llustration: Jessica Karl While discussions around technology use are often focused on the impacts of addictive app design, a recent opinion piece by Parmy Olson highlights an emerging trend of apps that are moving away from this type of design. Instead, she discusses apps like BeReal and Wordle that are more focused on building anticipation (by requiring user engagement once a day) as opposed to compulsive checking throughout the day. She also suggests that companies like Facebook who...

This NYT article discusses the professionals who spend their time debunking health and mental health misinformation on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. We've also been seeing the role social media has played during the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of people's access to information (e.g., vaccine availability announcements) and misinformation (promoting sometimes harmful treatments that aren't evidence-informed). This article left me with a few questions about the role that...

This self-directed online course presents current evidence and best practices for working with families, couples and loved ones experiencing harms because of a loved one’s problem gambling. It provides an overview of these harms and addresses how professionals can support these individuals, including intervention strategies professionals can use to help clients protect their finances, develop coping skills, repair relationships and rebuild trust. This course is most suitable for...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0adeZP6aDQw TEDtalk- Technology Addiction and What you can do about it. Ben Halpert TEDxSaintThomas (2015) Entertaining Talk about h ow society is guiding children from infancy to adolescence raised on technology- in many aspects of their lives and ways to balance technology use to prevent overuse and addiction. This is very applicable to the course as it highlights common themes that people may take for granted without considering the consequences. Ben...

Thanks for sharing that Ted Talk. As a parent of a toddler, this hit home! It boggles my mind how tech is being promoted as a great way to engage your toddler... those potty examples were hilarious. The research on toddlers using tech is pretty clear... steer clear as much as possible. I like this presenters suggestion about starting the conversation about tech early from parents to kids, and keep it going. Parents are ultimately responsible for teaching and helping kids set boundaries with...

Thanks Sharon. I also thought his examples were funny but seriously relatable. Tech has advanced and been integrated in our lives too quickly to be able to navigate it. It is great when people makes suggestions on how to avoid problems and do harm reduction- especially for parents.

It was an honour to be asked to create this parenting digital addictions signs, prevention and treatment tool, alongside several other experts, for Children and Screens Institute of Digital Media and Child. Feel free to share it in your circles. https://www.childrenandscreens.org/learn-explore/research/digital-addictions-a-family-guide-to-prevention-signs-and-treatment/

I love how clearly this explains the reason young people can quickly move from use to problematic use. This is a great resource to use when discussing the topic with some of my colleagues who think that the students we have in our space should just put down their phones/devices/games and focus on their school work. It truly is not as easy as that for everyone. That dopamine rush!

Thanks for your feedback JodiLyn. I appreciate that.