Skip to main content

EENet ConnectSubgroupsGambling, Gaming & Technology Use Community of Interest

Gambling, Gaming & Technology Use Community of Interest

The Gambling, Gaming & Technology Use Community of Interest brings together addiction and mental health service providers, researchers and subject matter experts in the fields of gambling, technology/Internet use and video gaming to collaborate and share knowledge on emerging trends and clinical best practices.

Tagged With "Screen time"

Discussion Topic

CBC News Article: Tech companies encourage us to be smart about phones

Registered Member ·
This newly released CBC News article discusses new Smartphone management tools that enable users to get daily and weekly activity reports about the total time they spend in each app, their usage and notifications as well as the ability for parents to put controls on usage. Featured in the article, @Registered Member points out that this may be one avenue to help reduce or minimize Smartphone use but that there are also other options such as turning off notifications and scheduling...
Discussion Topic

Gambling, Gaming, and Technology Use Knowledge Exchange

Registered Member ·
An interesting look at writer, Ian Bogost's thoughts on Gaming Disorder. Clearly, he has not had first hand experience with a gaming addict when he argues that "games don't provoke physical reactions like tolerance and withdrawal the way narcotics do." I would suggest that he spend time in a room with a child who has visible tremors, brain exhaustion, and erratic and sometimes violent reactive behavior when withdrawing from gaming. What are your thoughts on his idea that a "Behavioral...
Discussion Topic

Problem Tech Use - Resource for parents

Registered Member ·
Following our webinar from earlier today, Problem Technology Use and Mental Health , I thought it would be a great time to share a resource we created in 2017 for parents! A number of webinar attendees asked if we had any resources available for parents who suspect their children are engaging in problematic technology use, how parents can start that conversation with their children, and how they can get help if needed. To access this fantastic resource, please visit our website at:...
Discussion Topic

Can researchers tell how general populations feel by monitoring twitter?

Registered Member ·
A Wired.com article explored some research that British researchers did over a 4 year period on 800 million tweets to analyze mood/content of tweet and time of tweet. As the title states, they found patterns of being analytical in the morning and angsty at night. Could this have clinical implications? Will a harm reduction approach to social media be to go on in the morning but not later as the day progresses? If clients are struggling with their mood and tend to feel worse after viewing...
Discussion Topic

Increases in technology use among Ontario students

Registered Member ·
According to the 2017 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS), there have been increases in social media and technology use among Ontario students. Further, this article (released today) states that: "Five per cent of secondary school students reported symptoms suggesting they had a serious problem with use of technology". This is the first time that the survey included items related to symptoms of problem technology use. Hopefully this sets a precedent for further research in...
Discussion Topic

[Anonymous, Online Academic Study] Testing a web-based application for Depression and concerning gambling! (Canada,14-40 years)

Registered Member ·
Researchers at the IWK Health Centre have built a web-based app to help people change their behaviors to help improve their mood. We are looking for participants all around Canada to use it and tell us what they think about it. If you are, or know someone: Who is 14-40 years old? Who sometimes feels sad, down, or depressed and/or has little interest in doing things? Who often feels like gambling? This is a Canada wide study and there is no need to travel, as all study activities take place...
Discussion Topic

Is Screen Time Hurting Your Heart?

Registered Member ·
A recent publication from the American Hearth Association (AHA) has reiterated a commonly understood link between sedentary behaviour and heart disease. What's interesting is that they link it to the amount of time we spend in front of our screens. Longitudinal studies among adults show that increases in key indicators of sedentary behavior, including screen time and sitting time, are associated with an increased risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular disease. As our screen time continues...
Discussion Topic

Young people think they spend too much time on their cellphones

Registered Member ·
Pew research released an interesting study about screen time that finds that roughly half of U.S. teens say they spend too much time on their cellphones and about the same proportion say they have tried to cut down. Similarly, 57% had tried to cut down on social media and 58% tried to cut down on video gaming. The report also includes information about parents own use of technology and how they feel about screen time for their children. This is timely given the recent announcement from Apple...
Discussion Topic

Cell Phones in Classrooms

Registered Member ·
Well, it's back to school time so it got me thinking about the ongoing challenge educators have with how to deal with cell phone use in classrooms. Maclean's magazine featured an article, "Should schools welcome cell phones in class?" by Michelle McQuigge. She wrote that research indicates that incorporating cell phones into class with guidelines and teaching students when and how to use the technology appropriately is more effective than banning the cell phones from class altogether. What...
Discussion Topic

YouTube - a step in the right direction?

