addiction of technology essay

• Signs of Addiction

Technology Addiction

Creating a healthy balance.

Extreme use of technology can disrupt normal patterns of mood and socialization in teens

Technology is everywhere, and it is not going away. Teenagers stare down at their iPhones, or keep their eyes glued to a tablet or laptop, instead of observing the world around them. It's not unusual to see two adolescents seated together on a bus, texting furiously on their mobiles rather than talking to one another. The fact that teens are so dependent on technology makes sense in our world, but it may also lead to negative consequences.

What is technology addiction?

Technology addiction can be defined as frequent and obsessive technology-related behavior increasingly practiced despite negative consequences to the user of the technology. An over-dependence on tech can significantly impact students' lives. While we need technology to survive in a modern social world, a severe overreliance on technology—or an addiction to certain facets of its use—can also be socially devastating. Tech dependence can lead to teen consequences that span from mild annoyance when away from technology to feelings of isolation, extreme anxiety, and depression.

What makes technology addictive?

Technology fulfills our natural human need for stimulation, interaction, and changes in environment with great efficiency. When teenagers experience stress, be it romantic rejection or a poor grade on an exam, technology can become a quick and easy way to fill basic needs, and as such, can become addictive.

Technology impacts the pleasure systems of the brain in ways similar to substances. It provides some of the same reward that alcohol and other drugs might: it can be a boredom buster, a social lubricant, and an escape from reality.

Video and computer games, smart phones and tablets, social media and the Internet provide a variety of access points that can promote dependence on technology and negative consequences for youth:

The Internet.  The Web can be addictive as a multifunctional tool that brings us exceptionally close to an enormous amount of information at unprecedented speeds. User-friendly by design, we now have access to the Internet on our computers, through apps on our tablets, phones and watches. "FOMO," or "Fear of Missing Out," is a commonly described phenomenon for teens and young adults, in which youth increasingly feel the need to stay connected to the Internet, so they aren't the last to know of a news story or social happening.

Related to FOMO, some Facebook users, for instance, report that they use the Internet-based social media platform as a chosen method to alleviate their anxiety or depression.1 With so much accessibility to its use, the Internet is just as hard to stay away from at any given point in a day as it is easy and rewarding to use.

Video and computer games.  One hallmark of human psychology is that we want to feel competent, autonomous, and related to other people. Challenging video games allow players to feel that they are good at something. Games offer a great variety of choice to players, promoting a sense of autonomy for teens who might feel otherwise out of control.

The same goals that drive people to pursue success in the real world are often present in video games. As one amasses virtual wealth or prestige by spending time on games and advancing through levels, virtual wealth can translate into some version of actual recognition—through monetary purchasing power within an online game or a positive reputation within an online community.

Gamers find themselves linked to others who share their hobby through YouTube channels or subreddits dedicated to discussion of their game of choice with other enthusiasts. Like the Internet itself, games make themselves increasingly accessible to teens via apps on smart phones, never leaving kids' palms or pockets.

While there is room for social connection in the gaming universe, this space also provides a potential escape from reality into a digital world where players get to assume new identities more appealing or more novel than those they hold in the real life.

Smart phones, tablets, and lifestyle technologies.  These highly-mobile, flexible machines have the power to constantly connect. Smart phones and tablets, and the emergence of other smart devices from the Apple Watch to the Amazon Echo, promote addiction by removing the time lapse from tasks and activities that previously required logging into a deskbound, or at least a backpack-bound, computer source.

Social media.  Social media presents individually-relevant information in the easiest ways—centralized, personalized portals, like a Facebook newsfeed, YouTube subscription, or Snapchat followership.

Whether it's a Skype conversation with our grandmother in Alaska or a Twitter reply to the President, social media feeds our need for human connection by allowing us to share feedback with those who are far from us in time, geography, or social status. As social animals, we need human contact for emotional and psychological health. The appeal of social media is that it helps us to fill social needs without the efforts or restraints of in-person contact.

What are the risks of teen technology use?

While technology is certainly not all bad, its overuse can pose certain key risks, especially to teens.

Technology can give students a false sense of relational security as they communicate with unseen individuals around the world. The speed with which technology moves makes everything a teen might be looking for available within seconds, which encourages an unhealthy desire for instant gratification. A slow internet connection or “unplugging” can promote irritability and anxiety for a teen otherwise used to constant connection through technology.

Sleep disorders can develop as teens stay up all night to play with technology, and as a result, academic, athletic, and social performance can suffer. Weight gain and other complications of a poor diet and sedentary lifestyle, such as cardiovascular disease, may result. In-person social skills may deteriorate.

Even as healthy teens are challenged by increasing life responsibilities, hormonal changes, and the stress of new social and academic worlds like dating and applying to college, these life transitions become even harder for those wholly absorbed in technology.

Within a technology-addicted individual, the mind becomes increasingly unable to distinguish between the lived and the alternate realities that produce instant stimulation, pleasure, and reward. As such, the extreme use of technology can disrupt normal patterns of mood and socialization in teens. Dependency upon social media, gaming, or other platforms to function can become the new and unhealthy "normal."

Technology addiction and teen substance use.  Researchers have found evidence that people who overuse technology may develop similar brain chemistry and neural patterning to those who are addicted to substances. 2

Another concern is that those who are addicted to technology are actually more likely to also use substances than their peers with healthier relationships to tech, providing the insight that technology addiction may be a risk factor for alcohol and other drug addiction.

