Finding Balance in a Finding Balance in a Tech WorldTech World

By By Mike Brooks, Ph.D., LSSPMike Brooks, Ph.D., LSSP

Licensed PsychologistLicensed PsychologistLicensed Specialist in School PsychologyLicensed Specialist in School Psychology

Director: Austin Psychology & Director: Austin Psychology & Assessment Center Assessment Center

(ApaCenter – www.ApaCenter.com)(ApaCenter – www.ApaCenter.com)

April 27, 2010April 27, 2010

You Have Zero FriendsYou Have Zero Friendshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LmAMa-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LmAMa-

SE8o&feature=relatedSE8o&feature=related

What We’ll CoverWhat We’ll Cover Tech Usage StatsTech Usage Stats Benefits of TechnologyBenefits of Technology Areas of ConcernAreas of Concern Tech AddictionTech Addiction Finding Balance: What can we do Finding Balance: What can we do

about it?about it?

A Few Introductory A Few Introductory ThoughtsThoughts

Technology isn’t good or bad – it just isTechnology isn’t good or bad – it just is Books are inherently better? No way!Books are inherently better? No way! Uses of a brick? Uses of a brick?

There’s no turning back, only moving There’s no turning back, only moving forwardforward

Parents: Don’t judge your teens!Parents: Don’t judge your teens! Teens: Don’t judge your parents!Teens: Don’t judge your parents! Caution: Our brains did not evolve to be Caution: Our brains did not evolve to be

in the world in which we now livein the world in which we now live

Tech Usage StatsTech Usage Stats Kaiser Family Foundation study found Kaiser Family Foundation study found

that kids ages 8-18that kids ages 8-18 Spend 7.5 hours per day using tech on Spend 7.5 hours per day using tech on

averageaverage Or 52.5 hours per weekOr 52.5 hours per week

270 minutes/day watching TV270 minutes/day watching TV 73 minutes/day playing video games73 minutes/day playing video games 90 minutes/day text messaging90 minutes/day text messaging 89 minutes/day in non-school computer use89 minutes/day in non-school computer use

Facebook Usage StatsFacebook Usage Stats More than 400 million active usersMore than 400 million active users Average user spends 55 minutes on FB per Average user spends 55 minutes on FB per

dayday 8 billion minutes spent on FB per day (or 8 billion minutes spent on FB per day (or

over 15,000 human years spent per day)over 15,000 human years spent per day) 50% of active users log on every day50% of active users log on every day 3 billion photos uploaded every month3 billion photos uploaded every month 100 million users access FB by mobile 100 million users access FB by mobile

devicesdevices Mobile users are 50% more active than non-Mobile users are 50% more active than non-

mobile usersmobile users

Benefits of TechnologyBenefits of Technology Benefits?: Your thoughts & examplesBenefits?: Your thoughts & examples FunFun Connections/Relationship BuildingConnections/Relationship Building Makes Life More EfficientMakes Life More Efficient Power/EsteemPower/Esteem Creativity/InnovationCreativity/Innovation Freedom & DiscoveryFreedom & Discovery Education/LearningEducation/Learning

New Technologies?New Technologies? DropboxDropbox iPad – anyone have one/want one?iPad – anyone have one/want one? Xbox Natal: Xbox Natal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=p2qlHoxPioMv=p2qlHoxPioM

Other technologies?Other technologies?

Areas of ConcernAreas of Concern Gaming – Can have benefits. Not proven to Gaming – Can have benefits. Not proven to

increase aggression, but potential is there.increase aggression, but potential is there. Sexting – You can be prosecuting for child Sexting – You can be prosecuting for child

pornography. It can spread and be there pornography. It can spread and be there FOREVER.FOREVER.

Tech Addictions – Lots of sources. It is a major Tech Addictions – Lots of sources. It is a major problem.problem.

Texting & Driving – 23x more likely to crash.Texting & Driving – 23x more likely to crash. Multitasking – we task switch.Multitasking – we task switch. Cyberbullying – Can devastate recipients. Cyberbullying – Can devastate recipients. Porn – Um, don’t look at it. It will rot your brain!Porn – Um, don’t look at it. It will rot your brain!

Tech Addiction – Tech Addiction – Is There Such a Thing?Is There Such a Thing?

My experiencesMy experiences Your experiences (without divulging Your experiences (without divulging

any private/embarrassing any private/embarrassing information!)information!)

What teens (& adults) tend to be What teens (& adults) tend to be getting addicted to…getting addicted to…

Tech AddictionsTech Addictions MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-playing MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-playing

Games)Games) WoW, Everquest II, LOTR Online, City of Heroes, Star WoW, Everquest II, LOTR Online, City of Heroes, Star

Wars Galaxies, Runescape, Guild Wars, Sims OnlineWars Galaxies, Runescape, Guild Wars, Sims Online Other video games – Halo 3, Modern Warfare 2, Guitar HeroOther video games – Halo 3, Modern Warfare 2, Guitar Hero Second LifeSecond Life Facebook, My Space, TwitterFacebook, My Space, Twitter FarmVilleFarmVille TextingTexting EmailEmail Blackberries, iPhoneBlackberries, iPhone YouTubeYouTube eBayeBay SurfingSurfing Porn Porn

A Problem of DefinitionA Problem of Definition

““Addiction” is a hypothetical constructAddiction” is a hypothetical construct No blood test for it or brain scan for it No blood test for it or brain scan for it

We can do brain scans and “see” addiction, but We can do brain scans and “see” addiction, but it still arbitrary as to when it crosses a thresholdit still arbitrary as to when it crosses a threshold

Is addiction merely describing an extreme range of a Is addiction merely describing an extreme range of a behavior or is it something more?behavior or is it something more? When does frequent engagement cross the magic When does frequent engagement cross the magic

threshold into addiction? threshold into addiction? What about someone who swims/plays an What about someone who swims/plays an

instrument 5 hours per day? instrument 5 hours per day? How do we know when/if we are “addicted” to tech?How do we know when/if we are “addicted” to tech? Examples? Do you have a “friend” who is addicted?Examples? Do you have a “friend” who is addicted?

