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Since the pandemic, the narrative around “online fatigue” has become a dominant one.

Critics suggest that young people are turning off from online platforms due to increased awareness of mental health challenges and a desire to disengage from digital spaces. While there is some truth to this—notably with many young people reducing their social media usage—the idea that online engagement as a whole is diminishing is a myth. At One Degree, we’ve observed that autonomous online learning is thriving and remains a vital tool for student development.

The Evidence: Students Embrace Online Learning

One Degree’s custom-built online platform provides a clear counterpoint to the notion of online fatigue. Our data reveals that the average student spends 3.6 hours per week on the platform. To put this into perspective, this is more time than the average student spends on homework or revision. Moreover, these hours align closely with the time spent in our in-person mentoring programs, excluding non-mentoring activities like meals and briefings.

For comparison, our in-person programs typically run for six hours, with four of those hours focused on mentoring groups for revision and tuition. The remaining time is allocated to guest speakers, activities, and meals. Online, students achieve an average of 3.6 hours per week without the additional incentives of communal meals or live events, showing a clear commitment to their learning.

Autonomy in Action: The Key to Engagement

What makes these results even more impressive is how students use their time online. The majority of their engagement—3.6 hours per week on average—is spent in one-on-one mentoring sessions. These sessions are self-scheduled, allowing students to choose times that fit their personal routines. This autonomy in learning fosters accountability and independence, qualities essential for long-term success.

The remaining time is divided among on-demand learning courses, video lessons, quizzes, live streams, and networking opportunities. Despite the lack of gamification elements that often make platforms addictive, our content still holds value, proving that students are fully capable of directing their own learning when the resources are tailored to their needs.

The Untapped Potential of Gamification

These statistics suggest an even brighter future for online learning. Imagine the possibilities if we integrate social media-inspired engagement strategies into our platform. By incorporating gamification methods—like badges, leaderboards, and interactive challenges—we could significantly enhance both motivation and learning outcomes.

Gamification doesn’t just make platforms more engaging; it can also reinforce key learning objectives. For example, interactive quizzes with real-time feedback or collaborative learning games can make complex topics more accessible and enjoyable. As our platform continues to evolve, we plan to adopt these strategies to not only sustain but also expand the hours students dedicate to their education.

The Future of Learning

The myth of online fatigue oversimplifies a complex issue. While there may be a shift away from unstructured and often harmful digital habits, purposeful online engagement—especially in the context of education—remains strong. One Degree’s platform is proof that autonomous online learning can rival and even surpass traditional methods when it comes to student engagement and outcomes.

By continuing to innovate and adopt strategies that align with students’ preferences and needs, we can ensure that online learning not only survives but thrives in the post-COVID era. Far from being fatigued, young people are ready to embrace the future of education—and we’re here to help them do it.