Nokha Online:
In today’s world, parents’ biggest concern is their children’s growing fascination with smartphones and social media. But can you imagine that a mobile app itself could help children overcome their mobile addiction? A prestigious school in the United States has made this a reality.
The article explains how modern technology (apps) is being used to combat the distractions caused by other smart apps, thereby preventing children from losing focus in schools.
Main problems and solutions:
Mobile phone addiction: Due to social media (Instagram, Snapchat, etc.) and games (Roblox, Clash Royale), children are unable to focus on their studies.
Problem: Students are engaged in social media (TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat) and games (Pok├йmon Go, Roblox) during school hours, which is affecting their studies and behavior.
Technology Solution: Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles has a unique approach. Here, students scan a QR code upon entering the school.
Solution (Opal app): The article mentions an app called ‘Opal,’ created by former Google employee Kenneth Schlenker.
‘Opal’ app: This is a time-based screen management app. As soon as students scan the QR code, this app blocks all social media and gaming apps on their phones.
The technology creeper has found its ‘digital cure’!
Benefits of this technology:
Real-time monitoring: If a student attempts to disable the app, school authorities are immediately notified on their dashboard.
Positive change: With the use of this app, students are more focused in class, have become calmer, and their grades have improved.
Self-control: Instead of having their phones completely confiscated, students are learning to manage distractions themselves.
How does this ‘digital lock’ work?
Schools often confiscate students’ phones or ban them entirely, but Harvard-Westlake School in California has adopted a different approach. Here, students scan a QR code located at the school gate. Upon scanning, distracting apps such as chess, TikTok, Snapchat, and other games are blocked on their phones.
Opal app: A magical solution
Behind this technology is an app called Opal, created by Kenneth Schlenker in 2020. This phone app doesn’t completely shut down the phone, but rather keeps it running for necessary study periods while “freezing” other entertainment apps.
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Its main features are as follows:
Attendance and Security: Scanning the QR code instantly records students’ attendance.
Fraud Prevention: If a student attempts to disable the app, an immediate alert should be sent to the school administration.
Improved Concentration: Even with their phones nearby, children don’t constantly look at them, allowing them to focus better on their studies and maintain academic concentration.
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Result: Peace and happiness
Teachers’ experiences indicate that using this technique has led to significant changes in students’ behavior. Instead of being glued to their phones during breaks, the children now talk to each other. Their sleep has improved, and they appear less irritable than before.
Is this also necessary in India?
The main theme of this article is “tit for tat,” meaning that apps designed for intense competition in the film industry should be countered by similar apps. This model serves as an excellent example for those who don’t want to take phones away from children but instead want to teach them “digital literacy.”
Do you think our local educators should also utilize this kind of technology? Please share your opinion in the comments section.
(Source: This news article is taken from the “Management Funda” column of Daily Bhaskar, written by N. Raghuraman. The article, published on January 5, 2026, is titled: “The poison of the app will be removed only through the app.”)
