Think
Explore
Smartphones, computers, tablets, and now even car head units are some of the screens we encounter in our daily digital lives. We can access useful information from these screens to aid us in tasks, increase our knowledge, or for entertainment. However, like everything in life, moderation in use is required for a healthy lifestyle.
Are you addicted to your screen? CNN reports that 50% of teens self-report that they are addicted to screens. Do you exhibit any of the following symptoms of screen addiction?
A. Fatigue
B. Esotropia
C. Wrist and Finger Injury
D. Neck and Spine Injuries
E. Phantom Vibration Syndrome (PVS)
F. Increased Stress
G. Lower Mental Acuity
H. Shortening of Attention Span
I. Feeling of Missing Out (FOMO)
Here are four actions you can take to reduce your screen addiction:
1. Admit the Problem
2. Set a Timer for Screen Use
3. Turn Off Notifications for Unimportant Applications
4. Exercise and Hobbies
Read about the detailed impacts of each of these symptoms in the Preventing Screen Addiction blog post
Links
- 50% of Teens Feel They are Addicted to their Mobile Devices | CNN (2016)
- Time Spend on Smartphone Everyday Worldwide in 2017 | Statista
- 5 Ways to Stop Technology Addiction | Reader’s Digest
- Screen Addiction: What Are We Looking For? | Psychology Today (2018)
- Screen Addiction Among Teens: Is There Such A Thing? | NPR (2018)
- How Screen Addiction Is Damaging Kids’ Brains | Vice (2016)
Discuss
The Digital Tattoo Project encourages critical discussion on topics surrounding digital citizenship and online identity. There are no correct answers and every person will view these topics from a different perspective. Be sure to complete the previous sections before answering the questions.
- Do you think that it is possible to remove a dependency on screens for activities like communication or work?
- Can you think of analog activities that could replace tasks completed on screens? What are the pros and cons of each method?
- How much time per day do you think is a healthy amount of time spent on a smartphone?
It is possible to remove the computer from communication and work. It is hard for people who are regular user of eletrical devices. Within 5 hours is a healthy amount of time spent on the mobile phone.