Signs of AddictionSigns of Addiction Two classic signs apply to drugs/alcoholTwo classic signs apply to drugs/alcohol

Increased toleranceIncreased tolerance Physiological withdrawalPhysiological withdrawal

Significant negative functional impact Significant negative functional impact on at least 2 major life domainson at least 2 major life domains School/workSchool/work Friends, familyFriends, family Emotional well-beingEmotional well-being SleepSleep

Why Tech Can Be Why Tech Can Be AddictiveAddictive

Positive ReinforcementPositive Reinforcement Social comparisonSocial comparison Power/Esteem needs metPower/Esteem needs met Ease of accessEase of access AnonymityAnonymity FreedomFreedom VarietyVariety Social connectionsSocial connections DiscoveryDiscovery Find “flow” (i.e., get in “the zone”)Find “flow” (i.e., get in “the zone”) AnticipationAnticipation

This Is Your Brain This Is Your Brain on Techon Tech

Many “addictive” technologies have a the Many “addictive” technologies have a the “Vegas Effect” built into them (Tetris, “Vegas Effect” built into them (Tetris, Halo 3, texting, Facebook)Halo 3, texting, Facebook)

Anticipation– what Anticipation– what might might happen next?happen next? Dopamine, a pleasure chemical in the Dopamine, a pleasure chemical in the

brain, gets released when we are in a brain, gets released when we are in a state of anticipationstate of anticipation

Vegas, Baby!Vegas, Baby!http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=jxD3CtpsT3Qv=jxD3CtpsT3Q

The Vegas Effect & The Vegas Effect & “Addictive” Behaviors“Addictive” Behaviors

Gambling Gambling Fishing & huntingFishing & hunting Christmas? Easter egg hunts?Christmas? Easter egg hunts? American IdolAmerican Idol, , SurvivorSurvivor, , Project Project

RunwayRunway, , Top ChefTop Chef, & many other reality , & many other reality TV showsTV shows

Pokémon Cards and any card collectingPokémon Cards and any card collecting FB, My Space, Twitter, texting, email, FB, My Space, Twitter, texting, email,

etc.etc.

I got a Wii!!!!!!!!I got a Wii!!!!!!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=52V5MlEqBOcv=52V5MlEqBOc

Pokémon EcstasyPokémon Ecstasy http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=1PSvWR4dZKc&feature=relatedv=1PSvWR4dZKc&feature=related

Help!Help! Suggestions on managing my son’s Suggestions on managing my son’s

tech time?tech time?

Finding Balance with Finding Balance with TechTech

Don’t get hung up on whether Don’t get hung up on whether you are “addicted” you are “addicted” Ask yourself: Is it a problem?Ask yourself: Is it a problem?

When have you been happiest in When have you been happiest in life that doesn’t involve tech? life that doesn’t involve tech? What are real world activities What are real world activities that you find fun/engaging?that you find fun/engaging?Reconnect with those!Reconnect with those!

Finding Balance with Finding Balance with TechTech

Set some goals for grades, Set some goals for grades, sports, other hobbies, sports, other hobbies, homework time, income homework time, income generationgeneration

Prioritize themPrioritize them Determine how much tech time Determine how much tech time

would still allow you to reach would still allow you to reach those goalsthose goals

Track your tech timeTrack your tech time

Be Proactive About Tech Be Proactive About Tech TimeTime

Avoid tech/games (e.g., WoW) that Avoid tech/games (e.g., WoW) that inherently require lots of timeinherently require lots of time

Make tech less accessible Make tech less accessible No TV/game system in your bedroomNo TV/game system in your bedroom Turn off the alert/ringer on the cellTurn off the alert/ringer on the cell Don’t keep FB running in the Don’t keep FB running in the

background when onlinebackground when online Turn cell off at a certain time at night Turn cell off at a certain time at night

Be MindfulBe Mindful Mindfulness is being aware of thoughts, feelings, Mindfulness is being aware of thoughts, feelings,

behaviors, and sensations without judging thembehaviors, and sensations without judging them In a way, being mindful is the opposite of acting In a way, being mindful is the opposite of acting

impulsively or without thinkingimpulsively or without thinking Mindfulness exerciseMindfulness exercise Mindfulness allows you the space to:Mindfulness allows you the space to:

Ask if what you are doing helping you get what you Ask if what you are doing helping you get what you want? want?

Ask this question of yourself before you engage in an Ask this question of yourself before you engage in an activity – become an observer of your thoughts & activity – become an observer of your thoughts & behaviorsbehaviors

Readjust what you are doing to find balance & achieve Readjust what you are doing to find balance & achieve your goalsyour goals

You CAN have your cake & eat it too…if you work at this.You CAN have your cake & eat it too…if you work at this.