Technology Addiction

TECHNOLOGY ADDICTION


~  Technology addiction it is also called internet addiction or internet use disorder, it is a broad term used to describe any obsessive tech-related behaviour – be that gaming, online shopping, social media, video watching or anything else involving digital technology.

 

   TYPES OF TECHNOLOGY ADDITION

1.      Gaming addiction.

Gaming has become more popular than ever before and are available not only on consoles and computers but also right on your phone.  Some of today’s most popular games include Fortnite, World of Warcraft, League of Legends, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, Roblox and several others.  Part of what makes gaming so addictive are built in rewards, hidden features, and side quests.  Every time an individual completes a level, beats a boss, kills an opponent, or unlocks a new player or level the individual receives a boost of dopamine, resulting in gaming-induced pleasure.  Some games are never ending.  Socially interactive games such as eSports have also become increasingly popular.  Such games may be more socially engaging than one-player games but can also lead to a false sense of social interaction.

2. Social media addiction.


Social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat and others are highly addictive, and YouTube can also be grouped into this category.  Every time an individual receives engagement via a “like,” “follow” or “comment” the individual’s brain releases feel-good neurotransmitters, ultimately resulting in wanting more engagement.  Social media, like social gaming, can invoke a false sense of social engagement leaving individuals feeling isolated and alone.  Endless scrolling of social.

media feeds, constantly refreshing feeds or binge watching TikTok or YouTube videos also serve as a way to fend of loneliness, fight off boredom and fill other psychological voids.  Doom scrolling and a fear of missing out also play a large part in social media addiction.

3. Online gambling addiction.

 While Gambling Disorder is a diagnostic addiction unto itself, it is important to recognize and treat the pathological digital usage in tandem with pathological gambling when gambling is done virtually.  Online gambling includes but is not limited to online casino games, online poker, online sports betting, eSports gambling, day trading, and cryptocurrency trading.  As previously mentioned, Internet Gambling Disorder is recognized by the American Psychiatric Association as a diagnosable mental health disorder.  Of all the various forms of addictions, including substance use addictions, gambling addiction has the highest rates of suicide.  As such, it is imperative to address problem gambling as soon as issues arise.

4. Pornography addiction or online sexual addiction.

Porn addiction involves obsessive and compulsive watching of porn, and often coincides with excessive masturbation, hypersexual disorder, and an emotional dependency to porn.  Oftentimes porn addiction results in an individual’s sex life becoming less satisfying and becoming less interested in real sexual engagement.  As such, porn addiction often results in real life relationships deteriorating.  Excessive porn usage often results in feelings of shame, guilt, loneliness, sadness and frustration.

5. Online shopping addiction.

An online shopping addiction, also known as compulsive buying disorder, is a behavioral addiction that involves impulsive and compulsive buying of good and services online.  Online shopping addictions often serve as a temporary way to induce pleasure and feel good, and as a way of avoiding negative emotions and evading boredom.  Online shopping is not only about the purchasing in and of itself, but is also about the excitement of browsing prior to the purchase.

6. Work related digital addiction.

Individuals who are addicted to their work are often praised for being hard workers, and while there is great admiration for good work ethic, problems can arise when individuals become dependent on their work.  The work becomes a means of escape, and relationships, mental health, and general wellbeing can suffer.  While work addiction is different from digital addiction, there are often technological problems associated with work addiction, especially for those in executive level positions or others who do office-related work. 



EFFECT OF TECHNOLOGY ADDICTION ON HEALTH.

Research shows that excessively using the internet and internet-enabled devices can lead to:   # Disrupted sleep.   

 # Social isolation.

 # impaired emotional and social intelligence. 

   # Heightened attention-deficit symptoms.

Scientific research also shows that being addicted to technology can also affect our brain and cognitive health. The more we use technology, the more neurological changes take place in the brain. Studies show that these changes can be so substantial that technology addiction can be just as harmful as substance abuse addiction.

Like other behavioural addictions, technology addiction can have a negative impact on our academic performance, career, family, and social life. Being addicted to technology can cause us to:

  • Experience sudden mood changes
  • Obsessively focus on the internet and digital media
  • Neglect our social, work, and school or professional lives
  • Lose track of how much time we spend on the internet
  • Feel like we need more time on the internet or a new game or device to be happy
  • Experience withdrawal symptoms when not using the internet or technology
  • Continue using the internet and technology even though it negatively affects our relatioships.

Excessive use of the internet, smartphones, tablets, laptops, and video game consoles can also impact our minds by:

  • Diminishing the amount of grey and white matter in the brain. The brain needs a healthy amount of grey and white matter to function well. White matter helps us think fast and focus well. Grey matter helps us process information and make good decisions. Excessive screen time can decrease these fatty tissues, making concentration, focus, problem-solving, and decision-making difficult.
  • Disrupting the brain’s ability to differentiate day from night. The glowing light emitted by laptops, tablets, and smartphones tends to interfere with the brain and body’s internal light cues and sleep-inducing hormones. Constantly exposing ourselves to bright lights can make the brain think it’s still daytime when it’s actually night. This, of course, can make falling asleep difficult and can trigger disrupted sleep patterns and insomnia.
  • Making the brain more susceptible to memory troubles. Neuroscientists have discovered that thanks to technology, we’re less likely to remember personal information such as a relative’s birthday or phone number. Misusing technology, spending excessive amounts of time online, and constantly staring at screens can shrink the cerebrum and hippocampus, which help regulate our reading, thinking, learning, recognition, and long-term memory.
  • Negatively impacting our impulse control. Research shows a link between impulsivity and excessive technology consumption. Another study revealed that consistently playing video games can inhibit a player’s ability to control impulsive and aggressive behavior. Unfortunately losing control of our impulses can lead to other addictions, weight challenges, poor social skills, and other disorders.

                 Preventing technology addiction in teens



Technology will only grow in its use in teens' worlds. Preventing teen addiction to technology means finding a balance within students' lives, so that teenagers do not misuse their technology as an escape from real world challenges, emotions, socialization, or identity. Adults can help children and teens have healthy relationships to technology when they:

Provide plenty of healthy highs, some of them offline. How teenagers use technology really matters. Are teens playing video games among other recreational activities, and are they as excited about a dinner with friends as they are about "levelling up"? Or, are they turning on the Xbox so they don't have to face a life that they're not enjoying?

Balance activity and productivity with healthy stress management. Everything in life requires energy, and often teens feel like they have too little energy to spend on too many demands. If they're are not guided by adults to discover healthy ways to replenish their stores of energy, they may default by overusing easy fixes for entertainment or stress relief that promote technology addiction.

Nurture pro-social identity development in the real world. Adults must be proactive, creative, and excited as they help kids to discover who they really are! Once teenagers find something, they are good at and want to do, they will naturally gravitate toward it. It is easier to create an Internet façade, but far more rewarding for teens to cultivate true purposes and genuine identities within their families, schools, and communities.

Consider treatment when there's a problem. Inpatient treatment for technology addiction starts by removing a teenager from both the Internet and the surroundings that allowed a technology addiction to occur in the first place. It is a form of intensive therapy. Other treatments can include ways to help technology addicts see the offline world as more pleasurable, without fully removing the online element from their lives.

 

                 Creating a healthy balance 

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