Technology Addiction – What It Is and How It Manifests

The world today is more reliant on technology than ever before. Smartphones, tablets, and personal computers are ubiquitous across the United States. While many people have a positive relationship with technology, using it to work, learn, or connect with their loved ones, others have an unhealthy relationship with it. These are the people who are almost always online, inhibiting their abilities to work, learn, or even form meaningful connections in the real world. These people may have a technology addiction.

Technology addiction is the obsessive use of technology and the Internet to the point of dependency. The people affected cannot limit their usage. While the American Psychiatric Association does not officially recognize the disorder (it is not listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM), countries such as China, Japan, Italy, and Australia do officially recognize it. Some such as China have even acknowledged the scale of the problem to the point of limiting the number of hours children can play video games, in this case to three hours a week.

Technology addiction manifests in various ways. For example, a person may be addicted to online gaming or gambling. They may also spend long hours surfing the Internet, interacting on social media, shopping online, or watching sexually explicit content.

A person addicted to technology will exhibit some of the following signs: difficulty sleeping, compulsively checking their phones, withdrawing from their friends and family, losing track of time, using technology when it is dangerous such as when driving, and neglecting academic, professional, or family responsibilities. The addiction may cause the affected person to have mood swings whenever they are away from technology. They feel strong urges to indulge so as to improve their mood or experience pleasure. This is because technology, while not like alcohol, has the same impact on the brain.

Many technology companies today deliberately design their products to trigger users’ brains to release dopamine, a feel-good chemical. For example, when a person gets a like on social media, wins a level in a video game, or places a winning wager while gambling online, their brain releases dopamine, making them feel good. With repetitive indulgence, users grow so reliant on technology that their brains cannot produce dopamine normally, causing them to feel down whenever they are not engaged with it. And when they again use technology, their brains release dopamine, lifting their moods. This unhealthy reliance is a defining characteristic of addiction.

If one of your loved ones has a technology addiction, talk to them about getting help. They may deny that they have a problem or get defensive. This is quite common with people who have addictions. They do not accept the gravity of the problem. However, if they do not get help, their quality of life can further deteriorate.

Encourage your loved one to speak to a clinical specialist who will evaluate them, give an accurate diagnosis, and prescribe treatment. Sometimes, the addiction may be a symptom of another problem such as depression, anxiety, or a psychiatric condition like bipolar disorder. If this is the case, the psychiatrist will provide adequate guidance. If it is just a technology addiction, the clinical professional may recommend a therapy program to overcome it.

For parents with children exposed to technology, it is critical that they take proactive steps to prevent their children from developing technology addictions. They can explain to them the harmful effects of using technology too much and set limits on screen time, even declaring certain places as technology free zones like the dinner table. To reinforce this message, though, the parents themselves must lead by example.

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