I came to Los Angeles to study alone while my parents worked abroad. As a digital native, I thought I understood the online world — but I didn’t realize how deeply it was shaping my emotional life.

Through late-night conversations with friends, I began to notice a pattern: we were constantly connected, yet increasingly lonely. Heavy screen use was affecting our sleep, focus, academic performance, and social-emotional well-being. Many of us felt trapped in systems designed to keep us scrolling — platforms engineered for engagement, not connection.

What troubled me most was that while this issue was everywhere, there was no consistent, structured, youth-led intervention that gave students real agency.

That’s why I founded Screentime for Youth (STFY) — to move beyond awareness and help young people reclaim control of their digital lives through reflection, peer support, and action.