Digital Addiction

What Is Digital Addiction?

“Digital” addiction refers to addiction to the Internet, social media, smartphones and/or other technology. Digital addiction can also, but does not always, include overlap with pornography addiction. You or someone you know may be suffering from digital addiction if you (or they) are using digital technology to the point it is adversely affecting your (or their) day-to-day life (including being unable to stop using digital technology even when you desire to do so).

What Is Gaming Addiction?

Gaming addiction is now recognized as a medical health condition. It can be defined by a player feeling dependent on repeated engagement with the game or activity.

 

Signs of Gaming Addiction

  • Lowered interest in school/college, university/work
  • Excessive signs of frustration, unhappiness, anger, anxiety, and depression when not allowed/able to play/able to engage with the game.
  • Manipulating situations, diary/schedule to avoid periods offline
  • General loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities (sports, cinema, socialising, parties, sex etc) and loss of good friends/relationships and an increasing reliance on “virtual/online” friends/relationships
  • Lack of sleep due to playing through the night

Articles About Digital Addiction

Where is Your Phone on Thanksgiving Day?

Where is Your Phone on Thanksgiving Day?

In the spirit of Dr. Suess, have you ever wondered about all the places you go with your smartphone and if you are addicted? I ran across a wonderful study, of course, on my smartphone by Solitari - this is a company that creates games, and they were curious to learn...

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Super Achievers & Addiction: Big Highs, Big Lows

Super Achievers & Addiction: Big Highs, Big Lows

Over my career I have witnessed the vulnerability of Entrepreneurs, CEOs (women and men), Artists, Fashionistas, Writers and other Creative Folk, and each of these creatives that I worked with have been at high risk for depression, addiction and suicide. I have met...

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Has FOMO Got You Down?

Has FOMO Got You Down?

We’re all guilty of it - drawn into the glowing wonder of a smartphone or laptop screen like a moth to the flame. We scroll through social media, fashioning posts about our latest adventures, liking, clicking, buying and even dating. The amount of time we spend on our...

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Video Game Addiction in the Communication Age

Video Game Addiction in the Communication Age

And The Golden Buzzer Goes To… Responsible Digital Use Society is hooked on a video game in Steven Spielberg’s stellar new film, Ready Player One. Citizens are so crazed about winning in the digital environment, they risk to be the best player in the game. Spielberg’s...

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What’s Brotopia?

What’s Brotopia?

Anyone familiar with Greek mythology knows it doesn’t turn out so well for Narcissus. So transfixed with his own beauty, Narcissus died staring at his reflection in a pond. Of course this is where we get the term narcissism, a personality disorder seeping into the...

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Resources from Screenagers Website
This content was originally posted on screenagersmovie.com

PARENTING APPS

OurPact – Mobile guidance for your family, available for iOS and Android
Screen Time – Parental controls for iOS, Android and Kindle devices
Circle with Disney – Parents can filter content, limit screen time and set a bedtime for every device in the home.
Curbi – Parental controls for Android and Apple mobile devices
ParentKit – Control and schedule what is on your child’s iPod, iPad or iPhone
NetSanity – Parental controls for iOS
FamilyTime – Parental controls for iOS and Android
Net Nanny – Parental controls for Android and iOS
Mobile Fence – Parental controls and GPS tracking for Android devices
Verizon Family Base – Monitor wireless activity and set usage limits
AT&T Parental Controls – Manage internet and email activity on computers
T-Mobile Family Allowances – Manage minutes, messages and downloads on phones
Sprint Mobile Controls – Monitor phone usage

DRIVING

Cell Control – For Android and iPhone
Drive Safe Mode – For Android and iPhone
DriveMode – Available on Android
All the big carriers have apps to help you on this too. Ask your carrier for the latest

MINDFUL APPS

Moment – An iOS app that automatically tracks how much you use your iPhone and iPad each day. If you’re using your phone too much, you can set daily limits. 
Checky – For both iOS and Android, Checky lets you track and geographically map your phone use.

ARTICLES

Think your kid (or you) could be a screen zombie? Take the ‘Screenagers’ test – Los Angeles Times
Learning How to Exert Self-Control – New York Times
Compulsive Texting Associated with Poorer School Performance Among Girls – American Psychological Association
Compulsive Texting Takes Toll on Teenagers – New York Times
Teaching Self-Control Tips –  Provides evidence-based information about parenting and child development.

ORGANIZATIONS

Family Online Safety Institute – International, non-profit organization that works to make the online world safer for kids and their families.  
Psychology Today‘s Parenting in a Digital Age – This blog explores how parents and children might live together meaningfully in a digital age.
Common Sense Media – Empowers parents, teachers, and policymakers by providing unbiased information, trusted advice, and innovative tools to help them harness the power of media and technology as a positive force in all kids’ lives.
Empowering Parents – Committed to providing parents with sound advice through podcasts, an active blogging community and parenting programs.
Above The Fray – Program to educate parents and teachers about what life is really like online for young people and to give adults the tools they need to begin meaningful dialogues at home and at school.
Richard Freed, Ph.D. – Child and adolescent psychologist, speaker and author of “Wired Child: Reclaiming Childhood in a Digital Age”.

Dr. Stanger’s Article, as Published in Recovery Campus