Does My Kid Have a Tech Addiction?

DO YOU? –

Feb. 28, 2022 – In her book “Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence,” Dr. Anna Lembke makes the case for how technology, with its promise of nonstop engagement and flashing lights, can be addictive. And while addiction may make one think of hard drugs or alcohol, activities like video games, social media apps, and sites like YouTube can also become unhealthy addictions. The professor of psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine said tech addiction can have consequences such as low mood, irregular sleep, attention problems, increased anxiety and poor academic performance. Anya Kamenetz, NPR journalist and author of “The Art of Screen Time,” said the Problematic Media Use Measure (PMUM) can help parents determine whether a child has a healthy relationship to technology. She encourages parents to consider questions based on the PMUM like, “When they have a bad day, is it the first thing they want?” “Are they breaking rules to get it?” and “Are they hurting their relationship with family members or failing at school because of it?”