One preliminary study found that a group of teens who "hyper-texted" were 40% more likely to have used cigarettes and twice as likely to have used alcohol than students who were less frequent users of technology. This same research noted that those who spent more hours per school day than peers on social networking sites were at higher risk for depression and suicide. 3

It stands to reason then, that if we can prevent technology addiction, we may also be able to prevent other risky behavior and dangerous consequences to teens.

Technology and the brain.  Studies have shown that brain scans of young people with internet addiction disorder (IAD) are similar to those of people with substance addictions to alcohol, cocaine, and cannabis. 4

Damage to brain systems connecting emotional processing, attention, and decision-making are affected in both substance addicts and technology addicts. This discovery shows that being hooked on a tech behavior can, in some ways, be as physically damaging as an addiction to alcohol and other drug use.

When is technology a protective factor?

Of course, the advent of smarter, faster, more mobile technologies can be used positively with teens too. The following list reflects the many ways that technology, used in a healthy way, can encourage teens to explore their world and express themselves:

Learning.  In Ramsey Musallam's AP Chemistry class at Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory in San Francisco, California, cell phones are a natural extension of the way the teacher otherwise communicates with his students. As soon as kids walk into his classroom, Musallam sends out a text blast through Remind101, asking students a challenge question related to the day's lesson. 5

Some teachers use Facebook as a communication hub, creating a public page or smaller, closed groups for classes. Using technology like this, teachers can keep parents informed, distribute homework or permission slips, and share photos and videos from classroom activities and field trips.

Others in education and civic development have found that by piquing students' interest in social justice or commentary videos posted on YouTube, student engagement with world issues is enhanced.

Creativity and expression.  Technology can promote student creativity by prompting expression through user-friendly tools. Some studies have shown that blogging, or web journaling, enhances students' creative thinking. 6

Metacognition—the ability to be aware of, attend to, and use information about one's own cognitive processes—allows students to strengthen critical thinking across academic and artistic disciplines. Utilizing Internet-based technologies that ask students to reflect on and reiterate their learning processes provides a framework for the development of teen metacognition skills.

Now common technologies like tablets and smart phones are often much less bulky than notebooks and textbooks, allowing students to flex their imaginations, read fiction, write poetry, doodle, or take pictures through the ease of software applications found on highly-mobile devices.

Socialization.  When monitored properly by a parent or guardian, the use of social media can create safe and healthy friendship networks for teens with like interests online, through already established mutual friendships or within shared interest hubs, like a blogging community or Facebook group.

Preventing other teen risks.  Since the expansion of the Internet and mobile technologies, call-in hotlines have expanded to include Internet help sites and texting lines for teens run by knowledgeable and mature adults. These options provide a place teens can go for accurate information and timely support when they are not comfortable discussing their personal problems with an adult at home or school.

At her social advocacy organization, Nancy Lublin started receiving so many texts from students with questions about bullying that she set up a text-only crisis line.7 While online harassment is a concern, online support movements like the It Gets Better Project have sprung up to powerfully protect teens too.

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 "leveling 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

It is true that technology can fulfill many human needs, but its overuse comes with risk. Being addicted to technology is in some ways akin to an addiction to alcohol and other drugs, with many of the same effects on the developing brain.

We must do all we can to prevent any sort of addiction from occurring in our children's lives. Technology can be a protective factor if used properly, and healthy adults can play a role in student technology addiction prevention by showing young people the benefits to be gained from a healthy, balanced approach to technology use.

1. Conrad, Brent. "Why Is Facebook Addictive? Twenty-One Reasons For Facebook Addiction - TechAddiction." Video Game Addiction Treatment & Computer Addiction Help - TechAddiction. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Feb. 2017. http://www.techaddiction.ca/why-is-facebook-addictive.html.

2. Goldstein, Rita Z., and Nora D. Volkow. (2011). "Dysfunction of the prefrontal cortex in addiction: neuroimaging findings and clinical implications: Abstract: Nature Reviews Neuroscience." Nature Publishing Group: science journals, jobs, and information. Nature Publishing Group, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited, n.d. Web. 8 Feb. 2017. http://www.nature.com/nrn/journal/v12/n11/abs/nrn3119.html.

3. NHS. "Extreme levels of texting 'unhealthy'." NHS Choices. 10 November 2010. N.p. Web. 2 8 Feb. 2017. http://www.nhs.uk/news/2010/11November/Pages/Texting-and-teen-behaviour.aspx.

4. Lin, Fuchun, Zhou, Yan, Du, Yasong, Qin, Lindi, Zhao, Zhimin, Xu, Jianrong and Hao Lei. (2012). "Abnormal White Matter Integrity in Adolescents with Internet Addiction Disorder: A Tract-Based Spatial Statistics Study." Plos One. Web. 8 Feb. 2017. http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0030253.

5. Barseghian, Tina. "How Teachers Make Cell Phones Work in the Classroom | MindShift." KQED Public Media for Northern CA.KQED, 10 May 2012. Web. 8 Feb. 2017. https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2012/05/10/how-teachers-make-cell-phones-work-in-the-classroom/.