Registered Member ·
This week, YouTube announced new features that can help users track their usage to help manage their "digital well-being." Features: track time spent watching videos set auto-reminders to take a break set notifications to only once a week Is this a step in the right direction for YouTube? https://youtube.googleblog.com/2018/08/tools-to-take-charge-of-your-digital.html
Discussion Topic

Screen time and ADHD

Registered Member ·
ADHD is a risk factor for developing problem technology use. There has also been some discussion in the popular media about whether screen time causes ADHD. Leonard Sax, a psychologist and author (Boys Adrift) who spoke at our forum in 2017 was featured in an article in Psychology Today titled, "Does Too Much Screen Time Really Cause ADHD?". In the article, he refers to a study, the first of its kind on the topic. Take a look at the article and see what you think.
Discussion Topic

Webinar: Mental Health and Well-Being Among Ontario Students

Registered Member ·
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’s Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS) recently released it's 2017 survey results. The report describes physical health indicators, mental health indicators, bullying, gambling and related problems, video gaming and related problems, and other risk behaviours among Ontario students in 2017 and changes since 1991, where available. A few survey highlights on gambling, gaming and technology use: About 7% of secondary school students...
Discussion Topic

RCMP Youth Trends Report Fall 2018

Registered Member ·
This was forwarded to me, via email, and i am passing it along. There is a lot of great information to help us understand our youth and technology better.
Discussion Topic

Teens and Social Media, suprising results?

Registered Member ·
Common Sense Media did a survey about teens and social media. The results indicated that teens felt social media made them feel better about themselves. Interestingly, they also noted that for youth who were already having a difficulty time, social media made them feel worse. Check out the infographic for information about teens and distracted driving and other aspects of their social media use.
Discussion Topic

Screen time, social media and tech use among Ontario high school students: Webinar this Thursday!

Registered Member ·
Why are 20% of Ontario high school students spending 5 hours or more everyday on electronic devices in their spare time? To hear more about screen time, social media use and other findings from the 2017 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS) register for this webinar this Thursday September 27 th from 1-2:30pm (EDT). Target audience: Public health, teachers, policy-makers , mental health leads, counsellors, and service providers. REGISTER HERE: https://OSDUHS-2017.eventbrite.com
Discussion Topic

How to Improve Screening for Problem Gambling - Recruiting for Concept Mapping Study

Registered Member ·
Are you a health care or service provider? If so, please share your thoughts with St. Michael’s Hospital and U of T researchers on ways to improve screening for problem gambling. We are looking for a wide range of health care and service providers. You can participate in-person at group brainstorming sessions held at the University of Toronto, or online on your own time. Those who take part will be eligible to win a food basket and/ or an iPad. Please contact our research team at...
Discussion Topic

Gambling, Gaming, and Technology Use Knowledge Exchange

Registered Member ·
This link just came across my emails this morning. It is a Family Media Plan and Media Time Calculator. This helps families set personalized goals and rules around tech time. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/media/Pages/default.aspx
Discussion Topic

Canucks players put in video game ban on the road

Registered Member ·
I heard this on the news while driving into work this morning. The news article states that the Vancouver Canucks have decided that: “ No more Fortnite. No more bringing video games on the road. It’s strictly team meals, team dinners and hanging out with the guys. So we put an end to that. ” Canucks players put in video game ban on the road I liked that the article specifically talks about the importance of spending face to face time together. Working in this field, we constantly see the...
Discussion Topic

Lots of video gaming online: problem ?

