The subject of “digital dementia” is getting a lot of buzz these days. Although some are quick to dismiss it, digital dementia is very real and could pose a threat to a substantial portion of the population. Overuse of screen time can lead to a host of physical and mental health issues, and notably, an increased risk of suicide and depression, for teens in particular.
A 2017 study by a psychology professor at San Diego State University found that US teens who spend more than three hours a day using electronic devices such as phones, tablets, and laptops are 35% more likely to have a risk factor for suicide than teens who use devices less than an hour a day. Furthermore, a whopping 71% of teenagers who spend more than five hours looking at their device screens are likely to have a risk factor for suicide.
In addition, adolescents who spent increased time on social media and electronic devices were more likely to report mental health issues than teens who spent more time on non-screen activities such as engaging in sports and exercise, having in-person social interaction, doing homework, reading print media, and attending religious services.
According to research, the average American youngster first receives a smartphone at the age of 10 and spends over 4.5 hours a day using it. Furthermore, children and teens using digital technologies are not only more prone to depression and suicide, but they are more likely to be easily distracted and to display a lack of empathy and enthusiasm for their surroundings. Plus, the overstimulation caused by digital technology combined with a sedentary lifestyle is a significant concern, as adolescents are showing non-Alzheimer’s dementia-like symptoms due to the increase in exposure to screens.
More and more, we are outsourcing our brains to smartphones. We are so reliant on them that our smartphones may actually be making us stupid. We have lost the ability to memorize things like phone numbers because we rely on phones to store vital information that we would otherwise put to memory. When we are not engaging our memory for such tasks, we are not exercising our “mental” muscles.
A child, adolescent, young adult, or adult developing digital dementia may present with signs or symptoms including:
- Developmental delays
- Poor memory recall
- Lack of motivation
- Anxiety
- Depression or suicidal thoughts
- Forgetfulness and confusion
- Social seclusion (antisocial behavior)
- Uncoordinated movement patterns
- Postural misalignment and “tech neck”
- Poor focus or prone to distraction
- Brain fog
- Behavioral disorders
- A lack of empathy
- Anger or emotional outbursts for no apparent reason
The usage of digital technologies such as smartphones in increasing rapidly, but there is little scientific knowledge about the long-term effects this might have on the brain. Long-term effects from smartphone use could affect entire populations as their use has become widespread. Potential side effects, such as the increased risk of dementia, are disturbing, but may be diminished by helping people control their use of technology. The solution does not necessarily mean getting rid of digital technology altogether, but could mean learning healthier habits while engaging with it.
Using the internet engages nearly all of our senses. We receive constant input to our somatic, visual, and auditory senses. We do not often recognize that the internet can be a physically intense and all-encompassing experience.
We are being stimulated cognitively as well. Interactivity with the net is continually engaging our brain’s dopamine-based reward system. As tech users, we get a stress-numbing neurotransmitter (dopamine) reward when the phone or tech device sends a notification. Becoming acclimated to this is particularly concerning for children and teens, as their brains and mental state are still developing. Kids going through adolescence can actually form an addiction to their devices.
Plus, the adolescent connection to social media makes these young users sensitive to and hyper-aware of their social standing. Adolescence is a stressful time. Through tech device use and social media, youngsters are getting hard-wired to believe that their sense of self-worth comes from the device and not other human beings. Teens suffer real stress when they lose social media followers. And they feel joy when they gain followers or get “likes” on their posts. In other words, social media and smartphone use trigger an addiction-like dopamine release in their brains, one that they may start to feel they cannot live without. Additionally, as they become accustomed and addicted to the dopamine release, teens may fail to develop healthy coping mechanisms.
Today’s youth is growing up in a world of instant gratification. Many binge-watch their entertainment, do their shopping online, and even get a date from a click or a swipe. They might be developing an inherent impatience and come to believe that satisfaction in life, or even love and friendship, should happen immediately. They may not learn the social skills needed for real life and relationships, and that it takes time and hard work to build and maintain healthy connections with others. They might not be learning the skills needed to make friends, to have healthy communications, to fall in love, or to find fulfillment. Because their brains can become hard-wired to desire instant gratification, the human-to-human ways of socializing seem slow and boring.
Consequently:
- Suicides rates are on the rise
- Depression is on the rise
- School shootings are on the rise
Many kids and teens are exposed to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from the WiFi and digital devices in their schools and most public places. EMFs come from electrical devices, including personal and laptop computers, smartphones, tablets, gaming devices, electronics, cell phone towers, 5G, digital smart meters, and WiFi. The World Health Organization categorized EMFs as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” Research has shown EMF overexposure can contribute to:
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Difficulty sleeping
- Poor focus and brain fog
- Ringing in the ears
- Burning skin
- Rashes or hives
- Feeling anxious, stressed, or “wired”
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Depression
- Cardiac arrhythmia
- Infertility
- Certain cancers
Other studies show that autism rates increased dramatically over the last decade; during this same time, the EMFs present in the environment have risen significantly.
With the day’s busy pace, it is tempting and convenient to allow tech devices to act as “digital babysitters.” Youngsters are happy because they can watch cartoons, play games, surf the net, message friends, and do their homework. Parents are pleased because it can keep the kids busy so that they can do other things. But these increasingly present EMFs have not been studied for long-term effects, and research tells us that excessive exposure can adversely affect the heart, brain, and reproductive health. Avoid carrying your smartphone in your pocket or anywhere on your body, avoid using portable computers and tablets on your lap, turn off WiFi at night or when not in use, and try to limit or eliminate as many unnecessary EMF sources as possible in your home, school, and at work.
Human relationships help to make people happy, and in many ways, kids with tech devices are in solitary confinement waiting for that next dopamine fix. The way to move past this is to take the phone away so adults and kids talk to each other. Removing the devices allows children (as well as adults) to build their communication skills. They are forced to socialize, appreciate their surroundings, and regain an enthusiasm for living.