6. Hargrove, R. "The Role of Technology in Developing Students Creative Thinking Abilities - IATED Digital Library." IATED Digital Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Apr. 2013. http://library.iated.org/view/HARGROVE2009THE.

7. Lublin, Nancy. "Nancy Lublin: Texting that saves lives | Video on TED.com." TED: Ideas worth spreading. TED Conferences, LLC, n.d. Web. 2 Apr. 2013. http://www.ted.com/talks/nancy_lublin_texting_that_saves_lives.html.

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Digital addiction: how technology keeps us hooked

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The World Health Organisation is to include “gaming disorder” , the inability to stop gaming, into the International Classification of Diseases. By doing so, the WHO is recognising the serious and growing problem of digital addiction. The problem has also been acknowledged by Google, which recently announced that it will begin focusing on “Digital Well-being” .

Although there is a growing recognition of the problem, users are still not aware of exactly how digital technology is designed to facilitate addiction. We’re part of a research team that focuses on digital addiction and here are some of the techniques and mechanisms that digital media use to keep you hooked.

Compulsive checking

Digital technologies, such as social networks, online shopping, and games, use a set of persuasive and motivational techniques to keep users returning. These include “scarcity” (a snap or status is only temporarily available, encouraging you to get online quickly); “social proof” (20,000 users retweeted an article so you should go online and read it); “personalisation” (your news feed is designed to filter and display news based on your interest); and “reciprocity” (invite more friends to get extra points, and once your friends are part of the network it becomes much more difficult for you or them to leave).

Technology is designed to utilise the basic human need to feel a sense of belonging and connection with others. So, a fear of missing out, commonly known as FoMO, is at the heart of many features of social media design.

Groups and forums in social media promote active participation. Notifications and “presence features” keep people notified of each others’ availability and activities in real-time so that some start to become compulsive checkers. This includes “two ticks” on instant messaging tools, such as Whatsapp. Users can see whether their message has been delivered and read. This creates pressure on each person to respond quickly to the other.

The concepts of reward and infotainment, material which is both entertaining and informative, are also crucial for “addictive” designs. In social networks, it is said that “no news is not good news”. So, their design strives always to provide content and prevent disappointment. The seconds of anticipation for the “pull to refresh” mechanism on smartphone apps, such as Twitter, is similar to pulling the lever of a slot machine and waiting for the win.

Most of the features mentioned above have roots in our non-tech world. Social networking sites have not created any new or fundamentally different styles of interaction between humans. Instead they have vastly amplified the speed and ease with which these interactions can occur, taking them to a higher speed, and scale.

Addiction and awareness

People using digital media do exhibit symptoms of behavioural addiction . These include salience, conflict, and mood modification when they check their online profiles regularly. Often people feel the need to engage with digital devices even if it is inappropriate or dangerous for them to do so. If disconnected or unable to interact as desired, they become preoccupied with missing opportunities to engage with their online social networks.

According to the UK’s communications regulator Ofcom, 15m UK internet users (around 34% of all internet users) have tried a “digital detox” . After being offline, 33% of participants reported feeling an increase in productivity, 27% felt a sense of liberation, and 25% enjoyed life more. But the report also highlighted that 16% of participants experienced the fear of missing out, 15% felt lost and 14% “cut-off”. These figures suggest that people want to spend less time online, but they may need help to do so.

At the moment, tools that enable people to be in control of their online experience, presence and online interaction remain very primitive. There seem to be unwritten expectations for users to adhere to social norms of cyberspace once they accept participation.

But unlike other mediums for addiction, such as alcohol, technology can play a role in making its usage more informed and conscious. It is possible to detect whether someone is using a phone or social network in an anxious, uncontrolled manner. Similar to online gambling, users should have available help if they wish. This could be a self-exclusion and lock-out scheme. Users can allow software to alert them when their usage pattern indicates risk.

The borderline between software which is legitimately immersive and software which can be seen as “exploitation-ware” remains an open question. Transparency of digital persuasion design and education about critical digital literacy could be potential solutions.

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Essay on Technology Addiction

Students are often asked to write an essay on Technology Addiction in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Technology Addiction

Understanding technology addiction.

Technology addiction is the excessive use of technology like smartphones and computers. It’s similar to a compulsive disorder, causing people to spend hours on technology.

Effects of Technology Addiction

This addiction can lead to harmful effects. It can cause poor academic performance, health issues like eye strain, and a decrease in social activities.

Preventing Technology Addiction

To prevent this, set time limits for using technology. Engage in outdoor activities and hobbies. Always remember, balance is the key to a healthy lifestyle.

250 Words Essay on Technology Addiction

Technology addiction, also known as digital addiction, refers to the compulsive use of digital devices, platforms, and services. With the advent of the digital age, it has emerged as a significant concern, particularly among the younger generation.

The Pervasiveness of Technology

Technology has become an integral part of our daily lives. From smartphones to laptops, we use technology for various tasks, such as communication, entertainment, and work. However, this constant engagement can lead to excessive dependence, resulting in technology addiction. It’s a phenomenon that transcends geographical and socio-economic boundaries, affecting individuals worldwide.

Implications of Technology Addiction

The implications of technology addiction are multifaceted. On a personal level, it can lead to physical health issues like eye strain and sedentary lifestyle diseases. Psychologically, it can result in anxiety, depression, and social isolation. In an academic context, excessive technology use can hamper students’ focus, leading to decreased academic performance.

