Dealing with Digital Distractions Full Disclosure Lets Crush the Critic

By Adam Schwebach, Ph.D. Dealing with Digital Distractions

Full Disclosure

❖ I am NOT a perfect parent

❖ I am a Pediatric Neuropsychologist

❖ When it comes to raising children, I have the same fears, worries and concerns you do

Lets Crush the Critic

❖ Technology is NOT bad

❖ The human species has always been “advancing”

❖ Like all technological advances, there comes unforeseen consequences and challenges

❖ One must be aware of the potential dangers and pitfalls and discover ways to address those issues

❖ Electricity

❖ Plastic

❖ Automobile

❖ Airplanes

❖ Microchip

❖ TV

❖ Internet

❖ Mobile Technology (i.e., cell phones)

Lets Talk About Mobile Technology

History of Cell Phones

1G Phones

2G Phones

❖ In the 1990’s technology advances from “analog” to “digital”

❖ Instead of just being able to make phone calls, digital technology allows people to transmit “data”

❖ In 1993, the ﬁrst mobile to mobile text message is sent in in Finland

3G Phones

❖ Increase in band width and mobile storage allows for quicker speeds, live streaming and the ability to “download” data onto a mobile device

❖ Increased bandwidth and mobile storage = increased ability to “stream data” and download/transmit larger data ﬁles

How Many Adults Own a Cell Phone

Adults and Cell Phones

❖ 90+% of adults own a cell phone

❖ 60+% own a “smart phone”

❖ Most adults have more than one mobile device (i.e., tablet + phone)

Interesting Statistics

❖ 73% of adults check their phone, even when they have not received a message for “fear they may missed something” (i.e., FOMO)

❖ 46 % of adults feel they “could not imagine life without my cell phone”

❖ Over 40% of adults sleep with their cell phones for fear “they may miss a message from someone”

❖ Access the internet

❖ Access social media

❖ Access email

❖ Access media (music, movies, youtube)

❖ Text Message

What About Our Kids??

Children and Cell Phones

❖ 88 % of teens between the ages of 13-17 possess a cell phone ❖ 75% of teens possess a “smartphone”

❖ 56 % of children between the ages of 8-12 possess a phone. Of that 30% possess a “smartphone” ❖ Children under the age of 10 now represent the most important marketing demographic for cell phones

❖ Access of the internet

❖ Media consumption (i.e., youtube, video games, social media, etc.) accounts for most of the time spent on a mobile device ❖ Teens spend approximately 8-9 hours a day on a mobile screen (this does NOT include time spent doing homework)

Interesting Statistic

❖ 30% of infants and toddlers use a smartphone or tablet regularly

❖ The majority of time WE ALL spend on a cell phone is UNPRODUCTIVE ❖ Games, Games and more Games

❖ Social media (Instagram, etc.)

❖ Consuming media

❖ Accessing the internet

❖ Mobile devices were “DESIGNED” to distract us

The Potential Dangers

Mobile Technology Has Changed How We Socialize

❖ Can someone become “addicted” to technology

❖ Yes! Yes! and Yes!

The American Psychiatric Association recognizes Internet/Digital Addiction as a “Mental Disorder”

There are thousands of internet addiction recovery programs across the world

❖ Screen time inﬂuences the “pleasure” sensors of the brain (Dopamine)

❖ Over time the brain actually “craves” more screen time (similar to that of drug cravings)

❖ The developing brain is most at risk of developing “screen time” addiction (i.e., ages 0-3)

Pornography

❖ 100% of children WILL view pornography by the time they are 16 years old.

❖ Most children are exposed to pornography by age 7

❖ The younger the age of exposure, the greater the risk of “addiction” to pornography

❖ Pornography “addiction” is a “Neurological” disorder

❖ Children under the age of 11 access pornography via Youtube. Children older than 12 access pornography via social media (i.e., Snapchat, Instagram, Tinder, etc.)

Delayed Gratification

❖ The ability to delay gratiﬁcation IS the most signiﬁcant moderating variable to success in life

❖ The ability to delay gratiﬁcation can be taught using “reliable experiences”

❖ Suicidal Risk ❖ Depression/Anxiety

❖ Increased Behavior Problems

❖ Sexting

❖ Limited Self Worth Low Self Esteem

❖ Increased risk of obesity, metabolic disorders, sleep disturbance etc.

In Sum……

Increased Screen Time = Increased Risk

So What Can You Do??

Quick Tips

❖ Yes, it is “easier said than done.”

❖ Don’t worry, you haven’t “tried everything.”

❖ Its not what you do, its how you do it… Try to remember the 3 P’s (Patience and Persistency, will Pay off) Tip 1: What is the Goal

❖ It is not reasonable to “eliminate” technology from our lives

❖ The goal is to learn how to develop a healthy lifestyle around technology

❖ Don’t get stuck in ZOMBIE MODE

Tip 2: It is a Choice

❖ How do you want technology to be in your life?

❖ What are you and your children learning from the types of technology you use? “Smart phones do not make you smarter”

❖ How is technology impacting your day to day life, relationships, behavior, mood, etc.? ❖ Use technology in a healthy way

Tip 3: Set Limits

❖ “We don’t let cell phones at the table when we are having a meal, we didn’t give our kids cell phones until they were 14 and they complained other kids got them earlier”

❖ Asking whether his children liked the new iPad (???) replied…”They haven’t used it. We limit how much technology our kids use at home. That’s because we have seen the dangers of technology ﬁrsthand. I’ve seen it in myself, I don’t want to see that happen to my kids.”

Tip 3: Set Limits

❖ Parents do a good job of setting limits on things like TV time, video game console time, internet time. However, only 3% of parents have boundaries on the use of cell phones and mobile technology…Don’t be a “PANSY PARENT” ❖ Setting limits can dramatically reduce problems with mobile technology (i.e., behavioral problems, pornography use, sexting etc.)

❖ Set limits on the amount of time your children are on a screen

❖ Set limits on where devices go (i.e., bathroom, bedroom, etc.)

❖ Set limits on what apps are downloaded

❖ When are devices used

❖ Not sure what to do, don’t worry, just tell your child to go outside and play

Tip 4: Monitor

❖ Remove apps that transmit data in “secret” ❖ Be careful of ﬁltering systems, automatic control system (i.e., the circle): they will give you a false sense of security

❖ Remember… NOTHING you post is ever private and EVERYTHING you post is always “permanent”

Tip 5: Relationships Matter Most

❖ Increase Oxytocin

❖ Make Emotional Deposits

❖ How do you spell Love……..TIME

Questions

Adam J. Schwebach, Ph.D [email protected]

801-614-5866