December 2020 – Escapers Media

iPads, tablets and all manner of gadgets are ruling our lives on a daily basis

Written and researched by Monica C

There is no doubt that high-tech gadgets and digital devices have made life easier for people in the modern world. It is actually because of this convenience and the seemingly endless list of things that you can do using these devices that it is easy for adults to develop an addiction. It creeps up on them and before they know it, they are already too immersed in their online connection and they have become disconnected with the real world.

Watch out for these symptoms of addiction to digital devices:

Lack of focus, concentration or attention
Memory problem
Indecisiveness in decision-making
Fertility problem caused by too much exposure to electro-magnetic field (EMF) or radiation of the gadget
Anxiety
Stress
Trouble in communication (expressing thoughts or opinions verbally)

A few years ago, experts identified “digital dementia” as a memory problem caused by the abusive use of gadgets. Digital dementia occurs in human brain cells and chemistry.

The “phone vibration syndrome” was also found to be common among adults. People thought they felt the phones in their pockets vibrating only to find no messages or notifications when they check.

People are often so engrossed in their smartphones that they do not notice what’s happening around them and would often defend themselves and claim that they are actually multi-tasking.

There are even instances when they do not actually hear what other people are telling them because they are too busy flipping through their Android or iPhone apps.

Rules to Fight Gadget Addiction

Just like any other addiction, this one is not impossible to shake off although many people would find it challenging. The process takes commitment and willpower to pull through. Try these rules to fight your digital device addiction in your day-to-day activities:

Don’t text while you’re driving. Keep this rule not only for your safety but also for the safety of other people who are with you. If you need to text someone, do it before you drive. If someone is in the car with you, let him check your phone and respond to the message for you.
Don’t use your phone while you are waiting in line to order your meal or while you’re getting on a train. Be mindful of the people around you.
Avoid using your phone when you’re already in the bedroom, especially right before bed time as the light affects your ability o fall asleep and sleep well.
Don’t use your phone when you are spending time with your loved ones or friends.
Leave your phone at home if you don’t need it. If you’re just going for a jog around your village, you don’t have to bring your phone with you. Don’t keep checking your phone when out at a meal with friends or a sports event or similar. Be present of the situation instead of getting lost in a digital world.

Be a responsible adult. If you have kids, set an example for them. If you are able to resist and fight your addiction to high-tech devices, it will be easier for you to implement rules for your kids to help them fight their addiction as well.

Helping Children Overcome their Digital Device Addiction

It’s alarming to see the number of children addicted to mobile devices. This dependency greatly impacts the lives of kids in the same the way it affects the adults.

One of the common problems linked to children’s addictions to gadgets is getting poor grades in school. Most kids get easily bored in studying their lessons but they can spend hours in playing with their gadgets.

They can’t focus on their class discussions, they are always looking forward to having breaks or going home so they can finally use their devices again.

Children are also becoming forgetful. Their increased exposure in the virtual world is believed to be the culprit for their lack of interest to memorize their lessons in school. Why bother memorizing things when you can recall it at the touch of a button?

The problem is that they don’t care about these lapses as much as they do when they forget their phones or tablets. According to studies, children experience anxiety and agitation when they realize that they forgot to bring their devices with them.

Most kids will throw tantrums when they are prohibited to use their devices, making it harder for parents to control them. Other kids, especially teens, would refuse to follow orders at home if their parents didn’t buy them the latest gadgets.

The social abilities of children can also be hampered by gadget addiction. Many kids would rather stay at home to play with their devices rather than attend a children’s party. As a result, they may not get along with other kids easily.

One of the biggest problems that may arise from this addiction is the way kids believe in the characters that they encounter while playing their mobile games. Some games that include fighting can make a kid feel it’s normal and it’s okay to be brutal to his friends.

Playing Grand Theft Auto or Assassin’s Creed could unduly influence a child’s thinking and normalize dangerous behavior, blurring the lines between fiction and reality. Many use it as an escape mechanism but it could become more sinister when accessed by younger, more impressionable individuals.

