Hello everyone, welcome back to my blog. Today, we will be engaging in round one of research for my inquiry question: what are the physiological and psychological effects of technology addiction?

Tech and Teens: Effects on the Brain or Insane?

The phrase “addiction” can be used to describe a great many vices for people all over the world: but over the past decade, a new advent for technology has had a wider effect on the youth of today. (1) People with addiction often have one or more health issues, whether physical or mental, including heart disease, stroke, cancer and mental health risks from the serious epidemic. (2) Studies have shown a correlation between heavy social media use and increased feelings of depression, anxiety, loneliness, and suicidal tendencies. (1) However, addiction to any substance can be treated like any other disorder; with support from communities, and abstinence from the perpetrators, addiction victims can recover to become better versions of themselves. (2)

Although, the issue of technology is less preventable than drinks or drugs, it’s a result of corporate advertisement and capitalistic business models. So how can we prevent these issues in ourselves and our peers?

Adverts to Adolescents: How Does It Work?

The science of “clickbait’ is a fascinating loop design to psychologically appeal to consumers regardless of age or interests. Bright, flashy colours, eye-catching headlines and attention-grabbing images are a common tactic used by large marketers. However, when ads promise “30-Day Treatments”, or “Best Results Ever,” the curious facade can fade into dangerous traps. Many teens or vulnerable populations find themselves lost in ads, paying for a null service, or even without a device as malicious software invades computer drives. (3) Since attention spans have shortened and brains have become fine-tuned to look for the next dopamine hit, companies are vying for the average consumer’s next scroll. (4)

Supporting teens in a time of adverse adverts and scam sites is proving to be harder to control than ever for parents. But, how can the average parent protect their children from the world of the future?

Appealing to Your (Almost) Adult: Myth or Method?

The average teenager spends 7 hours and 22 mins on their phone a day, and kids aged 8 to 12 spend around 4.5 hours on their devices as well. Parents have come to lean on tech as a parental support guide, and kids look to their phones for a communication tool, entertainer and emotional crutch. Many argue, that, even in light of the research against technology for toddlers, the Internet has become so ingrained in people’s lives, that there is no healthy way to cut back. 65% of adolescence has said that their parents take their phones away as punishment, which many report can feel isolated, and associates a bad feeling without a phone. Dr. Lisa Damour PhD has written a book on this very topic. She advises parents to drill into their children that they should not have to depend on any outside force, be it tech, drugs, or anything else, to feel calm and secure in their skin. In her book, The Emotional Lives of Teenagers, she delves deeper into the topic, and provides better advice to emotionally regulate children and adults alike in light of technology, rather than keeping them in the dark about it. (5)

Thank you guys for tuning in to this week’s blog post! Next week, we’ll be talking about components of social media that contribute to addiction, and how they can be offset. Until then, see you next time!

Bibliography

1.

Health ML. Clickbait and manipulation: How online addiction ads exploit vulnerability [Internet]. Main Line Health. 2024. Available from: https://www.mainlinehealth.org/blog/clickbait-and-manipulation

2.

National Institute on Drug Abuse. Treatment and Recovery [Internet]. National Institute on Drug Abuse. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2020. Available from: https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/treatment-recovery

3.

Siler A. This Is What Phone Addiction Looks Like for Teens and How Parents Can Help [Internet]. Parents. 2024. Available from: https://www.parents.com/parenting/better-parenting/teenagers/teen-talk/teen-phone-addiction/

4.

Columbia University. Smartphones, Social Media, and Their Impact on Mental Health [Internet]. Columbia University Department of Psychiatry. Columbia University; 2023. Available from: https://www.columbiapsychiatry.org/research/research-areas/child-and-adolescent-psychiatry/sultan-lab-mental-health-informatics/research-areas/smartphones-social-media-and-their-impact-mental-health

5.

World Health Organization. Teens, screens and mental health [Internet]. World Health Organization. World Health Organization; 2024. Available from: https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/25-09-2024-teens–screens-and-mental-health