C2 Sample Essay 23 (Screen Addiction)

Writing at C2 level (Proficient User) on English language examinations is the same no matter the awarding body when it comes to writing essays. If you are a candidate giving an exam in English, make sure you read my earlier post What do I do with the sample writing found on this blog? to get the most out of the sample essays provided on this blog.  

If you are not taking an exam but need to discuss what can be done to protect people from becoming addicted to television, cell phones, game consoles and computers, then read on and note down what you deem useful. If you intend to use this essay as part of an assignment, remember to paraphrase so as not to plagiarize.


The topic is similar to what candidates would expect in any other C2-level examination in that examiners want to see a well-organized, coherent and cohesive discussion of the issue with arguments and examples written in approximately half an hour.

If you'd like to read more sample essays and useful essay-writing posts, click on the image below.

The excessive use of TVs, cell phones, computers and game consoles has left many people worried about the dangers of too much screen use. How can we protect ourselves against screen addiction, health and behavioral problems? Be sure to support your statements with reasons and explanations. 

The words ‘technological innovation’ have become so commonplace in newspaper articles, scientific journals, online tech publications and discussions that it seems hardly surprising when we hear about a new ground-breaking gadget or application making its way onto the market these days. Indeed, cell phones, game consoles, TV sets and computers have become an indispensable part of our lives which have nevertheless brought on an armada of problems related to our health, behavior and our addiction to them. Fortunately, these problems are not insurmountable.

            The first area of difficulty is people’s screen addiction. Among the young, middle-aged and elderly it is not unusual to find cases of individuals hooked on their Playstations, who stay logged in 24 hours a day on their social media accounts, watch hours of television or keep their eyes glued to their computer monitors because it offers them an escape from work and the hardships of their daily lives. The availability and variety offered by the profuse number of applications make contact with both friends and strangers enticing, while attractive features and state-of-the-art graphics on game consoles and PC games give you the chance to experience a life in a virtual realm more captivating than your wildest imaginings. Putting a stop to such an addiction is therefore quite difficult if attempted alone. To prevent the abuse of time spent using consoles, phones, computers and TV, limits should be placed. If someone knows they will not be able to manage this themselves, they should trust someone to remind them when it is time to move on to another task, be that other person someone from their close environment or a professional whom they have reached out to for help. Laying down the ground rules about how much time is acceptable and abiding by those ground rules will reduce the danger of becoming addicted.

            As for a person’s health, once restricted use of computers, phones, TVs and game consoles is agreed upon, then it is much easier to regulate all those things that would result in health hazards. The fear of becoming obese because one is spending too much time indoors leading a sedentary lifestyle could be prevented as less time chatting to one’s friends on Instagram or Messenger could mean more hours at a gym or joining a sports team. Sitting in front of a TV screen, popcorn bowl and soda drink in hand, will have less of an adverse effect as those extra calories would be burnt off on a treadmill, during a hike out in the woods or afternoon basketball practice. The key is to spend a limited time at home.

            Finally, the anti-social behavior that experts claim all these modern electronic devices elicit would decrease. Being locked away in a room playing the latest role-playing game where they blast everyone and everything in sight is very likely to make gamers become used to such violence to the point where some players leave the house and enact such scenes in real life, a reality all too many newspaper headlines remind us of. Limiting the time logged on to such devices will undoubtedly make people spend more time interacting with others outside the home or become engaged in activities that will drag them away from violent images whose very sight engenders stress and makes us not wonder why as a society we have become so short-tempered, impolite and aggressive.

            All things considered, it is vital that people limit the hours they spend on phones, game consoles, in front of a TV set or computer screen. Whether they manage to do this by establishing a schedule and sticking to it by themselves, entrust this task to someone else close to them or seek professional help in the matter is up to them. The end result is that they must realize they need to get outdoors more to stay clear of the potential detrimental effects such devices have on their physical and mental well-being.