Addressing Technology Addiction

Addressing technology addiction involves recognizing the issue and taking proactive steps. Strategies can include setting strict boundaries for technology use, engaging in digital detoxes, and seeking professional help if necessary. Educational institutions can play a vital role by incorporating digital literacy and responsible technology use into their curriculum.

In conclusion, while technology has undoubtedly brought numerous benefits, its addictive potential cannot be overlooked. As digital citizens, it is incumbent upon us to use technology responsibly and promote a balanced digital lifestyle. With collective efforts, we can mitigate the adverse effects of technology addiction and harness its positive potential.

500 Words Essay on Technology Addiction

Introduction.

Technology addiction, a rapidly growing public health concern, is a behavioral disorder marked by an excessive or compulsive use of technology, leading to negative impacts on mental, physical, and social well-being. While the digital revolution has brought countless benefits, it has also fostered an environment where dependence on technology is becoming alarmingly commonplace.

The Nature of Technology Addiction

Technology addiction, often referred to as digital addiction, is not a formally recognized disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). However, it shares similarities with recognized addictions, such as gambling disorder. It involves a pattern of behavior that includes at least three of the following: a preoccupation with technology, withdrawal symptoms when technology is inaccessible, the need for increased use, unsuccessful attempts to control use, loss of interest in other activities, continued use despite negative consequences, and lying about usage.

The Impact of Technology Addiction

The impact of technology addiction is multifaceted, affecting various aspects of an individual’s life. Psychologically, it can lead to anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Physically, it can cause sleep disorders, eye strain, and sedentary lifestyle-related health issues. Socially, it can lead to isolation, relationship problems, and decreased productivity in academic or professional settings.

The Role of the Digital Age

The digital age has played a significant role in the rise of technology addiction. The ubiquity of smartphones, the popularity of social media, and the advent of immersive gaming have created an environment conducive to overuse. These platforms are designed to be engaging and rewarding, often employing strategies similar to those used in gambling, such as unpredictable rewards, to keep users hooked.

Addressing technology addiction requires a multi-pronged approach. Awareness and education about the risks and signs of technology addiction are crucial. Individuals should be taught digital literacy and self-regulation skills. Tech companies also have a responsibility to design products that promote healthy usage patterns. On a societal level, policies and regulations can be implemented to mitigate the risks associated with technology use.

In conclusion, technology addiction is a complex issue that requires concerted efforts from individuals, tech companies, and society at large. While technology has undoubtedly transformed our lives for the better, it’s essential to strike a balance between leveraging its benefits and avoiding its potential pitfalls. As we continue to advance into the digital age, it’s crucial to remember that technology should serve as a tool to enhance our lives, not to control them.

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Technology Addiction Awareness Scholarship

About the scholarship.

Technology Addiction Awareness Scholarship recognizes and rewards, with scholarships, students who submit outstanding essays on the dangers of technology addiction.

• Essay Required : Yes
• Need-Based : No
• Merit-Based : No
• This competition is open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are high school students, undergraduates, or graduate students.
• Applicants must submit a 140character essay on the negative effects of too much screen time.
• Finalists are selected on the basis of the content of that essay.
• The 10 finalists are then asked to submit an essay of 500 to 1,000 words elaborating on the same subject.
• The winner is selected on the basis of that essay's content and creativity.
• Country : US

Technology Addiction

This essay will address the growing concern of technology addiction. It will discuss the symptoms and causes of addiction to digital devices and the internet, its psychological and social impacts, and strategies for managing and mitigating compulsive technology use. On PapersOwl, there’s also a selection of free essay templates associated with Addiction.

How it works

In the last 10 years, the overuse and addiction to technology with screens such as handheld electronic games, laptops and computers, portable tablets, and most prevalent, smartphones has erupted creating an epidemic. These almost guarantee that one will never spend a minute completely focused and apart with society and reality. Studied work with adolescents and the youth in a variety of health clinics, households, and programs that help transitions, a pandemic has been recorded of emotional disorders caused by screens and overuse.

Such disorders generally come from disproportional usage causing solitude and seclusion from society and one’s surroundings, emotional and collective delays, as well as unhealthy relationships, and a failure to mature. The outcome is a generation of teenagers and early adults who do not have age applicable collective emotional and social skills to maintain the expectancies and social normalities of an early adult. As well, screen-based addictions can cause an inability to control oneself in a productive manner and the failure to create personal and ‘authentic’ human relationships, forming a possible waterfall leading to other harmful and inescapable disorders. Lastly, screen-based addiction can also promote or annoy and exhaust specific personality disorders. Women in adolescence, specifically, have been seen and observed to creating and forming relationships at an accelerated pace online and becoming distressingly enthused in possibly unfruitful, dangerous, and fake relationships.

