Caught in the Web

Understanding the rise of digital addiction

By Cal Abbo

Addiction comes in many forms. In the past, we’ve covered more visible and ruinous types of addiction, like substance abuse and gambling. There is, however, another issue that affects most adults and has had a scary impact on the younger generations: digital addiction.

Only in the past few decades has screen time become a serious problem. While a small portion of people became addicted to television when it got popular, it was a stationary device. Phones and computers, on the other hand, follow you wherever you go. Over the years, they’ve gained more and more features and functionality. Now, many popular apps are intentionally designed to keep your attention for as long as possible.

While they are still growing, children in particular are susceptible to the attention-grabbing effects of technology.

Crystal Jabiro Ed.S., a local 8th grade-school teacher with two teenage children of her own, knows the struggle from multiple perspectives, in her own family and in her classroom. “I’m 45. We had technology, we had TV and Nintendo, but the Internet was new when I was a teenager,” she said. “These kids now have grown up with that. When I saw an iPhone, I was an adult with children. For them, they grew up with it.”

In her work, Jabiro noticed that her students have much shorter attention spans now, and in her mind, it’s attributable to short-form videos that have taken over social media attention in the last five years. In 2018, TikTok became available in the United States and revolutionized how we spend time on the Internet. Very quickly, major platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat integrated a scrolling video feature to take advantage of the trend.

In 2019, videos represented just 33% of daily social network time among U.S. adults. In 2024, that number jumped to nearly 59%, and it’s almost certainly higher among teenagers. One study tracked how much screen time teens get per day. In 2015, they averaged 6 hours and 40 minutes. By 2021, after the arrival of COVID, that number spiked to 8 hours and 39 minutes as a result of boredom and isolation. Boys use screens on average about one hour more than girls, which is likely attributed to their use of video games.

Screen time can have drastically different effects depending on how you use your device. If you are working, reading, or educating yourself, screen time can actually make you more productive. On the other hand, TV, short-form videos, and video games are designed to have addictive qualities and keep their users glued for hours.

Certain health and wellness issues are also more prevalent after the explosion of screen time usage in modern times. Sleep issues are common as a result of blue light at unnatural times of the day. Decimated attention spans, social anxiety and depression, obesity, and many other problems have seen a huge spike because of the effect of technology. In addition, children can experience exacerbated problems with socialization.

“Many of them don’t even know what friends are anymore,” Jabiro said about her students. “They think if someone’s your friend on Snapchat then that’s your friend, but they don’t even speak a word to each other at school.”

A few years ago, Jabiro’s school banned cell phones entirely, and students are supposed to keep them in their locker. Even still, cell phone use at home hurts their education in a huge way. Students are more distracted than they were 20 years ago and, as a result, it’s much more difficult to teach them. For Jabiro, it all starts at home.

“These kids are very ‘instant gratification’,” she said. “I know it’s easy to have the kids play on the iPad while you’re making dinner, but it’s really become a babysitter for people. There are even kids watching YouTube during dinner.”

A creeping phenomenon has developed since young children started using technology. The advent of “iPad kids,” a generation of children who are already addicted to some kind of tablet, has reinvigorated a conversation about how early and often young children should use technology.

“I think it’s silly and obnoxious,” Jabiro said. “It’s very hurtful to kids. Thy need clear time limits and rules.”

Virtually all information is accessible to children with a simple search. That can include anything from illicit substances, sexual content, stereotypes and extremism, and any other misleading information. While laws technically restrict 18+ content, it’s exceedingly rare to have real age verification. Almost always, these websites will ask you to confirm you’re an adult without any recompense for lying.

“I have two kids. I didn’t allow them to use their phones constantly or when we were eating or things like that,” Jabiro said. “Now, I don’t have as much control, and they’re older teenagers, so I let go of these things.”

Jabiro gave her kids phones starting around 6th grade, mostly so she can confirm when they got home safe. She now recommends that most parents, aside from extenuating circumstances, wait until 8th grade to get phones for their kids.

“It’s very convenient to keep tabs on your kids and see where they are all the time,” she said. “When I was a kid, we were out all day on our bikes and didn’t come home until the sun went down. My grandma raised us and never asked us a question.”

Jabiro has other advice for parents. It would be good to establish a time, for example, when kids either can or cannot use technology. In addition, it should be restricted geographically, so they can’t have phones or tablets or laptops in the bedroom.

“People need to stop making excuses, too,” she said. “For example, my kids need a phone in their room for an alarm. Well, you can get an alarm clock or wake them up yourself. You can even get a phone without all the bells and whistles and one that’s restricted to calling certain phone numbers.”

Jenna Abroo, who works in human resources at Warren Consolidated Schools and often babysits for various family members, has seen firsthand the difference between parents who limit screen time and those who don’t.

“I have a set of cousins that are younger, they’re 2 and 4 years old,” she said. “With them, their parents really don’t let them watch TV. They don’t have tablets and they don’t let them play games on their phone. They have very limited screen time, and they are so easy to work with.”

Abroo’s parents didn’t give her or her brother unlimited screen time either. “I wasn’t allowed to use the computer unless it was for school until I got older,” she said. “We had a family laptop, but I didn’t even have my own personal computer until I went to college.”

When she did start attending Oakland University, Abroo realized that she would need to get her own screen time under control if she would be successful in college. There’s a feature on iPhones and most other devices that tracks your screen time across the different apps you use. Abroo used this to her advantage, and when she found that she was using nearly 8 hours per day, it kicked her into action.

“I started by trying to be mindful of how much time I was spending on my phone every day, on stupid things like Instagram, Twitter, or some games,” she said. “If I noticed myself sitting on the phone scrolling, I would purposely redirect myself to journaling or reading a book.”

In adults, addiction of any kind can be a major problem, and people can be addicted to just about anything. In recent issues, the Chaldean News covered substance abuse and gambling. These problems often become destructive and end in a downward spiral of social and financial ruin before the individual gets help.

Digital addiction, on the other hand, can be much more subtle. It can slowly take over someone’s life without giving away too many clues to family members or close friends. In its worst form, it can leave someone paralyzed with inaction and an inability to socialize or hold a job. There are, however, tools to keep oneself from going down this path.

According to the nonprofit Mental Health America, there is no one definition for Internet or digital addiction; however, it is generally agreed upon that people who are addicted to the Internet have trouble filling personal and professional obligations because of their online activities, and their use of the Internet causes strain on relationships with family and friends.

People who are addicted to the Internet often experience negative emotions or withdrawal symptoms when their Internet access is restricted. This is sometimes called Problematic Internet Use (PIU). Researchers estimate that 88.5% of Americans are Internet users and that 6% of people are addicted to the Internet.

They identify 5 different types of digital or Internet addiction, including: Cybersexual (cybersex and Internet porn); Net compulsions (online gambling, shopping, or stock trading); Cyber-relationships (social media, online dating, and other virtual communication); Gaming (online single player or MOG, multiplayer online games); and Information Seeking (web surfing or database searches).

People become addicted to the Internet because it is always available and gives them a rush. The combination of accessibility, control, and excitement feeds the addiction.

There is no single treatment for Internet or digital addiction. Some professionals classify it as obsessive-compulsive disorder while others relate it to an impulse control disorder. Treatment aims to create boundaries and balance around Internet usage and may restrict some kinds of games. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and group therapy are common treatments. Exercise is recommended as therapy; it also releases dopamine, so you still get that rush. Internet or digital addiction has been linked to other mental disorders, so it is best to seek help from a professional. More information may be found at mhanational.org.