Ways to Fight and Prevent Gadget Addiction

Parents as well as caregivers should be responsible for implementing strict rules to the kids. They need to set up clear guidelines about using their devices so that the children will fully understand what can happen if they break the rules.

Here are some rules that you may apply to your kids:

Don’t expose really young children to digital devices. There are other items or activities that can be used to keep young children preoccupied.
If you must allow them to use digital devices, impose a limit to their gadget use. It is important to be firm and consistent when doing this. Yet, you should not make it seem like you are depriving them of something. A better approach would be to have other activities programmed in their daily schedules. Say that gadget time is over and it’s time to see Mr Sun for some outdoor fun. You can also apply this to other electronics like your television and their electronic toys.
Set a schedule when your children are allowed to use their devices at home. It could be after dinner or after doing their homework. Set a time that is suitable for them.
Don’t place the television or computer in your children’s bedroom.
Observe a tech-free time at home when everyone in the house, including adults, is not allowed to use any gadget.
Monitor your children’s access to the device by sitting by their side while they are playing. This is a perfect opportunity to talk and have fun together as you watch them play their favorite game.
Avoid using any mobile device in front of your kid, unless it’s for emergency. If you have to use your phone or laptop for work-related purposes, do it when your children are not home or when they are already asleep.
Teach your children the importance of using gadgets in moderation.
Provide other means of entertainment such as books or a backyard pool.

Kids are competitive. They would do anything just to get what they want. You can take advantage of this by making the use of gadget as a reward for their good deeds.

For example, they can only use their device after they finish their homework or household chores. This could help them develop self-discipline and willpower to overcome their gadget addiction.

Don’t forget to praise your kids for their efforts in following your rules. By doing so, your kids will feel that they did something good and they will be inspired to do it again next time.

A female app developer, who is a mother, admitted that she is also struggling to keep her children from getting addicted to smartphones or tablets.
Monica

For this reason, she works hard, along with other developers, to create Android apps that are educational. They also find ways to create more games that are academic but fun at the same time.

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It’s shocking and we don’t want to admit it – but we have a problem

Written and researched by Monica C

The number of people addicted to high-tech devices has increased dramatically over the last few years. In addition to this worrying trend, people became more addicted to social networking sites and applications. The problem was not only observed among adults but among children as well, as devices and applications proliferate youngsters’ lives on a daily basis.

In this book, you will learn more about how this addiction has affected, and continues to affect, the lives of many people. You will also understand what computer scientists and web developers do to make sure that people keep using their products and services, regardless of the implications.

Moreover, this book provides useful tips to help you fight addiction to social media and high-tech gadgets. You will also find guidelines to help your kids control their use of devices. In the last chapter of this book, you will find some great apps that you can use to help you overcome your addiction to digital devices and social media.

By the time you finish reading, you will be equipped with lessons that will help you become responsible in managing your usage of social media and high-tech devices.
Monica

Adults’ Addiction to Smartphones and Other Gadgets

Addiction to gadgets is a common problem among people today. Too much use of smartphones and other types of high-tech devices can detrimentally affect the lives of many people. This addiction causes a negative impact towards people’s health and lifestyle.

According to a recent study, 56% of Americans own smartphones. High-tech devices like computers, laptops, and tablets are now part of people’s daily lives. Some people use gadgets for entertainment while others use them mainly for communication.

These innovative devices are designed to be used in various ways and for different purposes. They are most commonly used for communication, social interaction, entertainment, information gathering and dissemination, and content production among other uses.

People find these devices convenient for doing online banking, completing projects for school, and creating presentations for work among others. There’s no doubting the positive impact such technologies and systems have had on society, but there is a downside to this as well.

The Problem

It’s a big issue for some adults when they misplace their smartphones – I’m the same, it can be an awful feeling. When this happens, people suddenly feel lost or incomplete and are unable to accomplish any task because they rely heavily on their gadgets to do their jobs. People use their smartphones, tablets, or laptops wherever they are and whenever they want to.

They are used even in places like the cinema or the bathroom, where these gadgets are considered out-of-place or intrusive to some extent. Who hasn’t quickly whipped out their iPhones when perched on the loo to quickly check Facebook or send a text?