Registered Member ·
hi there - my 20 year old son is playing a lot of video games online. It is a social thing as he is almost always talking to people around the world that are his friends on the different games. He can play in the night, wake up, have breakfast, sleep for a while, and not be on til the next night. He is in college and has been working part time too, but not so much as school is back. He has friends in our home location he sees in person very often during the week. But when he is not online on...
Discussion Topic

CBC News for Kids

Registered Member ·
CBC Kids News CBC has recently launched a website that has video and text stories geared towards kids. They include stories that recap Kanye West's visit tot he White House, and a turtle that has a wheelchair made from Lego. Of interest, they have some tech concern stories in the mix, including news about screen time, cyber bullying and the regret that some feel after posting pictures online. Check it out!
Discussion Topic

Gambling and Cannabis Use in Youth and Young Adults Survey

Registered Member ·
Hello, we are a group of researchers, educators, and trainees at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC). We are working towards creating new content for current educational programs provided to Ontario high schools, colleges and universities about gambling and cannabis use in youth and young adults. Please note this is not a research project. We have created a survey to assist us in how best to incorporate the most current research...
Discussion Topic

60 minutes interview

Registered Member ·
CBS reviews research that is being done on the impact of screen time on youth This is how CBS introduces this segment on their website: "If you have kids and wonder if all that time they spend on their smartphones endlessly scrolling, snapping and texting is affecting their brains, you might want to put down your own phone and pay attention" They interview several researchers who are spearheading different studies on the impact of screen time on our brains and the impact of the "bells and...
Discussion Topic

Gambling and Cannabis Use in Youth and Young Adults Survey

Registered Member ·
Thank you to everyone who participated in our Gambling and Cannabis Use in Youth and Young Adults survey. Your feedback has been invaluable! For those who are interested and would like to participate in our short online survey, you can do so until December 31, 2018 -5:00pm (EST). https://edc.camhx.ca/redcap/surveys/?s=CKXRA4L7HA we are a group of researchers, educators, and trainees at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC). We are...
Discussion Topic

Parents should worry less about screen time, says UK doctors

Registered Member ·
I was in England over the Christmas break and the topic of screen time for children came up, which caught my attention for both personal and work reasons. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health says parents should take a balanced approach to screen time and that it cannot be prescriptive. This is different from Canadian guidance which recommends no screen time for children under 2 and only one hour a day for children 2-4 years old. You can read the full article here.
Discussion Topic

Searching for ways to improve screening problem gambling

Registered Member ·
St. Michael’s and U of T are looking for health-care providers to take part in a research study Are you a health-care provider? If so, please share your thoughts with St. Michael’s and University of Toronto researchers on ways to improve screening for problem gambling. We are looking for a wide range of health-care and service providers. In-person or online sorting and rating sessions will be held at U of T. Those who take part will be eligible to win a gourmet food basket. Contact Amanda...
Discussion Topic

Oppositional Defiance or Faulty Neuroception?

Registered Member ·
An interesting study on Oppositional Defiance. The steps suggested seem overly simple and I look forward to reading the book when its released, where this is explained in greater detail for parents. Healthier use of screen time is mentioned briefly, and there's certainly more information needed in how it relates ODD and its triggered response in children. https://www.monadelahooke.com/oppositional-defiance-faulty-neuroception/
Discussion Topic

The first long-term study on how screen time affects children's brains

Registered Member ·
The National Institutes of Health are currently conducting a study on over 11,000 children to look at the long-term effects of screen time. Preliminary findings show that children who use screens for more than 2 hours a day score lower on language and thinking skills. It will be interesting to see what else is uncovered as this study continues, including whether changes are dependent on what the screen is being used for and/or on the child's developmental stage. Read the full article here .
Discussion Topic

And the debate continues: Study links excessive screen time to developmental delays in children

Registered Member ·
This Canadian Study found that "one in four Canadian children are not developmentally ready for school by the time they start kindergarten, and that excessive screen time may be a key contributor". The study found that children were watching television or using digital devices for an average of 2.4 hours a day at age two, 3.6 hours at age three, and 1.6 hours at age five. The article references back to a statement (posted here earlier) released by Britain’s Royal College of Paediatrics and...
Discussion Topic

