The Forum

Viewing online videos is a normal way for college students to pass time. Whether it’s killing time, or staying connected with peers, various apps fill daily moments and activities. Still, small choices such as what to watch can even shift habits quietly around sleep, schoolwork, and time planning. The subtle silent pull of screens often run much deeper than calculated. 

Day after day on campus, students watch videos—sometimes to learn or just to have fun. In dorms, libraries, or outside lecture halls, screens are often glowing for hours. Many watch to unwind, or just to dig into topics they’re curious about. Before long, those concealed pauses meant to unwind turn into longer stretches, pulling attention away from real learning. 

When Entertainment Becomes a Distraction 

Once a student picks up a series, even briefly, hours slip away before they notice. A junior biology major said she often sits down for a 30-minute show, only to realize hours have passed. When she finally tries to focus on homework, it feels much harder to get started again. 

This isn't just about putting off homework. How much a student sleeps is also drastically affected and can often impact their grades. Research on over 1,300 college learners showed a link between long evening screen use and struggling in class. Staying up late with screens longer than 60 minutes often leads to weaker grades. Late nights with screens made sleep worse, which messed with both healing sleep and academic performance (Mao et al., 2022).” 

​Even only a couple of shows meant to unwind can cut into sleep, make it harder to pay attention, and additionally weakens memory the next morning. Over time, these habits pile up, leaving students tired in class, struggling with homework, and feeling extra pressure during tests. 

​Watching shows while studying now and then 

​Not all streaming is bad. Some students use educational videos on platforms like YouTube, Khan Academy, or other services to supplement their coursework. Short videos on complex topics, such as labs and battles, can help to simplify complex concepts and stay engaged. 

One student confesses to watching chemistry review clips when lessons are not clear to her and says it is valuable, not just a way to pass the time. 

The most memorable is interacting with live updates, such as jotting down ideas, reflecting, and trying out new skills. This is especially important for complex topics where books are not clear or lack case studies. 

Why Sleep Matters 

​Sleep helps us understand how well our minds are performing. Too much screen time, especially before bed, overstimulates our nervous system. This makes it difficult to sleep as our brains are blocked by blue light from screens. Lack of sleep makes us lethargic and unfocused. Our learning is also not retained as well (Honor Society, n.d.). 

​Late nights watching TV and waking up to scroll through social media all night are only registered as a loss of focus in the morning. Short nights and late bedtimes mean that even the best-performing students are affected. Over time, insufficient sleep quietly takes a toll on students’ energy, focus, and overall academic performance. 

​Coping Strategies for Balance 

​Some students protect their study time by prioritizing homework first, then allowing themselves to watch shows afterward. There is also software that helps to block our favorite sites until our homework is finished, including Freedom (which offers a free trial), while others, including Stayfocusd, Limit, Pause, and Focus are available at no cost.  

Concentrating is easier when there is a purpose to our screen time, and some basic habits also work, including setting a time or timer. For example, turn off all screens by 10 p.m. If chores are done early, then watch a TV show. Getting ahead is more important than getting to bed late. 

​Nowhere is this change more evident than on campuses, where well-being groups are running sessions to teach young adults how to manage their online time. Rather than reducing, they are learning how to increase their concentration, and still have the shows, with a new sense of purpose. The sessions offer learners practical advice on how to use this in the real world: set aside hours for work, study, and relaxation; track how much time is spent using the devices; and incorporate learning into the online activity when it makes sense to do so. 

​The Social Side of Streaming 

​What catches the eye may surprise you: watching can be a social activity. Some learners have associated their friendships with new shows, commenting on the show after watching it. Others are watching and sharing the screen in the corridors or in rooms. So, when something on the screen becomes a viral video or a show becomes a hit, learners are chatting in the corridors or on the bus. 

A lot of students mention, “Watching shows together is a fun way to connect. Sharing what we are watching creates small, real moments between lectures. A common topic makes the conversation much easier.” 

​Of course, this can have the positive side effect of strengthening friendships and a sense of belonging, but it could have the negative side effect of increasing screen time, as watching with others replaces lessons, tasks, and duties. So, balance live chats with schoolwork to keep friendships and grades in check. 

Finding the Right Balance 

​Most people see no harm in streaming alone, and it is only a problem if it becomes an issue to be aware of. Awareness is more important than the act itself. Draw lines around screen time, promote the learning benefits, and use tools to declutter the screen. 

​College life doesn’t have to revolve around streaming. If shows are interfering with study, students can easily adjust their viewing times. With the right balance and care, screen time won’t entirely compromise sleep. Stay socially connected without the need to scroll the screen all the time. Academic work can stay solid with the right use of screen time and planning. 

Works Cited 

Mao, Y., Xie, B., Chen, B., et al. “Mediating Effect of Sleep Quality on the Relationship between Electronic Screen Media Use and Academic Performance among College Students.” Nature and Science of Sleep, 2022, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35250321/Links to an external site.. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026. 

Honor Society. “The Impact of Screen Time on College Students: Finding Balance in the Digital Age.” Honor Society, n.d., https://www.honorsociety.org/articles/impact-screen-time-college-students-finding-balance-digital-ageLinks to an external site.. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026. 

Junior Biology Student. Interview. by Hussain Almashkour, 16 Feb. 2026, Forest Park, St. Louis, MO. 

In person at Forest Park, St. Louis, with a junior biology student 

Me: Can I ask a few questions about how streaming affects your studying? 

Student: Sure.

Me: How does watching shows affect your homework? 

Student: I plan to watch just a little, but sometimes hours go by, and then it’s hard to get back to studying. 

Me: Do you ever use streaming for learning? 

Student: Yeah, I watch chemistry review videos when class isn’t clear. It really helps. 

Me: Any tips to balance shows and schoolwork? 

Student: I make sure homework comes first, and I set limits on how long I watch.