The addiction to smartphones and other digital devices is further underscored by stories and accounts of people taking their devices to bed with them. They surf on their tablets, read eBooks, or play games on their smartphones, supposedly to help them fall asleep, much like counting sheep.

When their smartphones beep or ring, they pick up or check for messages even as they are already dozing off. Intimate moments are not spared from this addiction as studies have reported that one out of six couples has admitted checking their phones or texting while having sex.

There’s also the issue of texting while driving. In many countries, this practice is widely prohibited and for good reasons. Studies show that this practice is seven times more dangerous than drink driving.

drink driving — Texting while driving is on the increase

Spreading Like Wildfire

All of the instances are indications that addiction to digital devices and gadgets is indeed a bigger problem than people want to admit it is. Frequently using and the seeming inseparability with these gadgets and devices is perhaps one of the most common compulsive habits observed in adults today. The sad news is that children and teenagers are likewise emulating these habits and patterns and therefore also developing a dependency or addiction.

Children’s Addiction to Smartphones and Other Gadgets

Many addiction experts agree that the worst victims of gadget addiction are children and young people. Like adults, kids and teenagers use their devices all the time and are gradually becoming too attached to them.

An independent research team in the UK interviewed over a thousand of teenagers and the respondents were asked about how they use their smartphones. Results showed that 92% of teenagers went online every day and more than half of them use their phones more than twice a day. Some of the respondents admitted to using their phones even when they were in school. Around 12% of the kids use their phones once a day, while 6% of the kids say they go online once a week.

Most of the children nowadays grow up to having instant access to almost anything they want. Kids are given basic phones at an early age and most of them get smartphones by the time they become teenagers. Only a handful of parents put their foot down when it comes to allowing their kids to have gadgets or actively work on limiting gadget use.

As children witness the addictive behavior from their parents, it is but natural for them to engage in the same practices as well.

Making the Addiction Worse

There are bigger problems that spring from the issue of addiction to digital devices and gadgets. If the kids are vulnerable to addiction to these devices, it is highly likely that they will also be vulnerable to other addictions. Addictive behaviour and dependency is something that goes beyond just one object of obsession.

Becoming dependent on a device at an early age can inadvertently open the door to susceptibility to addictions and dependencies later in life.

Sexting is another more recent issue that comes with digital device and social media addiction. Recently, concern has grown over the exposure of children to pornographic materials through their digital devices and the sharing of these materials through their smartphones.

Each year, the number of children exposed to explicit content grows. Kids can now access adult websites even without supervision and concern has grown over sexual or fetish content getting through the filters and on to children’s YouTube or for betting companies to target youngsters with well-known characters flashing on screens to advertise gambling games.

In a recent survey involving 1,500 teachers, around 75% of them admit that they are aware of students sharing sexual images and videos. Over the last three years, more than 2,000 children were involved in crimes linked to disturbing images. Many teenagers describe sexting as “normal.”

Most young girls think that sending naked pictures to someone is a common occurrence among their peer group. They say that it only becomes a problem if their parents find out.

Kids also become more attached to their digital devices when they get addicted to playing mobile games. What’s worse is that it’s actually the parents who are often to blame for this kind of addiction. They use digital devices as surrogate or virtual nannies to keep the kids from becoming too rowdy, noisy, or fussy.

They think that for as long as their kids are preoccupied with their games on their devices, they are less likely to get into mischief or make a mess. What parents sometimes do not realize is that they are encouraging and supporting addictive behavior in their children.

Mandy Saligari, an addiction expert, said that parents tend to overlook the addictive nature of high-tech devices. She notes that giving a tablet or a smartphone to a child is like giving him or her a gram of coke or a glass of wine.

She observes that many parents pay more attention to keeping their children away from alcohol and drugs rather than to keeping them from using their gadgets too much. They are failing to see that it’s the same addictive behaviour regardless if it’s alcohol and drugs or digital devices and social media.

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Thanks for reading. If you found some value please leave a COMMENT or SHARE with others who might enjoy the article.

Continue the conversation by sending an email to escapersmedia@gmail.com with your thoughts.