Assignment C - Part 2.1
Authentic Text
✔ See the class profile on the assignment instructions page to guide your choice of authentic
text.
✔ An authentic text is one produced for proficient speakers of English – not specifically for
English learners.
✔ If you select a written text, it must be 500-700 words long. If you find a text longer than that,
you can shorten it to fit the word count. If shortened, please ensure that it is still fully
coherent.
✔ If you select a listening audio, it must be 4-5 minutes long. If you find an audio longer than
that, you can shorten it to fit the time limit. If shortened, please ensure that it is still fully
coherent.
✔ In this document, provide a copy of the reading text or a transcript of the listening text you
have chosen.
✔ Ensure the text is properly referenced with a working link (URL) to the original source.
Highlight (or list under the text) 12 vocabulary items (words or phrases) which would be
useful to pre-teach.
Why I got rid of my smartphone for a ‘digital detox’.
By Laura O’Neill
BBC News
26 October 2025
A woman who got tired of wasting hours scrolling social media on her mobile said swapping her
smartphone for an old-style flip-phone "changed her life".
Jess Farnham put herself on a week-long "digital detox" when she realized her screen time was
getting out of control - and the challenge has now given her the taste for an even longer stint.
The 24-year-old, who lives in Manchester city centre, said: "The average person spends about
4.5 hours a day on their phone. If you live to be 80 that's 13 years of your life on a phone.
"I didn't want to spend 13 years of my life on TikTok so I knew I had to do something drastic."
She said the detox, which saw her switch her modern smartphone for a calls-only model from
the 2000s, showed her how easily she could navigate daily life without the constant pull of social
media.
, It also improved her mental health, sleep and productivity.
"I was constantly scrolling, constantly on a screen with work and then with my own social media
while also complaining that I had no time to do anything," the marketing manager said.
"I just have a better, more fulfilling day without my phone. I have more time for myself and my
hobbies, I read more and I'm more productive at work."
Jess said she planned to do the challenge for five days but ended up extending it to seven - and
only needing her smartphone for work has prevented her for making it even longer.
"The first 24 hours were the hardest, I felt like I was missing out on everything and it made me
quite anxious. “But by the end of the second day that had completely switched off."
She said most people thought the flip phone was funny and asked why she was using "an old
relic" because they had not seen one in years.
"Other people would ask if they could have a go because they'd never seen one before," she
said.
She said the detox "completely shifted my perspective" and left her extremely conscious of just
how much time she spends on her phone.
"I now have an app that limits my scrolling on TikTok and Instagram to an hour a day," Jess
said.
"I try and have at least one day a week off my smartphone and use my flip phone.
"I still feel that fear of missing out at the start but after an hour off my phone, I'm so fine."
Jess documented her detox journey on YouTube and said the reaction has been "incredible".
"So many people got in touch saying they felt the same, like they had no time to do anything
else because they were addicted to the dopamine they were getting from their phone," she said.
"For most children and teenagers, social media is how they communicate - it's where
friendships are formed and maintained," said Michelle McManus, professor of safeguarding and
violence prevention at Manchester Metropolitan University.
She said excessive screen time, particularly "unstructured use of social media", can affect
sleep, concentration, self-esteem and, in some cases, mental wellbeing.
"But it's not as simple as 'screens are bad'," she said.
"What matters most is how young people are engaging online, who they're connecting with and
what kinds of content and interactions they're being exposed to."
She said a "digital detox" such as the one undertaken by Jess can be a powerful tool to "help
young people regain a sense of agency" and to notice how much of their attention, emotion and
time has been shaped by algorithms and notifications.
Authentic Text
✔ See the class profile on the assignment instructions page to guide your choice of authentic
text.
✔ An authentic text is one produced for proficient speakers of English – not specifically for
English learners.
✔ If you select a written text, it must be 500-700 words long. If you find a text longer than that,
you can shorten it to fit the word count. If shortened, please ensure that it is still fully
coherent.
✔ If you select a listening audio, it must be 4-5 minutes long. If you find an audio longer than
that, you can shorten it to fit the time limit. If shortened, please ensure that it is still fully
coherent.
✔ In this document, provide a copy of the reading text or a transcript of the listening text you
have chosen.
✔ Ensure the text is properly referenced with a working link (URL) to the original source.
Highlight (or list under the text) 12 vocabulary items (words or phrases) which would be
useful to pre-teach.
Why I got rid of my smartphone for a ‘digital detox’.
By Laura O’Neill
BBC News
26 October 2025
A woman who got tired of wasting hours scrolling social media on her mobile said swapping her
smartphone for an old-style flip-phone "changed her life".
Jess Farnham put herself on a week-long "digital detox" when she realized her screen time was
getting out of control - and the challenge has now given her the taste for an even longer stint.
The 24-year-old, who lives in Manchester city centre, said: "The average person spends about
4.5 hours a day on their phone. If you live to be 80 that's 13 years of your life on a phone.
"I didn't want to spend 13 years of my life on TikTok so I knew I had to do something drastic."
She said the detox, which saw her switch her modern smartphone for a calls-only model from
the 2000s, showed her how easily she could navigate daily life without the constant pull of social
media.
, It also improved her mental health, sleep and productivity.
"I was constantly scrolling, constantly on a screen with work and then with my own social media
while also complaining that I had no time to do anything," the marketing manager said.
"I just have a better, more fulfilling day without my phone. I have more time for myself and my
hobbies, I read more and I'm more productive at work."
Jess said she planned to do the challenge for five days but ended up extending it to seven - and
only needing her smartphone for work has prevented her for making it even longer.
"The first 24 hours were the hardest, I felt like I was missing out on everything and it made me
quite anxious. “But by the end of the second day that had completely switched off."
She said most people thought the flip phone was funny and asked why she was using "an old
relic" because they had not seen one in years.
"Other people would ask if they could have a go because they'd never seen one before," she
said.
She said the detox "completely shifted my perspective" and left her extremely conscious of just
how much time she spends on her phone.
"I now have an app that limits my scrolling on TikTok and Instagram to an hour a day," Jess
said.
"I try and have at least one day a week off my smartphone and use my flip phone.
"I still feel that fear of missing out at the start but after an hour off my phone, I'm so fine."
Jess documented her detox journey on YouTube and said the reaction has been "incredible".
"So many people got in touch saying they felt the same, like they had no time to do anything
else because they were addicted to the dopamine they were getting from their phone," she said.
"For most children and teenagers, social media is how they communicate - it's where
friendships are formed and maintained," said Michelle McManus, professor of safeguarding and
violence prevention at Manchester Metropolitan University.
She said excessive screen time, particularly "unstructured use of social media", can affect
sleep, concentration, self-esteem and, in some cases, mental wellbeing.
"But it's not as simple as 'screens are bad'," she said.
"What matters most is how young people are engaging online, who they're connecting with and
what kinds of content and interactions they're being exposed to."
She said a "digital detox" such as the one undertaken by Jess can be a powerful tool to "help
young people regain a sense of agency" and to notice how much of their attention, emotion and
time has been shaped by algorithms and notifications.
