Earlier this year, researchers at UNC’s Winston Center for Technology and Developing Minds established a new initiative to investigate how technology is “rewiring” the brains of developing youth across the world.
According to psychology and neuroscience professor Eva Telzer, the developing teenage brain has always been extremely sensitive to its environment, and we’re starting to see how social media has taken advantage of that sensitivity.
The researchers noted a significant rise in reports of mental health issues. Major changes include a rise in negative emotion, a decline in attention span, and their nullifying mind set. Jim Winston, chair at Winston Family Initiative in Adolescent Brain Development and Technology and psychologist said, “educators and caregivers urgently need more information about how to support children and teens as they engage with highly stimulating devices and social platforms.”
Ultimately the goal of this research is to find a solution that protects developing teens from the harmful effects of technology, while still utilizing the benefits of that technology. As UNC’s Mitch Prinstein said, “Our goal is to understand how people can get the most benefit from these new tools and avoid whatever risks there may be to academic, psychological, biological and social development.”
While obsessive technology use might seem like a subjective field to study, the research unit at UNC has already identified data that shows how adolescent brains are shifting in response to the digital age.
Studies have shown that 78% of 13 to 17 year olds report checking their mobile devices at least hourly, and a study co-authored by Prinstein highlighted how the brains of adolescents using social media at a high level have become measurably more sensitive to social feedback. “Our research demonstrates that checking behaviors on social media could have long-standing and important consequences for adolescents’ neural development,” Prinstein explained.
A similar study from 2020 showcased how extensive screen time and obsessive digital tech use may heighten ADHD symptoms, interfere with emotional and social intelligence, contribute to addictive behaviors, increase social isolation, and even interfere with our sleep. And yet, the study also found that specific digital programs or games tailored towards brain health did show signs of neural activation, decreased anxiety, and improved cognitive function.
More research is required to determine the full impact of digital technology on our developing brain, but it’s clear right now that – for better or worse – our brains have started to change in response to the digital revolution.
When considering the data surrounding technology abuse, brain development, and a decreasing connection to the real world, it becomes crucial that we discover ways to unplug from these addictive apps and services.
To fully address the ways that our brains have changed in response to the digital age, we need to start grounding ourselves in the real world again. Preventing misuse of technology includes detecting the symptoms early on, including preoccupation with your online activity and status, a feeling of restlessness or depression when cutting down on internet use, and feeling the need to use the Internet to achieve satisfaction.
If you feel like you’ve become affected by internet or social media addiction, one method to prevent harmful damage to your social life and brain development is to simply track your internet usage – staying mindful of how much time you spend on your device rather than engaging in the world around you. Disabling your notifications is another effective way to break out of the cycle of social media addiction, as is setting a screen time limit on your portable device. Another simple strategy for breaking away from social media is to prioritize any activities you enjoy that don’t involve screens – from hiking, to board games, to even gardening.
By emphasizing the brain health implications of technology use and prioritizing a re-connection with the real world, we can all take steps to travel these evolving digital landscapes in a way that is safe, supportive, and educational.
