New Books in Science, Technology, and Society

Brain Rot: How Screens Affect the Minds of Young Adults (4)

Mar 16, 2025

Dr. Harry Gill, a renowned psychiatrist with a PhD in neuroscience, joins the discussion on how excessive screen time can negatively impact young adults' mental health and social skills. He emphasizes the importance of face-to-face interactions during critical developmental phases, warning against the dangers of pseudo intimacy formed through screens. Dr. Gill and host Dr. Karyne Messina share alarming studies linking high social media usage to increased anxiety and depression, urging listeners to cherish real-life connections for a healthier mind.

49:18

Episode guests

Dr. Harry Gill

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Excessive screen time negatively impacts the prefrontal cortex, essential for social interaction and decision-making, hindering young adults' development.

Prioritizing real-life connections over virtual interactions fosters emotional well-being, combats isolation, and enhances overall mental health among individuals.

Deep dives

The Impact of Screen Time on Young Adults

Excessive screen time negatively affects the brain development of young adults, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making and social interaction. During young adulthood, individuals are navigating the challenges of forming an identity and establishing intimate connections with others. However, reliance on screens for social interaction often creates a false sense of intimacy while promoting isolation, as true emotional connections are compromised. This diminishing ability to form meaningful relationships can lead to mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, further exacerbated by the seductive refuge screens provide.

Intro

1min

The Impact of Screen Time on Young Adults

13min

The Impact of Screen Time on Social Interaction and Mental Wellness

5min

Navigating the Screen Squeeze

15min

Navigating Social Skills and Work Preferences Post-Pandemic

2min

Braver Conversations: The Power of Civil Dialogue

10min

In this episode Dr. Karyne Messina, a New Books Network host, and Dr. Harry Gill discussed the negative effects of excessive screen time on young adults' mental health and development, emphasizing the importance of face-to-face interactions and shared experiences. They focused on Erik Erickson’s first phase of adulthood which is the Intimacy versus Isolation phase from neuroscience and psychoanalytic perspectives.

Dr. Gill talked about the prefrontal cortex of our brains that continue to wire until age 25. This doesn’t happen in an optimal way when people are passively tuned into screens. He highlighted the importance of connecting with real people versus social media “friends.” He also said that humans are much more prone to isolate as opposed to being in intimate relationships which takes work. He added that meeting on a screen promotes pseudo intimacy that is not an adequate substitute for being with a real person.

Dr. Messina discussed a study that found adults who spend 6 hours a day or more on social media platforms tend to be much more depressed and anxious. She also mentioned that one of her middle-aged patients who gave up all social media activity, realized much to his surprise that he had 25 to 30 extra hours a week to do things he really enjoyed.

They both talked about the benefits of turning off phones and televisions early in the evening so that a person, couple or family can have quality time participating in some type of meaningful activity versus watching or reading what people on screens are saying or doing. The also discussed how blue light emitted by screens interferes with the production of melatonin which prevents people from falling asleep.

Another topic included was ways to mitigate problems associated with too much screen time. Dr. Messina focused on the importance of community which she thinks is important at all ages. If getting together in person isn’t possible, talking with a friend on the phone is better than using this device for passive purposes such as scrolling through social media posts. Dr. Gill reminded people how important it is to meet in person and said some of his patients have actually enjoyed going back to work full-time once they got used to it again.

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