THE CHALLENGE OF A GENERATION

Are Your Students in Control of Their Screens—Or Is It the Other Way Around?

Today's students are facing an unprecedented challenge: constant digital distraction.

Social media, gaming, and smartphones are not just tools; they are engineered to hijack attention, manipulate emotions, and erode self-discipline.

As educators, you see the impact:

❌ Reduced Focus – Difficulty paying attention in class
❌ Lower Motivation – More screen time, less engagement in real life
❌ Anxiety & Stress – Social media comparison culture fueling mental health issues
❌ Struggles with Impulse Control – Constantly checking their phones - even when they're trying not to

Focus, motivation and behavioral control are deeply tied to a healthy dopamine system.

But right now, particularly for the younger generations, our dopamine reserves are under attack.

Here is how I would explain it in 5 minutes to a group of kids:

Here is the gist:

Your smartphone needs your dopamine to keep you hooked. And unfortunately for you and me, the people who design the apps we use every day are actively trying to steal it.

Shamelessly.

We are being pushed lower and lower in a bottomless race of dopamine desensitization and smartphone addiction for the sake of tech companies making a profit over our youth's chance to shape their mind and their future.

Are you surprised to hear that most tech executives are among the strictest with their children in how much they allow access to technology? Are you surprised to hear that many of them send their kids to strictly no-phone schools?

They realize how much potential for harm there is, and they take it very seriously.

Meanwhile, you as a teacher are left fighting an impossible battle for your students' attention, and the rest of us including your students are left to believe that this is cool, that this is normal and that this is "just what people do".

It is not.

It's time that we stop this nonsense.

It's time that we equip our youth with the knowledge, the facts and the tools to regain control over their digital lives.

The Classroom is the Battleground for Attention – Every day, you witness firsthand how digital distractions chip away at focus, critical thinking, and meaningful learning. Students are struggling to engage—not because they lack curiosity, but because their attention is being hijacked by apps designed for addiction.

Mental Health is Declining, and Schools Are on the Front Lines – Anxiety, depression, and lack of motivation are skyrocketing among teens, and excessive screen time is a major contributor. Educators, counselors, and school staff are often the first to see the warning signs—but without the right tools, how can we help?

Smartphones Are Reshaping Social Skills & Emotional Resilience – More than ever, students are struggling with face-to-face communication, emotional regulation, and the ability to handle boredom or discomfort. The way they interact with their world is changing, and schools are where these habits are formed—or transformed.

Education Can Play A Role in Breaking the Cycle – Unlike tech companies, schools don’t profit from student addiction—they exist to empower, educate, and prepare students for the future. While larger societal forces are at play, schools are uniquely positioned to take the lead in shaping healthier digital habits—grounded in science, not sales.

As a school, teacher, or educator, you are at the epicenter of this earthquake.

Introducing

THE POWER OF SMARTPHONE LIBERATION

A 1-hour or 2-hour interactive session designed specifically for schools, this workshop blends cutting-edge neuroscience, engaging storytelling, and actionable strategies to help students restructure their relationship with technology.

Led by Nicolò F. Bernardi, PhD, an expert in neuropsychology, behavior change, and digital well-being, this workshop offers students a rare opportunity to dive into the science, our lives experiences and the solutions.

🔬 SCIENCE – We unpack the real impact of screens on the brain, on dopamine and on the ability to deliver high performance.

🎭 SHARING STORIES – We surface lively examples of both pains and victories, making the content relatable and the invisible effects of phone addiction impossible to ignore

🔥 ACTIONABLE STRATEGIES – We learn practical, immediate steps to take back control of our digital habits

💡 How smartphones are hijacking their dopamine system—and what to do about it

🎯 How to leverage the power of your dopamine system by setting goals your brain can't resist

🧠 The hidden ways apps and social media are designed to make them addicted

📱 How to use technology without letting it use them

⚡ Simple strategies to reclaim focus, motivation, and mental clarity

🔄 How to reset their phone habits—without quitting technology altogether

WHAT STUDENTS WILL LEARN

Research-Backed, Yet Relatable

The content is based on cutting-edge neuroscience and behavioral psychology and it's delivered in a way that resonates with students.

This is not a dull lecture. The session is interactive, relatable, and packed with “Aha!” moments that keep students hooked.

Engaging, High-Energy Delivery

Practical Solutions Rooted in Mindfulness

Students walk away with concrete strategies grounded in self-awareness —not vague advice to "use your phone less" or "just install an app blocker".

Why Schools Choose This Workshop

Join forward-thinking schools that are empowering their students to thrive in the digital world—without letting technology control them.

I think the most important thing I learnt was realizing that there is a physical feeling when I reach for my phone which is why it is important to be mindful of what you are doing. Now a few days after the workshop, I continuously apply this thinking when picking up my phone and ask myself if this is more important than the person I want to become in 3 months?

Now I understand why our phones are making us more depressed

This is making me realize how desensitized we have become to the use of our smartphone

I'm realizing how much more productive you can be if you put your phone down and change your mindset

I think this workshop is useful especially for the younger generation, our phones have become a part of our body and we do not seem to realize the harms it's causing to our brains

I'm realizing how addicted I am to my phone

I'm shocked to realize how much our dopamine levels "dip" after getting a "hit" without getting back to our baseline.

I think so many people use their phones and don't realise how badly it affects their life time management and drive I think everyone can benefit from this workshop

This was helpful because dopamine regularization can help us gain more focus and clear our minds when doing tasks where cell phones aren't required.

I feel like this workshop was really impactful and more people my age should be obliged to be presented with this workshop. Not only for phone addictions but all addictions such as vaping, smoking cigarettes, alcohol, etc.

This workshop would be extremely insightful for everyone, no matter what point in life they are at because it is important to be aware of the real effects of smartphones in our lives, especially for students. Using and preserving our dopamine positively can make a huge difference in our lives, especially in the long run where we can see these effects compound.

Amazing! As someone who loves to attend weekly conference calls about the mind and invests in trying to learn about it, I found this workshop extremely valuable, and it covers a lot of notions you would have to pay a pretty penny for! I loved that we had access to our own activity sheet because it felt more engaging and real. For me, writing things down will always be more effective than just thinking about something and then forgetting about it a few days later. I also love that you started by really making us visualize the pain this could bring us later on in life, and I think people started paying more attention when they realized, "Wow, this could be me, and this could stop me from achieving my goals."

What former participants say:

Let’s Bring This to Your School

Whether you have questions about the workshop, want to discuss a custom session, or are ready to book—let’s talk!