It is no secret that technology is one of the most ubiquitous entities in our modern society. While this fact comes with countless benefits — from increased speed and efficiency in performing menial tasks to the introduction of life-saving technologies — its drawbacks are almost as plentiful.

Take, for example, the Western world’s increasing dependence on technology and social media for communication, entertainment, and even newsgathering. Not only have these tendencies led to gross misinformation amongst the masses, but have resulted in radical lifestyle changes via widespread internet addiction as well.

Unfortunately, the negative impacts of technology are not exclusive to adult users. Instead, thanks to the introduction to technology and, more specifically, social media to younger age cohorts, researchers are finding that more teens, adolescents, and even young children are showing symptoms of problematic internet usage and other subsequent psychological disorders.

This is mostly rooted in the fact that active participation in social media triggers a positive neurochemical reaction — in other words, a burst of dopamine. When users receive technology-related cues, such as their smartphone buzzing with new notifications, they get caught in an endless cycle of dopamine exposure and withdrawal. The desire to avoid such withdrawals can lead to users spending hours scrolling through social media in search of their next burst of dopamine.

When children become entangled in this vicious cycle, they are less likely to resist the urge to avoid pertinent tasks — such as homework, extracurricular activities, or even face-to-face socialization — in favor of spending hours scrolling through their social media accounts on their various devices.

However, forcing a child to cleanse themselves of social media is not necessarily the key to putting an end to these negative ramifications, as they are quickly becoming addicted to just using their devices as well — whether it be for texting friends, streaming music, or other relevant activities.

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