Society has found technology helpful in many different ways. Even healthcare has benefitted from technological advances in evaluating and resolving different health concerns. However, there is a darker side to technology use, which is tech addiction and dependence.
Tech addiction is the frequent, obsessive, and uncontrollable overuse of technological equipment such as video games, computers, and smartphones. Tech addiction and dependence is a phenomenon that often affects teenagers. This dependence negatively affects the teenager’s well-being.
As a trusted teen treatment center in Los Angeles, we understand the nuances involved in balancing operating in a technologically filled and driven world with the development of chronic tech dependence in our teenagers.
Teen Tech Dependence in Perspective
Parents ask a lot of questions about tech dependence. If you are here, you may ask, what is it, what causes it, and what interactions does it have with the individual’s body? Like addiction, teen tech dependence revolves around the release of dopamine and brain functioning. Whereas dopamine can be and is usually a good thing, too much release can be harmful, as discussed below.
The Role of Dopamine in Tech Dependence
Dopamine is a chemical produced by the brain responsible for our behavior, primarily excitement. The brain has four major dopamine pathways; three are reward pathways: mesolimbic, nigrostriatal, and mesocortical. These three pathways are known to become dysfunctional during addiction.
The three are also the primary agents behind dopamine release and thus impact the activities in those respective areas. In particular, the mesolimbic and mesocortical pathways are disrupted in addictive behaviors with the result that they become inactive. Both originate from the VTA, which is a dopamine-rich nuclei. From the VTA, dopaminergic projections in the mesolimbic pathway travel to the nucleus accumbens, where dopamine mediates pleasure and reward. On the other hand, from the VTA, dopaminergic projections in the mesocortical pathway travel to the prefrontal cortex, which is involved in working memory, cognition, and decision-making. Dysfunction in the mesolimbic pathway makes it difficult to control intense cravings, whereas dysfunction in the mesocortical pathway causes the inability to make decisions and poor concentration.
What this comes down to is that a biological dysfunction of the dopamine pathways profoundly impacts both emotional and cognitive functioning. An addiction can cause these dysfunctions.
When we think of addictive substances, we don’t always think of technology. However, studies have found that activities on the internet, such as chatting, playing video games, and online gambling, all stimulate the reward system to increase the production of dopamine, which gives a teen a state of euphoria. Therefore, technology provides rewarding social stimuli. Dopamine offers a reward for an action. When teens get the reward, their actions become a habit and soon an addiction.
How does this happen? The continued release of dopamine increases the motivation to repeat the action. However, habitual actions that provide rapid dopamine floods can lead to the dopamine receptors reducing sensitivity. This means that there is a lack of pleasure from everyday activities, and pleasure is only felt with the high-release habitual activity (and often an increase in this activity).
Tech Companies and Product Design
Teen tech dependence can sometimes be beyond their control, even before it begins. This is because tech dependence begins before one even acquires the technological device. In most cases, tech companies propagate this practice through some of their activities, such as product design and marketing methods. We discuss some of these below.
Dark Pattern
Tech companies use algorithms, techniques, and designs to increase the unconscious use of their products. This dark pattern can be deceptive to a user, as they may lose track of time while using their device and spend more time on it than they had planned. They may also feel drawn to continuously update their devices through the underlying encouragements from the tech companies.
Persuasive Technology
Persuasive technology is a method used to encourage users to change their behaviors and attitudes within their technology use. It is a device used in marketing and advertising that allows the user to believe these changes are their own ideas or are in their own best interests.
This marketing strategy is used with intent, whether in live interactions or through data consumed while on one’s device. The danger of persuasive technology is that it can unconsciously increase your technology usage, leading you to dependence. Societal and Cultural Factors and Tech Dependence
The world has faced technological development with the rise of new technologies for decades. Technology has indeed influenced and led to the development of social norms, just like societal norms have led to the development of certain technologies.
Technological determinism is a communication theory coined by Thorstein Veblen. A reductionist theory argues that technology determines the nature of the society in which it is used.
Karl Marx believed in this theory. He posited that the development of technology led to new ways of production in a society, which then influenced the economic, cultural, and political aspects of the society. This has a direct link to tech dependence.
Signs and Effects of Tech Dependence on Teens
Unfortunately, there is limited research on the long-term effects of tech dependence among teens and adolescents. Teens’ brains are still developing. During this time, pruning of unused pathways occurs, which strengthens the most used pathways.
This increases the chances of dopamine influencing social rewards, eventually leading to dependence where technology use is involved. Teens are thus more susceptible to tech dependence due to the brain’s wiring for the expectation and reward of technology.
Teens are generally highly engaged in technology use through video games, social media, online shopping, etc., which are some of the most common types of tech dependence and internet addiction.
Signs of Teen Tech Dependence
The signs of tech dependence may not always be obvious to teens and may require you and your parents to identify them. Teens may not see these signs as matters that need attention. However, looking for such signs as early as possible is essential. Some of the most common signs of teen tech dependence include;
- Withdrawal symptoms when not engaged in the use of technology.
- Inability to control the time spent using technology.
- A dire need for more technology use time or new technology-related things to do.
- Persistent obsessive behavior despite the negative impacts experienced.
- Deteriorating academic performance among teens.
- Use of technology as a safe space during bad days.
Effects of Teen Tech Dependence
Tech dependence has mental and physical effects on teens. Obsessive reliance on technology increases screen time, which may cause sleep disorders due to lack of sleep. Withdrawals caused by tech dependence may also lead to social isolation. One is also highly likely to suffer from technology-related anxiety and depression due to tech dependence.
Teens suffering from tech dependence may also suffer physical problems such as vision problems due to longer screen time, a sedentary lifestyle caused by lack of exercise due to prolonged sitting or stationary positions, and musculoskeletal disorders due to poor posture.
