Technology is an inherent part of the daily lives of adolescents. They use the Internet for their academic training, but above all they use devices as a source of entertainment. Social networks, messaging applications, streaming platforms and video games occupy a large part of their free time, also implying for them a strong connection with the world and their friends.
Given that the use of technology in adolescence is so widespread and deep-rooted, it is difficult to clarify when there is an addiction problem. It is important to emphasize that continued abuse of these media is likely to lead to addiction, with children, adolescents and young people being especially vulnerable to suffering from it.
Although addiction to technology, social networks, the Internet and the mobile phone is a problem in itself, it also tends to bring with it other consequences, such as nomophobia – the fear of being without a mobile phone or internet connection. , “FOMO” – the fear of missing out when being disconnected –, cyberbullying and problems such as “sexting” or sending compromised photos or videos.
From the De Salud blog, Psychologists warn that addiction to technology brings with it consequences such as social isolation, abandonment of healthy habits, decreased school or work performance, interference in social and family relationships, dependency and lack of control. In your daily life.
In addition, it brings with it symptoms very similar to those of other addictions, including irritability if they do not have a terminal, anxiety, ruminative and obsessive ideas, interference with sleep, uncontrolled urgency, abandonment of healthy lifestyle habits, isolation and withdrawal syndrome. abstinence if they have no connection.
In this situation, it is advisable to request help from a psychologist, preferably specialized in this problem in youth and adolescence. As highlighted by De Salud Psicologías, the psychological treatment of technology addiction aims at the controlled use of these media, since they are part of daily life and cannot be dispensed with.