Numerous variables are supporting this course of emotional dysfunction caused by screens and the overuse of them.. Similar to most extremely addictive activities, the pace of usability and settings of accepted use are huge factors that cause the widespread epidemic of screen-based addictions. Since the technology of small handheld screens is taking the place of handwritten media and replacing it as the normal and accepted form of communication. The youth and adolescence have growing high levels of access to activities that involve a screen whether it is a small handheld device or a large flat screen to even one on a watch. It is important to note that, the technology itself is somewhat the cause and the one that is guilty of this burst of technology addiction. In addition, the youth and no0t yet matured adults tend to have problems pertaining to developing their own identity and all the issues that come along with that. Communication utilizing handheld technology gives them access to ‘experiment’ new identities/behaviors in a private or inaccessible way before one chooses who one is when faced with a very close and personal relationship. This often can cause delays in a real developing and healthy identity that one forms for themselves. It is simple to presume usual behaviors for healthy behaviors. Just because everyone around oneself is taking part in a certain activity doesn’t directly support that it does not have deliberate consequences. Possible problems can come apparent from an excessive use of screen technologies usually coming from mass amounts use causing solitude and isolation, unfruitful and “normal” personal relationships, emotional and social hold-up, for example, immaturity and inability to socially perform.

Because of the hidden, secretive nature of screen-based technology, adolescents and young adults are also able to fulfill their need for thrills and rule-breaking, so there is often a high incidence of high-risk or illicit online activity in this population. The outcome is a generation of adolescents and young adults that a large majority of them do not have the expected emotional and social skills that would be age-appropriate. As well, screen addiction can cause a failure to have the ability to balance and maintain personal control. This is a disposition and inability to advocate and keep at bay, anxiety by resorting to mystical worlds which often causes the youth not able to create personal and up close human relationships. In addition, screen-based addictions can exhaust specific personality disorders. Focusing on women, they are noted to have a tendency in creating relationships very erratically online with strangers, which weakens their true social skills and their abilities to form long-lasting stable and healthy relationships in person and “face to face” relationships. These women tend to become extremely dependent upon these relationships in an unhealthy manner.

Parents and figures of authority can also unknowingly encourage the excessive use or wrongful use of technology and should pay more attention to this nation-wide problem. This is usually because screen technologies create an unbelievably easy and useful parenting apparatus. Parents with conflicting schedules, included with those that have their own emotional problems and disabilities or life stressors, tend to use this escape in an even greater excess to prevent the need to work with their child’s unusual and difficult tendencies and behaviors.

By the time a parent is suspicious of one of their children’s overuse of screen technology or an extended period of time that the technology is being used, it is normally safe to assume that it is! by this mark, a parent should usually know and or believe, and gain an understanding that they are in authority and have the power to act upon it. No matter if the child is in their youth or adolescence or young adulthood, and even if the child is living in-dependantly at home. Parents should not feel the need to have to give permission and excuse their children with the privilege to have access and ore in their possession a cell phone, laptop, portable tablet, computer, television, and etcetera. But no matter what the adolescence, teen, young adult own, their own personal screen using tools or are giving permission to use and share family technologies, parents and others that assume an authoritative figure, they should limit and discourage an excessive usage time spent on screen technology. Especially if their child is not capable or has not been taught the useful and almost vital skill of self-regulating one’s time and the ability to do it effectively and in a healthy manner. Placing technology in an easy to use and open setting is a good and encouraged way for parents and other authoritative figures to be able to monitor the child, teen, or young adult. Some good examples of such places are the main room, kitchen or some other place that offers easily visible activity. These places are good because the family tends to spend time together in these places. Another tactic or method to help monitor and limit overuse of screen-based technology is if screen abuse accumulates to a mark where you are suspicious that it is definitely out of control and is causing harm to your child’s maturation and other things, search out help from a professional. A psychologist or child therapist with a background and record of treating addictions can be helpful in an assessment of a child’s problems and situation. They will be able to offer useful and accurate guidance methods and certain treatments that can mend or even fix the given situation.  

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Essay about technology addiction

Previously in my dissertation I have discussed the prevalence of technology addiction and have pointed out reasons why it may exist as a phenomenon. I have also examined the reasons why and how a person may become addicted to technology. In this section of my dissertation, I discuss addiction on its own merits and why people may be drawn to addiction when there is no chemical stimulation.

Many people are aware of chemical dependency, and it is often referred to as an addiction. People become addicted to chemicals that release endorphins in the brain. This may through legal methods such a with prescription drugs, with nicotine, caffeine and alcohol, and may also be through illegal methods such as with illegal drug use. These are more widely understood because they involve a chemical addiction. What is harder to understand is addiction when there is no chemical stimulation.

Things such as gambling and technology addiction are still addictions. Some lump sex addiction in with these too however, there is a form of chemical addiction that may be present during sex.

There are forms of addiction such as gambling and technology addiction that are still addictions even though there is no chemical stimulation. There are even recorded cases of people having addictions to TV shows such as Star Trek, where they physically encounter uncomfortable and life-threatening withdrawal symptoms.

The reasons behind addictions that lack chemical input may be associated with feelings of helplessness. People are able to switch from non-chemical based addictions to chemical-based addictions and back again without any problems, and in almost all cases it is due to a feeling of helplessness within the individual.

These types of person may, rightly or wrongly, be labeled as people with an addictive personality. Yet, in almost all cases, their addictions are based on misdirected feelings of helplessness. A person that usually feels helpless may react to it in a healthy way even if that reaction is to ignore the problem. People with addictions are often determined to do something about their feelings of helplessness, but in their mind, they resort to addiction because they think it makes them feel better.

