Slow the Scroll: A Screen Time Challenge

In 2024, I became extremely aware of the impacts my excessive phone usage was having on my school, work, and personal life, and knew that I couldn’t be the only one struggling—thus, Slow the Scroll was born! Slow the Scroll is all about becoming aware of your phone usage habits and implementing small changes that will (hopefully) make a huge difference.

Slow the Scroll is my scholarship project for the E. Lingle Craig Fellowship through IU Libraries.

This challenge will take place from April 7, 2025 and will focus on implementing small changes to the way you use your phone. Every week is something new! At the start of each week you will receive an email outlining the change to make, along with some information as to why this change was selected. Your task is to follow each week’s prompt to the best of your ability…that’s all!

An “exit survey” will be included in each email, where you will provide insight into how your week went, as well as any feedback you may have for future renditions of this challenge. Surveys will open each Monday and will close Wednesday. The responses you provide in the surveys are for internal project use only and will not be published anywhere, with the exception of a required presentation for my project supervisors. All identifying information (names, emails, etc.) will be anonymized. While responding to the surveys is optional, it is the only way to receive a prize.

The surveys are a way for me to understand how the challenge is running. Your responses will give me insight into what aspects of the challenge may need to be adjusted for future renditions. Again, all responses are for internal project use only and will not be published.

While there are no official rules to this challenge, there are a few guidelines I am asking participants to be aware of:

1. Some survey questions will inquire about the specifics of your phone usage week-to-week; please be honest when answering them. This challenge is not about perfection, it's about trying to change habits (which is hard!).
2. Prizes will be available every week of the challenge and are awarded to those who complete the Microsoft Form survey provided in the weekly email. Prizes are awarded on a completion-basis, meaning the completion of one (1) survey awards one (1) prize, which are pre-determined. You may earn up to four (4) prizes. When you have turned in a survey, please visit the Scholars' Commons Reference Desk (located on the 1st floor of the East Tower of Wells Library) to claim your prize. Please be aware of operating hours. All prizes were made (by me!) in collaboration with the Wells Library Makerspace!
3. You are able to opt-out of this challenge at any point, either entirely or by individual week. If you choose to opt-out of an individual week, please refrain from submitting a survey response for that week. If you would like to opt-out of the challenge entirely, please notify me through email (agaugler@iu.edu) so you can be taken off the mailing list. Note that opting-out may impact your ability to earn certain prizes.