Smartphones,
Social Media, &
​Overnight  Summer  Camp

A national survey of 11- to 16-year-olds

Survey  Background

Overnight summer camps offer a rare opportunity to research smartphone addiction because many don't allow kids to bring smartphones.  

Screen Education first began conducting research with overnight camps in 2016.  The following year, in 2017, we conducted a study with Camp Livingston in Bennington, IN. 

​Camp Livingston is one of 24 summer camps affiliated with the JCC Association of North America.  After reviewing Screen Education's research with Camp Livingston, JCC Association proposed that we expand the research and conduct a national  survey of overnight campers.

Screen Education and JCC Association began collaborating on this survey in the winter of 2018, and Stark Statistical Consulting joined the team shortly thereafter.

​The goal of the survey was to better understand how young people viewed the benefits of being at camp without access to smartphones and social media. 

​The completed survey involved 1,073 overnight campers aged 11-16 who attended 46 different camps for an average of 4 weeks during the summer of 2018.

Full  Report

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Key Findings 

Respondents are 4X happier than frustrated by overnight camp smartphone bans; on a scale of 0-100, campers rated their magnitude of gladness at being denied phone access at 82, while they rated their frustration at a mere 20.
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92% of respondents got to know people better because they didn't have smartphone access.

90% of respondents felt they became more independent as a result of not being able to communicate with their parents immediately, and having to handle situations on their own. 

93% of respondents were relieved to have a break from social media while at camp. 

80% of respondents felt less anxious and stressed at camp because they didn't have to keep up with social media. 
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Respondents generally experienced a less toxic social environment while at camp as a result of being unable to access social media; 57% witnessed less bullying, 51% witnessed less social drama, 44% witnessed less gossip.

72% of respondents said their camp experience would have been worse if they had brought phones. 

62% of respondents believe they are less dependent on their smartphones than friends who don't attend camp as a result of their extended smartphone detox.

Implications

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• ​Phone-free overnight camps could be viewed as a mental health need rather than a luxury experience.
• Phone-free overnight camps should maintain their no-phone policies, and should not succumb to any pressure they may be receiving to reverse these policies.​
• Phone-free overnight camp should be accessible to every young person.

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• Barriers to participating in phone-free overnight camps should be eliminated.
• We must create new ways to provide young people with digital detox experiences that are closer to home, that have a shorter duration, and that cost less.
• ​Camps might consider providing digital detox experiences to adults and entire families. 

Research  Partners

Screen Education tackles issues at the intersection of information technology and human wellness through research, seminars, and consulting. Visit www.ScreenEducation.org.

Jewish Community Center Association of North America leads and connects the JCC Movement, advancing and enriching North American Jewish life. Visit www.JCCA.org.

Stark Statistical Consulting provides statistical support for researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs. Visit www.StarkStatistics.com.