This also explains why people with addiction may suddenly give up for no reason, such as the many people that returned from the Vietnam war back to America after being very addicted to heroin in Vietnam. They were able to return home and re-take control of their lives, which is why they could quit heroin very easily. People that re-take control of their lives are often able to break from addiction, but sadly there are many addictions that make a person’s life worse, which makes it all the harder for them to regain control of their lives.

People with technology addictions may be reacting to feelings of helplessness, but instead of dealing with these feelings in the correct way, they instead immerse themselves in their technology. It is a distraction from their real life and so provides temporary relief from their feelings of helplessness. This means that some people that have a technology addiction may be cured with therapy. This therapy may help them overcome their feelings of helplessness, or may help them deal with their feelings of helplessness without resorting to technological stimulation.

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Internet addiction affects the behavior and development of adolescents

Adolescents with an internet addiction undergo changes in the brain that could lead to additional addictive behaviour and tendencies, finds a new study by UCL researchers.

The findings, published in PLOS Mental Health , reviewed 12 articles involving 237 young people aged 10-19 with a formal diagnosis of internet addiction between 2013 and 2023.

Internet addiction has been defined as a person's inability to resist the urge to use the internet, negatively impacting their psychological wellbeing, as well as their social, academic and professional lives.

The studies used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to inspect the functional connectivity (how regions of the brain interact with each other) of participants with internet addiction, both while resting and completing a task.

The effects of internet addiction were seen throughout multiple neural networks in the brains of adolescents. There was a mixture of increased and decreased activity in the parts of the brain that are activated when resting (the default mode network).

Meanwhile, there was an overall decrease in the functional connectivity in the parts of the brain involved in active thinking (the executive control network).

These changes were found to lead to addictive behaviours and tendencies in adolescents, as well as behaviour changes associated with intellectual ability, physical coordination, mental health and development.

Lead author, MSc student, Max Chang (UCL Great Ormond Street Institute for Child Health) said: "Adolescence is a crucial developmental stage during which people go through significant changes in their biology, cognition, and personalities. As a result, the brain is particularly vulnerable to internet addiction related urges during this time, such as compulsive internet usage, cravings towards usage of the mouse or keyboard and consuming media.

"The findings from our study show that this can lead to potentially negative behavioural and developmental changes that could impact the lives of adolescents. For example, they may struggle to maintain relationships and social activities, lie about online activity and experience irregular eating and disrupted sleep."

With smartphones and laptops being ever more accessible, internet addiction is a growing problem across the globe. Previous research has shown that people in the UK spend over 24 hours every week online and, of those surveyed, more than half self-reported being addicted to the internet.

Meanwhile, Ofcom found that of the 50 million internet users in the UK, over 60% said their internet usage had a negative effect on their lives -- such as being late or neglecting chores.

Senior author, Irene Lee (UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health), said: "There is no doubt that the internet has certain advantages. However, when it begins to affect our day-to-day lives, it is a problem.

"We would advise that young people enforce sensible time limits for their daily internet usage and ensure that they are aware of the psychological and social implications of spending too much time online."

Mr Chang added: "We hope our findings will demonstrate how internet addiction alters the connection between the brain networks in adolescence, allowing physicians to screen and treat the onset of internet addiction more effectively.

"Clinicians could potentially prescribe treatment to aim at certain brain regions or suggest psychotherapy or family therapy targeting key symptoms of internet addiction.

"Importantly, parental education on internet addiction is another possible avenue of prevention from a public health standpoint. Parents who are aware of the early signs and onset of internet addiction will more effectively handle screen time, impulsivity, and minimise the risk factors surrounding internet addiction."

Study limitations

Research into the use of fMRI scans to investigate internet addiction is currently limited and the studies had small adolescent samples. They were also primarily from Asian countries. Future research studies should compare results from Western samples to provide more insight on therapeutic intervention.

• Diseases and Conditions
• Teen Health
• Today's Healthcare
• Relationships
• Child Development
• Communications
• Computers and Internet
• Drug addiction
• World Wide Web
• Neuroscience
• Voice over IP
• Methamphetamine

Story Source:

Materials provided by University College London . Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference :

• Max L. Y. Chang, Irene O. Lee. Functional connectivity changes in the brain of adolescents with internet addiction: A systematic literature review of imaging studies . PLOS Mental Health , 2024; 1 (1): e0000022 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmen.0000022

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To Ban or Not to Ban? Educators, Parents, and Students Weigh In on Cellphones

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One reason policing cellphones in schools is so challenging is because of stakeholders’ varying opinions on their presence in the classroom, along with different views on how the problem should be dealt with—if at all.

Simultaneously taking into account the interests of students, parents, and teachers in crafting cellphone policies has proven to be a challenge. For example, while teachers may want the constant distractions of cellphones—and the hundreds of notifications they deliver each day —removed, parents may desire the security of reaching their children at any time.

Various educators have outwardly opposed the use of cellphones in classrooms, citing students’ inability to remain focused while having access to their devices. Yet educators are still divided on banning cellphones in the classroom altogether.

Education Week has spoken with many school community members, from superintendents to students, to hear their points of view. Here, we share some of the major themes that have emerged from their comments and thoughts—from Education Week reporting and recent surveys from the EdWeek Research Center surveys.