Data show no evidence that teens' social media use predicts depression over time

Registered Member ·
Longitudinal data from adolescents and young adults show no evidence that social media use predicts later depressive symptoms. However, the findings do show that relatively higher depressive symptoms predicted later social media use among adolescent girls. This research stands in contrast with recent claims that adolescents' use of social media may lead to depression, claims based primarily on studies that examined associations between average social media use and average well-being measured...
Discussion Topic

Sit less, play more: WHO wades in on screen time use for children

Registered Member ·
The debate over just how much screen time is OK for young children rages on. Now the World Health Organization (WHO) has issued its latest guidelines : no screen time for babies under 1 and no more than 1 hour a day for kids 1-4 years old. Kids should be more active and sleep more, rather than engage in passive screen time, which can lead to health problems later on in life. The main concern is the impact of physical inactivity - of which sedentary screen time is a part - on the risk of...
Discussion Topic

Webinar: Gambling Expansion & Public Policy

Registered Member ·
Interested in learning about gambling expansion and public policy in Ontario ? Join our upcoming webinar with CAMH Senior Policy Analyst JF Crépault on June 18 from 12-1 pm Eastern Time: https://www.eenetconnect.ca/g/gambling-gaming-technology-use/event/webinar-gambling-expansion-and-public-policy
Discussion Topic

Sleep problems in teenagers reversed in just one week by limiting screen use

Registered Member ·
Sleep in teenagers can be improved by just one week of limiting their evening exposure to light-emitting screens on phones, tablets and computers. The study indicates that by simply limiting their exposure to blue-light emitting devices in the evening, adolescents can improve their sleep quality and reduce symptoms of fatigue, lack of concentration and bad mood, after just one week. Those who had more than 4 hours per day of screen time had on average 30 minutes later sleep onset and wake up...
Discussion Topic

Too much screen time for the kids? Grandparents may also be complicit

Registered Member ·
Grandparents have long been associated with letting their grandchildren do things their parents would never permit. Candy. Extended bedtime. Too much television. Carefree fun. They like to spoil their grandchildren. A new study by Rutgers and other researchers finds that today's grandparents are still true to their traditional fun-loving image -- allowing their grandchildren, while under their supervision, to spend about half of their time on a mobile phone, tablet, computer or TV. The study...
Discussion Topic

Social media, but not video games, linked to depression in teens, according to Montreal study

Registered Member ·
Screen time — and social media in particular — is linked to an increase in depressive symptoms in teenagers, according to a new study by researchers at Montreal's Sainte-Justine Hospital. Conrod and her colleague, Elroy Boers, found that the increased symptoms of depression are linked to being active on platforms such as Instagram, where teens are more likely to compare their lives to glitzy images in their feeds. The most surprising finding for Boers was that time spent playing video games...
Discussion Topic

Addicted to Fortnite? Montreal law firm says video game company should pay up

Registered Member ·
Interesting read. A Montreal legal firm has requested authorization to launch a class-action lawsuit against the widely popular video game Fortnite. The legal notice was filed on behalf of the parents of two minors, aged 10 and 15. The article also states as part of their claim that the video game company purposely designs the games to be as addictive as possible. The article says that when players play the game they agree to the following: "To play the game, users must give up the right to...
Discussion Topic

Panicking About Your Kids Phones? New Research Says Don’t

Registered Member ·
A growing number of academics are challenging assumptions about the negative effects of social media and smartphones on children. SAN FRANCISCO — It has become common wisdom that too much time spent on smartphones and social media is responsible for a recent spike in anxiety, depression and other mental health problems, especially among teenagers. But a growing number of academic researchers have produced studies that suggest the common wisdom is wrong. The latest research, published on...
Reply

Re: Teens in Urban Regions Are More Likely To Experience Problem Video Gaming

Registered Member ·
Great question @Registered Member. I wonder as gaming and smart phone use get more recognition, there will be more references in pop culture, which will in turn bring more awareness to the issues. Just this month in GQ magazine, there was an article on cutting back on smart phone use that included several practical strategies including turning your phone to grey scale. Apparently seeing apps/pictures/games etc in grey scale is less appealing and people were found to reduce their phone screen...
Reply

