Screen Addiction

Is your teen clinically addicted to screen time?

Delaney Ruston, MD
January 17, 2017

TECH TALK TUESDAY #50: IS YOUR TEEN CLINICALLY ADDICTED TO SCREEN TIME?

Child on phone with coat on her head

Many people use the word “addiction” casually to describe something they do often and somewhat compulsively. We hear people say things like, “I’m addicted to chocolate or I’m addicted to my cell phone.”  Clinical addiction is a different matter. A clinical diagnosis is defined by:  

  • Negative consequences: problems with relationships, work, school, and more
  • Tolerance: wanting to engage with the substance more and more to get the same affect
  • Withdrawal: feelings of anxiousness, physical symptoms and more when away from it
  • Unable to stop: serious difficulties with trying to cut down or stop

The American Association of Psychiatry (APA) is considering adding Internet Gaming Disorder as an official diagnosis. This is based on studies that show psychological and physiological patterns similar to those exhibited by a person with a drug addiction. For example, MRI studies of the brains of people who play twenty hours or more of video games a week show similar imaging patterns as people addicted to drugs. Internet use that is not gaming related, but rather related to social media and other things, is also a problem for many people but it is less understood from a psychological and physiological perspective.

If you are concerned about addiction in yourself or someone else, or you want to teach your kids about this issue, take a look at these two questionnaires that screen for problematic use.

For Tech Talk Tuesday this week let's talk about the difference between addiction and compulsion:

  • Do you feel like your screen time creates negative consequences in any part of your life?
  • Do you ever feel anxious when you can't get access to your screen?
  • Should the risk of real screen time addiction be taught in schools?

As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel

Join
443
others who have made the pledge!
Thank you for making the pledge!
Please try again
Book page button

Available now - Parenting in the Screen Age, from Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD

Order Here
Find A screening Button

Find a Screening - Find a screening of our movies in your local community

Learn More

Screenagers Podcast - Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for the latest Podcast

Learn More
Book page button

Available now - Parenting in the Screen Age, from Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD

Learn More
Host a Screening Button

Community Screenings - Learn more about hosting your own Screenagers community screening event!

Learn More
Parenting In The Screen Age Book Cover

Free Book Preview - Download a free preview of "Parenting In The Screen Age" by Delaney Ruston, MD

Learn More

Join Today - Members can screen and view our movies year-round, access new lesson plans, resources and much more!

Learn More
Screenagers Under The Influence Banner

Our New Movie - Learn more about the third movie in the Screenagers Trilogy

Learn More

The Screenagers YouTube Channel - Subscribe for new videos and content from our team weekly!

Learn More
Host a Screening Button

Community Screenings - Learn more about hosting your own Screenagers community screening event!

Learn More
Find A screening Button

Find a Screening - Find a screening of our movies in your local community

Learn More

Screenagers Podcast - Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for the latest Podcast

Learn More
Book page button

Available now - Parenting in the Screen Age, from Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD

Learn More
Host a Screening Button

Community Screenings - Learn more about hosting your own Screenagers community screening event!

Learn More
Parenting In The Screen Age Book Cover

Free Book Preview - Download a free preview of "Parenting In The Screen Age" by Delaney Ruston, MD

Learn More

Join Today - Members can screen and view our movies year-round, access new lesson plans, resources and much more!

Learn More
Screenagers Under The Influence Banner

Our New Movie - Learn more about the third movie in the Screenagers Trilogy

Learn More

The Screenagers YouTube Channel - Subscribe for new videos and content from our team weekly!

Learn More
Book page button

Available now - Parenting in the Screen Age, from Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD

Order Here
Find A screening Button

Find a Screening - Find a screening of our movies in your local community

Learn More

Screenagers Podcast - Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for the latest Podcast

Learn More
Book page button

Available now - Parenting in the Screen Age, from Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD

Learn More
Host a Screening Button

Community Screenings - Learn more about hosting your own Screenagers community screening event!

Learn More
Parenting In The Screen Age Book Cover

Free Book Preview - Download a free preview of "Parenting In The Screen Age" by Delaney Ruston, MD

Learn More

Join Today - Members can screen and view our movies year-round, access new lesson plans, resources and much more!

Learn More
Screenagers Under The Influence Banner

Our New Movie - Learn more about the third movie in the Screenagers Trilogy

Learn More

The Screenagers YouTube Channel - Subscribe for new videos and content from our team weekly!

Learn More

Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition - Learn more about our latest movie.

