addictionAll our Privacy Parent articles about or related to technology addictions (e.g. addictions to smartphones, social media, video games, etc).
All our Privacy Parent articles about or related to technology addictions (e.g. addictions to smartphones, social media, video games, etc).
October 24th, 2023
Increasing numbers of people are questioning whether significant use of Facebook and Instagram is good for our kids. Well, not just question. Nearly all the states—41 of them plus the Washington, D.C., to be precise—are suing Facebook and Instagram parent Meta, accusing the tech giant of deliberately using addictive features in its social media platforms.
“Our bipartisan investigation has arrived at a solemn conclusion: Meta has been harming our children and teens, cultivating addiction…... Continue reading >
June 6th, 2023
Social media has a hold on us. Not many of us can resist the urge to check our phones for the latest post, especially when we hear that notification “ding” from one of our social media accounts. There’s a good reason for that, and it’s not just a taste for gossip. It’s dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for pleasure and reward in our brains.
When a social media notification sounds, a dopamine-induced loop is…... Continue reading >
June 2nd, 2023
Here’s an encouraging story from the New York Times: The Metaverse is kind of flopping. In a new story about Apple finally entering the Meta-scene, the Times reports that, so far, investments in the Metaverse have, largely, been a bust, costing Meta (nee Facebook), Microsoft, and others many billions of dollars. And what do they have to show for it? A whole lot of nothing. For those of us with a preference for the real world,…... Continue reading >
April 21st, 2023
We tell our kids to look both ways before crossing the street and to never take candy from strangers, but then we put a device in their hand and grant then countless hours of screen time. For a lot of kids, that means an increased risk of mental and physical health problems, from ADHD and depression to addiction, headaches and eye strain.
For years research has shown that
frequent internet usage can have negative…... Continue reading >
March 1st, 2023
It seems even Tik Tok realizes staring at a phone for hours on end isn’t good for developing minds. The company behind the app announced on March 3 it would limit use of Tik Tok to 60 minutes a day. It’s a good start, and it hints at a growing understanding that spending hours on social media is unhealthy.
... Continue reading >
October 21st, 2022
Video games can be fun, entertaining, and educational. But gaming also has its problems, exposing young players to health risks and introducing them to bad habits that can be difficult to break. Taken to excess, they can become the Danger Games.
Parents of kids who like to play video games—either on a console or on their phones—should be aware of those risks. At the top of the list: addiction. The founder of a company…... Continue reading >
October 7th, 2022
That headline says it all, really. The New York Times recently published an essay by William Siu, founder of company that develops online games, in which he says he won’t let his own children play the video games he helped create. Citing concerns about addiction, he writes, “as a gaming entrepreneur in the United States for 13 years and a father of two young daughters, I don’t think parents are doing enough to protect kids from the…... Continue reading >
January 5th, 2019
Picture this: your darling child is spending hours staring at their phone day after day, snapping pictures with their tongue out, or their friends. Sure, this is fascinating videography, but why on earth are your children spending their allotted screen time in this crazy way? If you ask them, you may receive a quickly growled “I’m keeping up my Snapchat streaks, geesh” — usually accompanied by an eye roll. What is this social media phenomenon that’s…... Continue reading >
January 4th, 2019
Kids today love their electronics, but how can you tell when a fun toy becomes a problem for your child? Video game addiction is real, and it is causing serious mental and physical health hazards for today’s children. Compulsively playing video games requires a detox regimen similar to that of other addicts, starting with admitting that there is a problem. Here are the signs to look for if you’re concerned that your…
... Continue reading >
September 6th, 2018
Updated April 12, 2023
We tell our kids to look both ways before crossing the street and to never take candy from strangers, but then we put a device in their hand and allow them to roam virtually unfettered all over the internet—for hours on end. For a lot of kids, that means an increased risk of mental and physical health problems, from ADHD and depression to addiction, headaches and eye strain.
For years research has shown…
... Continue reading >