I remember a time when getting a new electronic device was extremely rare. Depending on your age, the idea might seem strange to you. These days, we get new phones every couple of years and, rather than imagining all the possibilities they offer, we know they’re going to do just about everything we need.
There’s nothing wrong with this and it’s often unhelpful to view past eras with nostalgia. But it does highlight just how far we’ve come in the past twenty years. At the turn of the century, you’d only have the latest tech if you needed it for your job. Today, we rely on it for day-to-day living.
The pace of this shift has led to an imbalance. Society hasn’t had the time to process how to use technology in the healthiest way. Many technological advancements have saved lives, but others have led to increased rates of mental illness.
Plus, more and more people are having to grapple with what is being called ‘tech addiction.’
If you’re skeptical about this, you’re not alone. Is tech addiction a real thing? The answers provided by experts, unfortunately, shed light on something we need to deal with.
Does It Fit the Criteria for Addiction?
Your instinctive answer to whether tech addiction is real likely has a lot to do with your generation. People who grew up without much access to technology understandably see the constant use of a smartphone as problematic. Today’s young adults, however, consider it normal.
As such, the bar for what is perceived by the average person as overuse or addiction is colored by their experience of what’s normal. This is why tech addiction has become a staple of alarmist articles and blogs, while splitting the psychiatric community. It is important to leave out ideas of how people ‘should’ behave when discussing this topic.
Rather, let’s take a brief look at what constitutes an addiction:
Addiction is characterized by the compulsive engagement in a behavior or substance use despite adverse consequences. It involves a lack of control over the behavior, a preoccupation with the activity or substance, and an inability to stop despite negative impacts on daily life, health, and relationships. Addiction often includes tolerance, where increasing amounts of the substance or behavior are needed to achieve the desired effect, and withdrawal symptoms when the behavior or substance is reduced or stopped.
It’s clear that simply using technology many hours of the day does not constitute addiction. Addiction is only diagnosed if the person can’t stop themselves from using tech without withdrawal symptoms, even if it is causing them major problems.
If you think you or someone in your life might have an addiction to technology, consider if they meet the above criteria.
What do Experts Say About Tech Addiction?
With a better understanding of what it means to be addicted to a behavior, we can understand the factors that experts use in determining whether tech addiction is an actual addiction.
It’s important to remember that tech addiction is relatively new and there is still limited research on the topic. However, the research that has been done does show a few disturbing trends.
Overuse of Technology Can be Harmful
Regardless of whether tech addiction is a valid diagnosis, the research has found time and again that overuse of technology is often harmful. The negative effects vary according to the way technology is being used by the person.
People who spend excessive amounts of time on social media, for example, may have increased risks of low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety. People who spend all their free time playing video games may become socially isolated.
In other words, the concern regarding the use of technology is valid. Many people can attest to this from their personal experience.
But let’s delve further into the question of whether it is an addiction.
The Consensus on Tech Addiction is… Pending
There is not yet an official diagnosis for tech addiction in psychiatric manuals as the community has not yet reached a consensus. The research may show that technology use can be harmful, but for it to be classified as addiction, a dependence on the behavior needs to be present.
That said, there are certainly people who experience withdrawals from technology and who continue to use it in spite of clear negative consequences in their lives. The disagreement ultimately comes down to whether it is severe or common enough to warrant a dedicated diagnosis.
Many addiction rehabs therefore treat tech addiction, seeing it as something that needs to be addressed regardless of its status as a mental illness. If you or a loved one needs help with tech addiction, the good news is that access to treatment is increasing.
Does Digital Detox Work?
A popular approach to dealing with the problem of tech overuse is to do a ‘digital detox.’ This involves taking a break from technology for a period of time. Depending on the person, this may range from regular ten minute intervals to full days or weeks without technology.
For someone who is dependent on technology use to get through the day, doing a digital detox alone might not be possible. They may need the help of someone to hold them accountable and even keep them from accessing their devices.
Doing a digital detox helps mitigate the effects of excessive use of technology. It brings more balance into a person’s life, ensuring they do not experience everything through a screen. However, in order to make a long-term difference, it cannot be a one-time thing.
Using digital detox to identify a healthy medium is one good way to mitigate the negative impacts of modern technology. For some, digital detoxes of increasing periods of time will be necessary to reach this balance.
You can do a digital detox today, even if it is just for a short period of time. Start with something that feels manageable before working your way up.
If you or a loved one are struggling with tech addiction that does not respond to strategies like digital detox, get in touch with Seasons in Malibu now to find out how we can help.