Re: ADHD study links teens' symptoms with digital media use

Registered Member ·
Hi Elaine; I have a 21 year old son with ADHD since he was young, and am interested in how you did full detox on gaming, if you would be able to share this ? I am fully prepared to believe the gaming may have made the ADHD worse, so do you think the lack of symptoms could be directly related now ? My son is thinking he does not have a problem, how did you diagnose and treat your son ? Thank you.
Reply

Re: ADHD study links teens' symptoms with digital media use

Registered Member ·
I'm happy to share my experience, Suzie. It's a long story (I actually wrote a book about it). I did see my son exhibit ADHD symptoms during his worst crisis period with video gaming addiction and we can talk about that. How about we speak over the phone rather than on this forum. Please email me ar ElaineUskoski@gmail.com and we'll set up a time to talk that works for both of us.
Reply

Re: Man admitted to clinic in India for "Netflix Addiction"

Registered Member ·
Sometimes, it's easy to focus on a single issue instead of looking at the big picture. My first thought was on why he lost his job - for organizational or individual reasons. People can have a hard time reflecting on their own stuff and want to blame others for things that happen. These cases are complex, with complex underpinnings - could be trauma, relationships, biological factors, so many things. There's really no way of knowing until he in treatment. People do what works for them until...
Reply

Re: 60 minutes interview

Registered Member ·
Interesting question Beth, I wish I could ask questions all day and someday see the answers to them. On this particular topic, I would have several questions, one of them being: How does one hour of screen time a day impact children 0-2 later on in childhood? I know the recommendation is that there should be no screen time until they are 2 years old, but I find as a mom of a 1.5 year old that the recommendation is just not feasible. I do try and limit screen time, but I am always curious...
Reply

Re: 60 minutes interview

Registered Member ·
I've always loved this debate! I've always been pro-screen time but as Twenge states in the article, "it should be a tool you use. Not a tool that uses you." There are a few arguments I want to make here - having worked with children with developmental disabilities, I've seen first hand the benefits of using iPADs. Whether it be for learning receptive-identifying skills, developing fine/gross-motor skills, using video modeling to teach tasks, or tacting responses, digital applications make...
Reply

Re: The first long-term study on how screen time affects children's brains

Registered Member ·
It will be interesting to see if they control for things like income and other social determinants of health. I have a sense that it might be more likely for parents with fewer resources to use the phone/TV as a coping strategy, especially if they don't have as much support as other more affluent parents.
Reply

Re: The first long-term study on how screen time affects children's brains

Registered Member ·
Hi Nimira, You make an excellent point. Another thing to consider, on the opposite spectrum, is that many middle class to upper class schools now utilize tablets and laptops as part of the school curriculum. Does the content matter? Or is it just screen time. I wonder if the added family resources outside of school, that may support vacations, hobbies and sports (events away from screen time) and resources that support enhanced learning, is large enough to combat the effects of increased...
Reply

Re: The first long-term study on how screen time affects children's brains

Registered Member ·
I was just about to say that Aaron! Content matters! This has been an ongoing debate and I'm afraid I'm on the pro-screen time. I find these studies skewed... "If you give a child an app where they play with virtual Legos, virtual blocks, and stack them, and then put real blocks in front of them, they start all over," Why would you test block-building capacity and say this skill isn't transferable when using real blocks? Seems pretty obvious. I'm sure if you tested for non gross motor skills...
Reply

Re: Bell Let's Talk - part of the problem?

Registered Member ·
With Bell ,there were Incredible Long-distance Bills many struggled to pay over decades of people calling family members and friends to talk about problems. Way past time for Bell to send Billions to badly needed Mental Health Services. I worked in Supportive Housing -where are the new buildings and Group Homes?Family and Friends often fall-away and abandon people who have problems or seem different or weird. Been reading NOW Magazine since the start as a source of Free or Low-cost...
 
CAMH Logo

This website has been funded by a grant from the Government of Ontario.
The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Ontario.
×
×
×
×