As a doctor, I believe that while there is a true clinical internet/video game addiction, we must be careful about using the term addiction loosely. I explain here in this recent Washington Post article:
"For serious cases, she agrees that Internet addiction is a real problem. But for the kid who just won’t put her phone down during dinner? Calling her an addict may do more harm than good.
“We should be careful to stop using the word ‘addiction’ so kids can have an internal sense of control,” she said. “They have to know that the device does not control them.”
A new report from Common Sense Media titled “Technology Addiction: Concern, Controversy, and Finding Balance” points to the potential controversy of taking an addiction view of everyday technology use. The key is to find balance both in our perspective on technology use and our actual use of it.
The Common Sense report includes results of a poll of 1200 teens and parents on their feelings, use and response to their mobile devices. Much of the poll’s results echo what we found from our work on SCREENAGERS, namely that both teens and parents recognize the strong pull of technology in their daily lives. In the results of the poll, one of every two teens reported they “feel” addicted to their mobile devices and 60 percent of parents “feel” their teens are addicted.
As I noted above, the parents and teens connection of the term addiction with their feelings about their device use is not grounded in the clinical definition of addiction as it pertains to Internet Gaming Disorder, or IGD. I touch on some of the specifics of IGD in SCREENAGERS.
All that said, the poll results do reflect some behaviors that, again, could use some balance. They include:
These themes of distraction, conflict, behavior and compulsion also run throughout SCREENAGERS interviews of teens, parents and experts. Interestingly, some of the solutions to these issues come from teens themselves. One group of boys puts all devices in a pile on the center of the table whenever the get together so that they stay focused on each other instead of their phones. This self-awareness, which also comes through in the poll, speaks well to the emotional intelligence of the SCREENAGERS generation. At the same time that they feel drawn in by their devices, they are also seeking ways to disconnect from them.
Here is a video from the Screenagers YouTube Channel that talks more about this subject
As a doctor, I believe that while there is a true clinical internet/video game addiction, we must be careful about using the term addiction loosely. I explain here in this recent Washington Post article:
"For serious cases, she agrees that Internet addiction is a real problem. But for the kid who just won’t put her phone down during dinner? Calling her an addict may do more harm than good.
“We should be careful to stop using the word ‘addiction’ so kids can have an internal sense of control,” she said. “They have to know that the device does not control them.”
A new report from Common Sense Media titled “Technology Addiction: Concern, Controversy, and Finding Balance” points to the potential controversy of taking an addiction view of everyday technology use. The key is to find balance both in our perspective on technology use and our actual use of it.
The Common Sense report includes results of a poll of 1200 teens and parents on their feelings, use and response to their mobile devices. Much of the poll’s results echo what we found from our work on SCREENAGERS, namely that both teens and parents recognize the strong pull of technology in their daily lives. In the results of the poll, one of every two teens reported they “feel” addicted to their mobile devices and 60 percent of parents “feel” their teens are addicted.
As I noted above, the parents and teens connection of the term addiction with their feelings about their device use is not grounded in the clinical definition of addiction as it pertains to Internet Gaming Disorder, or IGD. I touch on some of the specifics of IGD in SCREENAGERS.
All that said, the poll results do reflect some behaviors that, again, could use some balance. They include:
These themes of distraction, conflict, behavior and compulsion also run throughout SCREENAGERS interviews of teens, parents and experts. Interestingly, some of the solutions to these issues come from teens themselves. One group of boys puts all devices in a pile on the center of the table whenever the get together so that they stay focused on each other instead of their phones. This self-awareness, which also comes through in the poll, speaks well to the emotional intelligence of the SCREENAGERS generation. At the same time that they feel drawn in by their devices, they are also seeking ways to disconnect from them.
Here is a video from the Screenagers YouTube Channel that talks more about this subject
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.
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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?
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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 >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.
