Many of us have already heard about dopamine: a neurotransmitter associated with motivation, pleasure, and reward. It is well established that dopamine is implicated in addiction processes. When we engage in activities such as playing video games and scrolling through social media on our phones, it is the immediate release of dopamine that is keeping us engaged. The release of dopamine creates a sense of pleasure and reinforces the behaviour. Big tech companies exploit this knowledge and design their products in such a way that it triggers a release of an unhealthily large amount of dopamine, leading to a cycle of craving and seeking out more. Over time, this can potentially lead to a rewiring of the brain’s reward pathway. Children and teens are particularly vulnerable because their brains are still growing, and over time, it can make it more difficult for them to derive pleasure from activities that do not involve technology. As a child and adolescent mental health therapist, whenever I hear a child say, “nothing else is fun!” I consider this a warning sign.
Here are some other warning signs of potential overuse:
Craving, loss of control over gaming/ social media use despite negative consequences, compulsion to use, such as prioritizing screen use over other activities that it takes precedence over other interest or daily activities.
Today, it is almost impossible to live our lives without technology. Technology has benefited us in immeasurable ways but there is a difference between positive and negative tech use. Positive tech use can help us improve our lives and we use it in the service of our own goals. Negative tech use, on the other hand, are passive and consuming. If you are concerned about your child or teen’s excessive technology use, schedule an appointment at Level Up. Together, we can help your child use technology in an empowering way.
Written by Fong Lopaschuk