Preventing Tech Dependence on Teens
The parent’s presence in their children’s daily lives is undoubtedly essential. Since teen tech dependence calls for your presence, it is important to note the following ways to prevent tech dependence in your teen.
Setting Boundaries
Setting boundaries for teen technology use is one of the best ways to prevent dependence. When setting boundaries, consider age-specific screen time limits. The boundaries you set for your 12-year-old child should not be the same as those for your 17-year-old child. Setting boundaries also calls for monitoring your teen’s internet usage.
The internet has so much unfiltered information; you never know what your teen might meet there and how it may impact them. Monitoring helps prevent threats such as cyberbullying. Setting these boundaries and monitoring them will assist in keeping your teen safe during their allocated screen time.
Creating boundaries around activities between screen time and outdoor or physical exercise is helpful to help prevent sedentary lifestyles. Adding non-technological activity options to their lifestyle can increase their interest and motivation in other areas, lessening the possibility of developing technology dependence.
Educating Your Children
Digital literacy is an essential element of preventing teen tech dependence. It entails teaching your teen the importance of responsible technology use and the dangers involved when it is used irresponsibly. It is helpful for teens to learn how to behave responsibly online and build a healthy relationship with technology. Often, their parents are their initial role models and sources of information.
Managing Teen Tech Dependence
What happens if your teen develops tech dependence in the end? What do you do? There are a variety of strategies that you can use to help manage your teen’s dependence at home.
Strategies for Compulsive Habits
Digital detox and mindfulness are some of the best ways to manage compulsive habits regarding tech dependence among teens. Once you decide to go on a digital detox, you will need a plan that identifies the duration and explores the activities you wish to undertake during the detox. One may practice digital detox in various ways.
Such ways include turning off notifications to reduce distractions, especially when engaged in another activity. You may also consider having a digital sabbath, a day or days in the week that you completely detach and disconnect from technology use. Engaging in mindfulness practices such as yoga, meditation, and relaxation techniques helps manage stress and anxiety related to stopping technology use.
It would help if you also considered limiting your screen time and finding alternative activities to help you manage compulsive habits. You can read a novel instead, hang out with friends, or help your parents or guardians with house chores.
Strategies for Impulsive Habits
A bullet through impulsive habits is mastering self-control. Self-control entails expressing all your feelings and managing the actions that the feelings may cause. There is no bad feeling; all feelings are valid and should be expressed appropriately. A perfect way to manage your feelings is to know what feelings to act upon and how to do so.
One other significant way to manage impulsive habits is through delayed gratification. Most people want to get what they need when they need it. This, however, may be a weakness or limitation. Practicing mindfulness may eliminate autopilot thinking and encourage you to become in touch with the present moment.
Identifying your strengths and focusing on them is another way to exercise delayed gratification. You can use core strengths to improve a lower strength. Avoiding distractions is another important way to exercise delayed gratification and manage impulsive habits.
It would help if you also endeavored to remove your triggers to manage impulsive habits. Triggers are the agents that push you towards impulsive habits. Removing these from your schedule or daily life will help tremendously.
Professional Help for Teen Tech Dependence
Besides self-help strategies, professional help can become essential in dealing with teen tech dependence. Professional help may entail psychotherapy through a Residential Treatment Centre. Key Healthcare has structured a long-term residential treatment program for teens between 13 and 17 years old.
The program accepts all adolescents from the US who live in the facility in Malibu, California, for 30-45 days. The facility exhibits high levels of care since it has only 6 beds, accommodating 6 teens at a time. The teens going through this program receive 24/7 care and support.
Key Healthcare utilizes psychotherapy modalities, including Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Teen Family Therapy.
Psychotherapy helps teens understand the link between their feelings, thoughts, and behaviors and the impact of negative thoughts on behaviors. These therapy sessions involve teens working individually or in group sessions with the supervision of the therapist or counselor to identify their cognitive distortions and find the most appropriate ways to deal with them. They help teens to understand themselves and their actions and equip them with the skills to take charge and be constructive.
Family therapy can be essential for teens with tech dependence. It can help every family member understand each other and offer appropriate support during difficult times. Family therapy enables teens to maneuver through family dynamics, which can help them deal with compulsive and impulsive habits.
Tech dependence may also be treated through support groups aiming to build strong support networks. In support groups, teens meet people who relate to what they are going through. This enables them to form relationships and learn from each other through expressing themselves and supporting each other.
There may be circumstances under which medication may be used to treat tech dependence. Such medications may not always be strictly for tech dependence but for treating mental disorders associated with obsessive technology use and addiction.
Conclusion
Tech dependence on teenagers can harm their well-being, leading to addiction. Being aware of the signs can lead to early intervention, whether it is at home or including professional treatment at a facility such as Key Healthcare.
Tech dependence can be managed, and the behaviors can be mitigated, with the right support and intervention. If you are concerned that your teen is tech dependent, contact us so we can help you implement the best intervention.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Some triggers of tech dependence include anxiety, depression, loneliness, and boredom.
Tech dependence and addiction have similarities, but they are different. Tech dependence refers to excess reliance on technology that may have negative consequences. In contrast, tech addiction is a severe and diagnosable condition due to technology use and is characterized by a complete loss of control over technology use.
There is no known medication specifically for tech dependence, although medications are used to treat underlying or associated conditions such as anxiety and depression.
Absolutely! Tech dependence means you spend less time and attention on your friends and loved ones, thus making such relationships unstable due to disconnection, frustration, and neglect.
Experiencing negative impacts of technology use, such as neglecting responsibilities, reduced productivity, unstable relationships, and poor time management, are some of the signs that you need professional help.
The long-term effects of tech dependence include poor posture, eye strain, anxiety, depression, social isolation, poor academic performance, and poor personal relationships.