Learn More
Host a Screening Button

Community Screenings - Learn more about hosting your own Screenagers community screening event!

Learn More
Find A screening Button

Find a Screening - Find a screening of our movies in your local community

Learn More

Screenagers Podcast - Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for the latest Podcast

Learn More
Book page button

Available now - Parenting in the Screen Age, from Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD

Learn More
Host a Screening Button

Community Screenings - Learn more about hosting your own Screenagers community screening event!

Learn More
Parenting In The Screen Age Book Cover

Free Book Preview - Download a free preview of "Parenting In The Screen Age" by Delaney Ruston, MD

Learn More

Join Today - Members can screen and view our movies year-round, access new lesson plans, resources and much more!

Learn More
Screenagers Under The Influence Banner

Our New Movie - Learn more about the latest movie in the Screenagers Trilogy

Learn More

The Screenagers YouTube Channel - Subscribe for new videos and content from our team weekly!

Learn More

Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition - Learn more about our latest movie.

Learn More
Screen Addiction

Is your teen clinically addicted to screen time?

Delaney Ruston, MD
January 17, 2017

TECH TALK TUESDAY #50: IS YOUR TEEN CLINICALLY ADDICTED TO SCREEN TIME?

Child on phone with coat on her head

Many people use the word “addiction” casually to describe something they do often and somewhat compulsively. We hear people say things like, “I’m addicted to chocolate or I’m addicted to my cell phone.”  Clinical addiction is a different matter. A clinical diagnosis is defined by:  

  • Negative consequences: problems with relationships, work, school, and more
  • Tolerance: wanting to engage with the substance more and more to get the same affect
  • Withdrawal: feelings of anxiousness, physical symptoms and more when away from it
  • Unable to stop: serious difficulties with trying to cut down or stop

The American Association of Psychiatry (APA) is considering adding Internet Gaming Disorder as an official diagnosis. This is based on studies that show psychological and physiological patterns similar to those exhibited by a person with a drug addiction. For example, MRI studies of the brains of people who play twenty hours or more of video games a week show similar imaging patterns as people addicted to drugs. Internet use that is not gaming related, but rather related to social media and other things, is also a problem for many people but it is less understood from a psychological and physiological perspective.

If you are concerned about addiction in yourself or someone else, or you want to teach your kids about this issue, take a look at these two questionnaires that screen for problematic use.

For Tech Talk Tuesday this week let's talk about the difference between addiction and compulsion:

  • Do you feel like your screen time creates negative consequences in any part of your life?
  • Do you ever feel anxious when you can't get access to your screen?
  • Should the risk of real screen time addiction be taught in schools?

As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel

More Like This

Trailer for Our New Film! Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition
September 10, 2024
Screen Addiction

Trailer for Our New Film! Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition

I am over the moon jazzed to introduce the trailer for our new film, Screenagers: Elementary School Edition. So much work has gone into this film. My team and I wanted it to be attention-worthy and, above all, exceedingly useful. Screen time seeps into the lives of younger and younger kids. Parents struggle with what to do. How much time is okay for entertainment screen time? How to set limits? How to handle meltdowns? What does science tell us about why and how to safeguard sleep in our digital age? And so much more.

READ MORE >
Digital Binging — Is It A Problem?
April 21, 2020
Screen Addiction

Digital Binging — Is It A Problem?

What are the potential costs of loads of certain screen time activities on our kids’ brain health and mood? Today we talk about ways to changes tech time that might help them feel better — even while keeping the same total amount of screen time?

READ MORE >
Counseling for Screen Time Struggles
June 11, 2019
Screen Addiction

Counseling for Screen Time Struggles

In some homes, managing screen time is the source of a lot of stress and tension. It can often be downright toxic. If you are at your wits' end about screen time issues, seeking the help of a professional coach or counselor can be beneficial.

READ MORE >

parenting in the screen age

for more like this, DR. DELANEY RUSTON'S NEW BOOK, PARENTING IN THE SCREEN AGE, IS THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE FOR TODAY’S PARENTS. WITH INSIGHTS ON SCREEN TIME FROM RESEARCHERS, INPUT FROM KIDS & TEENS, THIS BOOK IS PACKED WITH SOLUTIONS FOR HOW TO START AND SUSTAIN PRODUCTIVE FAMILY TALKS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND IT’S IMPACT ON OUR MENTAL WELLBEING.  

ORDER HERE
Parenting in the Screen Age book cover