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One of the first-year-student orientation initiatives at a local university is to collect incoming
students’ cell phones and keep them for 48 hours. The purpose of the initiative is to give
students an opportunity to integrate into their new school culture and make friends on
campus. Carefully consider the effects of this initiative and the extent to which they might
support, complicate, or contradict its intended goals.
Write an essay that argues your position on the advisability of the 48-hour cell phone ban.
In your response you should do the following:
● Respond to the prompt with a thesis that presents a defensible position.
● Provide evidence to support your line of reasoning.
● Explain how the evidence supports your line of reasoning.
● Use appropriate grammar and punctuation in communicating your argument.

As a teenager in a generation of revolutionary technology, I get quite defensive and 

possessive of my phone or laptop. I cannot live without it. In many households today, our 
phones or other sources of technology are our livelihoods. Although our technology has 
brought countless benefits, it has also altered our way of society, affecting how humans 
interact with one another. As a society we have become too dependent on our devices for 
entertainment and communication. Our cell phones have become part of our identity, attached 
to our bodies 24/7. Based on my own experiences, I believe the 48 hour cell phone ban is very 
beneficial especially in a new setting like a student orientation. It is an opportunity to detach 
and meet others in a truly technology free environment. 
Retrospectively speaking, it is incredible how far technology has come. At the touch of a 
few buttons, one can contact someone across the globe. However, looking deeper into the social 
aspects, society has succumbed to being robots and slaves to the screen. In many social 
settings, with cell phones allowed, I found that there is little interaction but an extraordinary 
amount of pressure. In my high school career I have attended many parties and social 
gatherings. Instead of being in the moment and truly enjoying everyone’s company, I find that 
in many conversations the phrases “We have to take pictures to post this!” or “Are we going to 
post?” are said one too many times. There is so much pressure to capture the moment, because 
if there are no pictures, the event never happened. Party attendees are so focused on getting 
the perfect shot, making sure every moment is flawless and fun, that they get so busy staring 
at the screen. Rather than having a genuine conversation or shamelessly dancing to music, I 
see people tucked in a corner figuring out a way to achieve the perfect moment. Technology has 
brought us the ability to contact people around the world, but blinds us to the people right in 
front of us. For a college to prohibit cell phone use in an orientation- a setting for meeting and 
interacting with new people- would be extremely effective and beneficial. It will surely allow 
an authentic and enjoyable experience. 
Like many other teenagers, I would initially never give up my phone for more than a 
day. However, it was simply difficult for me to comprehend what life would be like without it; 
phones and other devices have been so thoroughly integrated in our lives that existence would 
just seem impossible if not for the smartphone.I would have never given up my phone by 
choice. In a retreat me and my friends participated in, we had to lock our phones away for the 
weekend. At first, we were hesitant because we were so sure that the weekend would be boring 
and dull without the cell phones. Yet, the weekend turned out to be extremely memorable and I 
was able to make new friends, and learn more about my current ones. The people on the retreat 
had no distractions, and were given an amazing opportunity to truly enjoy and experience 
each moment with no pressure. I believe that such benefits can be carried on to college 
orientations. Those few hours without the phone can be occupied by exploring and 
experiencing new activities and hobbies or meeting new, lifelong friends. In the orientation, the 
students will be able to fully immerse themselves in the school’s culture and meet campus 
friends, similar to what I had done on my retreat. It is evident that being in a cell phone free 
zone has effectively allowed me to interact with others in a healthy environment with no 
distractions or expectations.  
In a college orientation I think it is only appropriate to prohibit cell phone use for the 
most successful and constructive environment. Cell phones in social settings in my experience 
have only been proven to cause pressure and expectations, while also revoking people of their 
enjoyment of interacting with others. On the other hand, on my retreat with no cell phones, I 
had the opportunity to have wonderful experiences with no distractions. I was able to be in an 
authentic and pleasant environment. Although some may argue that taking the phones away 
takes away their rights and livelihood, a few hours without it will actually be enlightening. It 
does not deprive people of their rights, but actually educates and opens the eyes of many, like 
myself. Collecting incoming students's cell phones for 48 hours will surely provide a 
comforting environment, and allow them to engross and engage with other people.