Apple released its first-generation iPhone in 2007 and life changed forever. Netflix started its streaming services in the same year. Twitter launched in 2006 soon becoming a global social platform, followed by Instagram, and Tik Tok in recent years. One billion hours of content is consumed every day on You-Tube. From shopping to banking, socialization to working and learning, there is hardly any aspect of human life that does not rely on digital devices. Technology has transformed the world, making it much smaller and smarter that can fit into one’s pocket.
While technology has enabled on-the go and on-demand lifestyles, its long-term impact on our minds and bodies has not been studied enough. Health care professionals agree that the negative impacts of too much screen time are as imperative to know as its advantages. Prolonged and excessive use of digital devices to scroll through social media, compulsive online shopping, inability to stop checking for emails or texts can be as addictive as tobacco, alcohol, or drugs. Screen use releases dopamine in the brain, which can negatively affect impulse control; like drugs, screen time sets off a pleasure/reward cycle. Brain imaging studies have shown that screen technologies and cocaine affect the brain’s frontal cortex in the same way. Though not officially recognised as a disorder, various terms are used to define the addictive digital behaviours, such as Internet Addiction Disorder, Compulsive Internet Use (CIU), Problematic Internet Use (PIU), or iDisorder and Screen Dependency Disorder (amongst younger populations). Some studies indicate that up to 38% of the population in the western world suffer from some form of screen addiction. Moderate usage of digital devices for day-to-day tasks does not imply internet or screen addiction. Rather, when online activities start to interfere with one’s life, similar to pathological gambling, it can then be identified as a form of addiction. Too much screen time restructures the brain in form of shrinkage or loss of brain tissue volume resulting in lower cognitive abilities, depression, anxiety, obesity, back and neck problems. Due to lack of real human connection, screen addiction changes how we interact. A screen savvy individual is more likely to have more social limitations, such as withdrawal, mental preoccupation, impulsive behaviours, poor self-esteem, and unstable relationships. Other much talked about impacts are sleep disorders, headaches, migraines, and vision issues (dry eyes).
Impact of excessive screen time on human brains is not the same for adults and children. Adult brains are more developed than children and have advanced social skills with self-control. In contrast, young and adolescent brains are “not matured and are predisposed to changes in structure and connectivity that can restrict neural development”.
Digital devices draw young minds in, they are portable and ubiquitous that do not separate the device from the child’s eyes. According to a research report released in October 2019, eight to 12-year-olds in the United States now use screens for entertainment for an average of four hours, 44 minutes a day, and 13 to 18-year-olds are on screens for an average of seven hours, 22 minutes each day. Children who spend more than two hours a day on screen-time activities score lower on language and thinking tests, and some children with more than seven hours a day of screen time experience thinning of the brain’s cortex, the area of the brain related to critical thinking and reasoning. Tech companies are developing highly addictive and entertaining digital devices, content and mediums that keep children away from non-digital activities that foster imagination, creativity and build appropriate social skills. In younger children, psychologists are discovering major developmental concerns such as speech delays, cognitive impairments, and inadequate problem-solving abilities. Children are often better at finding entertaining content that links to other content leading to an endless cycle, making children uniquely vulnerable to digital advertising, cyber bullying and even exposure to predators. Children cannot grasp the unregulated span of the internet and resulting addictive behaviours.
Adolescents using social media excessively have tendencies to internalize problems and world view of their appearances, race, gender, or popularity leading to increased risk of major depression, suicidal thoughts, and anxiety disorders. A 10-year study on teen girls showed increased suicide risk for teen girls who spent excessive amount of time on social media. The suicide rate for podiatric patients in United States rose to 57.4% from 2007 to 2018. Many agree that this exponential increase is linked to excessive social media presence. Kids and adults are spending even more time online during the pandemic, adding to the social isolation and anxiety.
The question remains that why the research data and general awareness of negative impacts of digital devices is so limited. Like tobacco, alcohol, drug manufacturers and casinos, tech companies are monetary giants with the unique privilege of shaping public opinions. Screen addiction is relatively a new challenge to a world that was not prepared for this digital explosion that occurred in less than two decades. Researchers, policy makers, and the public health community has not grasped the universal impact of screens. A multi prong strategy focusing on regulation, creation of safer environments, mental health awareness and reengineering of technology for positive uses is much needed to reap the real benefits of a digital world.
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