Teachers find cellphones a major classroom distraction

According to an October 2023 EdWeek Research Center survey , 24 percent of teachers thought cellphones should be banned from school campuses altogether. The growing push to restrict cellphones at school has come amid increasing concerns about and studies pointing to children’s deteriorating mental health in connection to smartphone and social media use .

Kelly Chevalier, a science teacher at Crown Point High School in northwest Indiana, told Education Week in April that her students are constantly on their phones —be it for messaging their friends, Googling information, or just playing games—describing their use as “an addiction.”

The idea of being without their phone for three hours—it literally causes some of them physiological anxiety.

As part of that October survey by the EdWeek Research Center, over 200 educators used an open-ended question to vent about their growing concerns over cellphones.

Some compared students’ use of cellphones to an addiction or described circumstances in which students became panicked over having their cellphones taken from them .

It’s impossible as a teacher to compete with the allure and addiction to the cellphone. It’s constantly alerting them, pinging, chiming, and crying for their attention.

Administrators agree banning phones on campus, some concerned with social media’s impact on student well-being

According to the EdWeek Research Center’s survey, 21 percent of principals agreed that cellphones should be banned on campus, as well as 14 percent of district leaders.

A 2022 Nature Communications study of over 17,000 teenagers and young adults suggests middle school students, in particular, are more vulnerable to the negative effects of social media.

Students have made their voices heard on the negative impacts of social media, from worsening grades to cyberbullying . Charles Longshore, assistant principal of Dothan Preparatory Academy in Dothan, Ala., has seen it firsthand with his 7th and 8th grade students.

Longshore blames cellphones for “seriously undermining” the climate of his school, causing him to spend more of his time dealing with phone-related disciplinary referrals and arguments. As a result, Longshore supports barring students from cellphone use during school hours.

Our population being in that rough transitional phase in their lives in general, what their minds are going through, their bodies are going through, socially what they are going through, [cellphones] were the ultimate distraction.

The school’s ban on cellphones stemmed from the serious distractions they presented for students in the classroom and on campus.

Social media is an important aspect of the cellphone use debate largely because, according to a 2023 Pew Research Center survey , 58 percent of teens ages 13-17 use TikTok daily, and around 50 percent use Snapchat and Instagram daily. As Dothan, Ala. administrators have seen , social media has become a source of public embarrassment and bullying among students.

In fact, a 2024 EdWeek Research Center survey found that 92 percent of educators believe social media has a somewhat negative to very negative impact on how students treat others in real life.

Students and parents weigh in on cellphone and social media bans

While many educators openly oppose students’ use of cellphones at school, some parents and students believe avoiding or restricting cellphone use may actually hurt students’ emotional and academic development.

Ava Havidic, a recent graduate of Millennium 6-12 Collegiate Academy in Tamarac, Fla., and a student facilitator for the National Association of Secondary School Principals’ Student Leadership Network on Mental Health, believes preparing students for the future does not require banning their use of cellphones and social media.

Whether we put bans on social media, it's just going to make it harder for them to face those challenges in the future. For example, if they don't have access to [phones] in class, what about in college when they have the freedom to do that?

Trent Bowers, superintendent of the Worthington district in the Columbus, Ohio, metro area is a father of three and believes teachers and parents should have more engagement in crafting new policies. But he does agree with the positive implications of a cellphone ban.

As a dad of three daughters, one still in high school, I see real pluses and minuses for the time they spend on phones. Speaking as a dad, I wouldn't have minded for them not to have the ability to be on phones for six or seven hours a day because it would've just given them a break from that.

Some teachers and experts believe in a more balanced approach to cellphone bans

With rising phone ownership among students ages 8-18, some teachers don’t believe in challenging the use of cellphones in school.

Nicole Clemens, an English teacher at a central Missouri high school, believes educators need to come to terms with coexisting with phones. While Clemens teaches at the same high school her daughter went to in June 2022, she still finds it comforting to be able to reach her through a text.

There are so many teachers who are anti-cellphone, and I just think that that ship has sailed. You don’t have to like them, but you do have to figure out how to coexist with them.

Clemens believes students should be taught the importance of using their devices responsibly , instead of having them completely taken away.

According to research by Common Sense Media , 43 percent of children ages 8-12, and 88-95 percent of teenagers age 13-18 own a smartphone. In fact, about half of children in the United States own a smartphone by the time they are 11.

Dr. Michael Rich, a pediatrician and the director of the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital, is concerned with cellphones being too much of a distraction, but believes schools should avoid banning them, as such a move can feel “threatening to parents” who want to be in contact with their children during school hours.

They’re building their own society. If you have Mom or Dad in your head all day long, [adolescents] never get to learn or practice taking care of themselves or being themselves in that environment.

Rich suggests a cellphone-free environment for students, without the restrictions of a ban, which could spark resistance from parents.

David Yeager, a psychology professor at the University of Texas at Austin, believes the struggle between educators and students over cellphones is making the problem worse. He said it’s important for educators to understand why cellphones and social media are so alluring to the adolescent brain.

If adults learn to see teenagers’ phone use in a more compassionate way, that our entire economy has squeezed this huge source of information about their social well-being into this tiny device, it’s totally reasonable for them to pay attention to that device.

Yeager also believes a ban is unnecessary and that “empathy from educators can go a long way,” given the idea that cellphone use is constantly seen as a sign of defiance or a student’s lack of impulse control .

