolers found that students with a stronger sense of school belonging had lower levels of technology addiction.

🎓 A 2024 study of 464 U.S. college students showed a significant negative correlation between problematic internet use and campus belonging. In short: the more students felt they belonged, the less likely they were to be compulsively online.

📱 And in a 2023 developmental psychology study, researchers found that teens with low school belonging but high social media belonging had more social media addiction and poorer adjustment. Belonging online, without an offline anchor, made things worse.

Why Belonging Works

Belonging is more than a feel-good word. It’s a protective force.

When students feel seen, known, and needed:

• They don’t need to chase likes to feel valued.

• They’re more likely to engage in healthy, screen-free activities.

• They find joy in shared experiences, not just shared posts.

Belonging fills the gaps that tech tries to patch.

What This Means for Schools

Digital wellness isn’t just about blocking apps or banning phones. It’s about building cultures of belonging.

That’s why at JOMO(campus), our programs don’t just target students. We equip educators, families, and whole school communities to create environments where students feel rooted, supported, and known.

Because when students feel like they matter, they don’t need their phones to tell them so.

Start Here

Want to reduce tech overuse at your school? Begin with this question:

“Where do our students feel they truly belong?”

Then build from there—classroom rituals, cross-grade mentorship, family dinners, lunchtime clubs, moments of joy.

Because digital wellness isn’t just about subtraction. It’s about addition. Add more belonging, and you’ll see less tech dependence.

JOMO Takeaway: You don’t have to fight tech alone. Start by making your community a place worth showing up for.