Del Oro High School Softball Team Ditches Smartphones, Sees Surprising Outcomes

LOOMIS – The Del Oro High School girls' softball team recently concluded a remarkable season, securing third place in the state. Yet, their most significant achievement unfolded off the field.

A bold initiative emerged when sophomore Addy Christiansen and her mother, Jennifer, engaged in a familiar debate about screen time. This time, however, the discussion ignited a transformative idea.

"I was having my daily argument with her about getting off of her phone and the lightbulb kind of went on," Jennifer recalled. "And I was thinking, what if this became two-fold?"

With the team actively fundraising for new lights on their field, Jennifer proposed a radical challenge: the girls would swap their smartphones for flip phones for an entire month—no apps, no social media.

Initially resistant, Addy exclaimed, "No, let's not, that's not a good idea." However, the team ultimately embraced the challenge.

This month-long digital detox sparked a fundraising campaign that captured the attention of the San Francisco Giants, who generously donated signed merchandise for an auction aimed at financing the new field lights.

Jennifer expressed her astonishment at the team's dedication to the initiative.

"When all 27 girls came up on stage that night and put their phones in the lock-up box, and the way they did it, it actually brought me to tears," she shared. "I did not foresee 100% participating."

Taking the challenge further, Addy and Jennifer collaborated with the Amen Clinic in Walnut Creek to conduct brain scans before and after the detox. They aimed to assess how a break from digital life might influence a teenager's brain.

The post-detox scan revealed increased blood flow in areas associated with decision-making and impulse control. Additionally, Addy's test scores and retention improved. However, doctors observed withdrawal symptoms akin to those experienced by individuals ceasing drug use.

UC Davis professor Drew Cingel, an expert on media's impact on youth, commented on the findings. "It does not terribly surprise me that this brain scan on this one adolescent female shows changes in the brain as a function of stopping usage for a month," he stated.

During a discussion following the detox, team members expressed mixed feelings. Some reported feeling "freer" and more connected to those around them, while others admitted to experiencing irritability and anxiety without their phones.

"They haven't learned how to self-regulate," Cingel explained. "It's really easy when you're bored or anxious. You pick up your cell phone and see what's happening. And when that's taken away, if you haven't developed self-regulation, you're kind of adrift."

Although doctors at the Amen Clinic emphasized that this was merely an experiment rather than a controlled study, they found the results compelling.

Meanwhile, the Del Oro girls continued their winning streak, advancing to the Sac-Joaquin championship game. Many are left wondering if their newfound mindset contributed to their success.

The Del Oro girls' team remains committed to securing additional funding for the lights on their field.