Addiction to Technology

THE LINK BETWEEN SCREEN ADDICTION AND UNHAPPINESS

A 2018 study by San Diego State University researchers found that teens who spend considerable time in front of a screen (texting, playing video games, and video chatting) are less content than those who spend time on nonscreen activities such as sports, reading, and personal interaction. The researchers stated, “The key to digital media use and happiness is limited use. Aim to spend no more than two hours a day on digital media, and try to increase the amount of time you spend seeing friends face-to-face and exercising – two activities reliably linked to greater happiness.” This study is just one of many that have found a pronounced correlation between screen use and poor mental health. Various bodies of research have linked too much tech time to an increased suicide risk; personal, social, and workplace problems, as well as more loneliness, anxiety, and depression.

RISING LEVELS OF OBESITY IN YOUTHS

A 2009 study by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that children who slept less, consumed more caffeine, and had more hours of screen time were more likely to be obese and had a greater chance of suffering negative effects on their health, psychosocial wellbeing, and academic performance.

Childhood obesity rates in Europe are on the rise and those living in the most deprived areas are most affected. Parents should

WHAT ARE THE HEALTH DANGERS OF OUR ADDICTION TO TECHNOLOGY?

Adults spend around 40 per cent of their waking hours glued to a screen in the UK. Children aged five to 16, meanwhile, spend up to three hours on the Internet, between one and two hours playing video games, and over one hour on smartphones – as reported by the NHS. These figures are hardly unique, as they mirror EU statistics. The 2020 report EU Kids, for instance, showed that in Spain, children aged nine to 16 connect to the Internet for over three hours daily for entertainment and communication (i.e. nonstudy-related) reasons. Younger generations are at a particularly high risk of incurring health problems from screen use, since many have become accustomed to this habit at an early age. What are the main dangers of technology addiction and how can we ameliorate its effects?

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

ensure that their children are sleeping the right number of hours (approximately nine to 11 hours per day for school-aged children) and encourage their children to enroll in extracurricular sporting activities. Just a few activities kids and youths might enjoy include dance, CrossFit, and outdoor yoga.

NATURE DEFICIT DISORDER

Spending so much time indoors has resulted in a phenomenon referred to by nature author, Richard Louv, as ‘nature deficit disorder’ – a disconnection from the Great Outdoors that has significant effects on a child’s ability to focus, take risks, and be curious about the world. It also affects their physical and mental health and wellbeing, and their ability to learn about the natural world through their own experience. As Louv explained to The Guardian’s Jon Henley, “For this generation, nature is more of an abstraction than a physical reality. Kids today can tell you about the Amazon rainforest, but not about the last time they went into a forest alone. Nature is something to watch from a distance, something to consume. Something very profound has happened in children’s relationship to nature.”

Louv mentions many studies that have shown that spending time in green areas reduces stress, improves ADHD and learning disabilities, and boosts creativity and mental, psychological, and spiritual health. The good news is that even a small amount of green time – just 10 minutes – decreases cortisol (stress hormone) levels. Children should enjoy quality time outdoors every day, be it walking, hiking, swimming, or simply reading a book in a scenic green or blue zone. ›

MUSCULOSKELETAL AND POSTURAL PROBLEMS

Using screens for various hours a day can cause pain and discomfort – for instance, youths or office workers who sit at their desk for a long time or use their smartphone for extended periods can find that their muscles and joints hurt later in the day. This can be particularly problematic if your child’s chair or computer height go against the tenets of ergonomics.

A 2015 study on university students by H Kim and colleagues found that smartphone use was correlated with musculoskeletal problems, the shoulder and neck being the most likely to experience pain. Researchers stated, “The longer that display terminals are used, the more the bending angles of the neck bone and the waist bone are increased… (and) adopting an incorrect posture for a long period of time can lead to a lowering in the function of waist muscles, triggering waist pain.” Additionally, poor positioning of the body during screen use tends to breed worse posture during other times of the day.

To curb musculoskeletal and postural problems, encourage children to limit their screen use and suggest that they use apps like WhatsApp on their computer screen instead of on their phone. This way, they can at least place their computer screen at the right height, ensure that their chair is comfortable and supportive, and use a footrest if necessary. Using a standing desk, meanwhile, can help them battle the effects of sedentarism, as can taking breaks every hour for stretching and a little cardio (for instance, running up and down a flight of steps or performing a few Pilates moves).

BROACHING THE EMF DEBATE

Human beings are exposed to many different sources of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) – including computer screens, smart phones, tablets, microwave ovens, WiFi, smart metres, and cars with electrical wiring and Bluetooth technology. In response to public concern about possible adverse effects to health caused

by EMFs, in the late 1990s, the WHO launched a large, multidisciplinary effort, publishing around 25,000 reports on the subject.

The WHO concluded that “current evidence does not confirm the existence of any health consequences from exposure to low level electromagnetic fields.” It acknowledged, however, that further research was required because “some gaps about biological effects exist.” The WHO notes that some people have complained that even low levels of exposure to EMFs at home result in symptoms such as headaches, anxiety, depression, nausea, fatigue, and libido loss. Some cases indicate a possible association between negative pregnancy outcomes (for instance, prematurity and low birth weight) and EMFs, though exact causality has not been scientifically proven.

Increasing rates of EMFs are all around us and they are impossible to avoid altogether. However, you can take steps to reduce your exposure. Keep your appliances far from where you sit or sleep, use the speaker function or earbuds with your phone (and do not carry your phone on your body), occasionally unplug your electronic devices, and consume spices rich in phenolics (including ginger, cloves, cinnamon, rosemary and turmeric) – since these have a protective effect against peroxynitrites (chemicals formed when the body interacts with EMFs). Magnesium may also help reduce the effects of EMF exposure. This is because EMFs migrate via the activation of voltagegated calcium channels in the body and magnesium is a natural calcium channel blocker. Some people also recommend earthing (walking on the earth barefoot to benefit from the Earth-’s negative charge).

Screen addiction has a wide range of negative effects, including a higher chance of unhappiness, stress, postural and musculoskeletal problems, and EMF exposure. To curb the effects of this addiction, embrace outdoor activities, sticking to a predetermined amount of screen use at home and at work, and taking steps to reduce one’s proximity to EMFs. Also, consider investing in ergonomic furniture to reduce the rate or severity of musculoskeletal and postural problems. e

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