A Colorado high school lifted its ban on cellphones and has decided to incorporate the devices into instruction. Chris Page, principal of Highlands Ranch High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo., feels cellphones present useful educational opportunities for students and educators.

There are 100,000 ways that kids use their cellphones and the other half of this is that it’s hard to tell a kid not to use their cellphone when the adult in front of them has to use theirs. We decided we just weren’t going to fight that fight anymore.

While Page encourages the students’ use of cellphones in the classroom, teachers create their own rules regarding their use. Page believes it’s his school’s responsibility to teach students how to manage their cellphone use to prepare them for college and work.

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Artificial Intelligence

Regulating technology in policing to protect citizens, the public should be informed of when and how police are using technology..

Posted May 31, 2024 | Reviewed by Gary Drevitch

• Surveillance cameras are becoming ubiquitous with facial recognition software often present as well.
• The accuracy of facial recognition significantly decreases for women, young adults, and racialized people.
• Mistaken identification can lead to wrongful prosecution and conviction.

The proliferation of technology for everyday living can be seen through ChatGPT writing term papers or robots serving meals at a restaurant .

Technology can also be used toward less utilitarian ends. Unfortunately, deepfakes — digitally altered images of people — can be used to spread misinformation.

A new edited volume, which I co-edited, considers the use of everyday technologies in the criminal justice system, ranging from detecting deception to web sleuthing to help law enforcement solve crime .

Technology and policing

Consider the use of body-worn cameras by police, as in the fatal shooting of Ontario Provincial Police Const. Greg Pierzchala in December 2022. Footage from his body camera will provide evidence during the trial of his accused killers.

Police investigations have also been aided by private citizen sleuths who use technology to gather evidence to help police identify criminals. This was the case with convicted murderer Luka Magnotta, when an online network identified him in cat torture videos and provided the information to law enforcement agencies.

Another use of technology can be for public surveillance for crime prevention through the application of facial recognition software. Security cameras are now a ubiquitous feature in public places. In 2021, it was estimated that one billion security cameras were being used around the world . China has an estimated 54 per cent of all surveillance cameras. In 2020, Toronto had approximately 2,000 cameras at city-owned facilities . Security cameras may or may not be used in conjunction with facial recognition software.

Finding faces

Facial recognition uses software to identify or confirm someone’s identity using an image of their face. Captured faces are compared to a database, often for the purposes of crime prevention .

Some retailers have used facial recognition to help reduce theft. In 2022, Josh Soika, an Indigenous man, was confronted by a security guard due to being “flagged” as having stolen previously from the store. Later, it was determined that Soika was misidentified by the artificial intelligence (AI) used by Canadian Tire for facial recognition. In 2023, Canadian Tire Corporation and its dealers have since agreed to no longer use facial recognition technology.

In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently banned the pharmacy chain Rite Aid for five years from using facial recognition software to identify customers who have stolen merchandise or displayed other problematic behaviours . In some instances, Rite Aid workers would follow “identified” customers around, accuse them of stealing, and call police. People of colour were falsely identified at a greater rate than white customers. (It is important to note that someone who has shoplifted in the past isn’t necessarily planning to shoplift again .)

The use of facial recognition software in Canada is controversial. In 2021, it was reported that Toronto police used Clearview AI, a facial recognition software, in 84 investigations, with at least two cases proceeding to prosecution . Once it was discovered by the police chief, however, the practice was stopped.

Discrimination and AI

Accuracy rates with facial recognition software are above 90 per cent , but that number is greatly reduced within certain demographics . Facial recognition software is documented to misidentify women, racialized people, and those between the ages of 18 and 30, with accuracy reduced to 35 per cent .

In February 2023, Porcha Woodruff, a 32-year-old pregnant Black woman from Detroit, was arrested for robbery and carjacking based on a facial recognition match. Police used AI that had run an image of a carjacker caught on video through a mugshot database that contained Woodruff’s photo, and incorrectly matched it. Woodruff was jailed for 11 hours during which she went into labour. The charges were dropped, and Woodruff is currently suing the city of Detroit and the Detroit Police Department.

Consequences of misidentification

According to the U.S.-based Innocence Project, over 70 per cent of known wrongful convictions are due to mistaken identification by people as a contributing factor . The Canadian Registry of Wrongful Convictions finds approximately a third of their cases involved false identification .

People can show what is known as “own-race bias ” when identifying faces: They are more accurate at identifying faces of their own race than other races .

The misidentification of a perpetrator — whether by a human or an AI program — can lead to the same consequences: being charged, prosecuted, or wrongfully convicted. Technology, like humans, isn’t always accurate and may succumb to similar biases.

Legislation must keep up to protect people’s rights and privacy. As technology evolves, adequate information and full transparency needs to be provided to the public on how, when, and where a technology is in use. It also is clear that much more research is needed to better understand the impact of technology on the criminal justice system.

This post also appears in The Conversation.

Pica, E., Ross, D., & Pozzulo, J. (Eds.). (2024). T he impact of technological advances on the legal system: Psychological implications for eyewitness accuracy . Routledge/Taylor & Francis. (462pp)

Joanna Pozzulo, Ph.D., is a Chancellor’s Professor in the Department of Psychology at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada.

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