The Digital Addiction and It's Effect on our Lives

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    There is no doubt that in the past decade there has been a huge increase in how often we are looking at a screen. Whether this is on our computers or our phones, digital addiction is a very real problem experienced by many. The increase use of social media also plays a big role in this addiction. Our brains are wired to continue to do things that we are rewarded for (positive reinforcement). Social media leverages our brain's reward system which keeps us engaged for hours each day. 

    This is especially concerning when looking at how many teenagers are addicted to their phones. This may have effects on our brains development which we still are not away of. Jefferson health writes "a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) revealed that teens who use social media more than three hours per day may be at heightened risk for mental health problems" (Miller, 2022). Teenagers are more at risk because their brains are quickly developing and using technology too much may rewire important parts of the brain. Being over exposed may allow teenagers to be obsessed with checking their phones, leading to obsessive behaviors commonly found in mental disorders. 

    It is important for everyone to be aware of how often and how much time their give to their devices each day. Like everything else, having a healthy balance of time where you are on your phone may not be detrimental to your overall mental health. However, too much may have negative consequences. It is also important for parents of teenagers to be aware of their child's screen-time and make sure their child is aware of the negative consequences too much will have on their overall health. 


Miller, 2022. The Addictiveness of Social Media: How Teens Get Hooked https://www.jeffersonhealth.org/your-health/living-well/the-addictiveness-of-social-media-how-teens-get-hooked 

Comments

  1. Lilianna PucekJune 17, 2025 at 6:57 AM

    This is such an important and relevant topic that not many people want to admit/bring attention to. It is interesting to me how social media taps into the reward system in our brains through positive reinforcement. As you said, it is important to be aware of how much time you spend on a screen but not many people care to give it that much attention which negatively affects their overall health.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Chloe DinnocenzoJune 17, 2025 at 3:42 PM

    This is a great post about how social media uses positive reinforcement to keep us engaged! This is also such an important topic that is very relevant to current times and also potentially for the future. Parents need to be educated on this topic and try to find a healthy balance for their children.

    ReplyDelete

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