253: Digital Heroin: Screens Are Damaging Our Children's Brains | Dr. Nicholas Kardaras
Jan 9, 2024
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Dr. Nicholas Kardaras, an expert in screens' impact, discusses how screen time affects children's brains, comparing it to addictive drugs. Topics include challenges of diagnosing screen-related problems, effects on brain functioning and behavior, negative impact of social media on mental health, and the influence of echo chambers and algorithms on extreme viewpoints.
Excessive screen time affects children's brain development similar to drug usage.
Social media comparison can lead to mental health issues and identity crises in young individuals.
Delaying screen time for young children is crucial for healthy development and educational progress.
Deep dives
Digital Media's Impact on Children's Brain Development
The podcast discusses the harmful effects of excessive screen time on children's brain development. The host highlights brain imaging studies that show similarities between the neurophysiological effects of screen time and chronic drug usage. Specifically, the prefrontal cortex, responsible for decision-making, begins to shrink and atrophy in chronic substance abusers, leading to impulsiveness. The podcast emphasizes the importance of raising healthy children in a multi-generational vision and the need to recognize that screen usage goes deeper than just a preference.
The Unique Challenges of Diagnosing Media Addiction
The episode delves into the challenges of diagnosing media addiction, as media technology rapidly advances. The host raises the question of whether there is a historical parallel with other addictive substances, such as alcohol or heroin, where discoveries of their harmful effects came after significant societal usage. The episode highlights the immersive and interactive nature of modern digital media, as opposed to passive television watching of the past. The host emphasizes the need to understand the developmental implications, particularly for children, whose impulse control is not fully formed yet
Social Media's Impact on Mental Health and Identity
The podcast explores the detrimental effects of social media on mental health and identity. The host discusses the social comparison effect, whereby social media presents idealized selves that can contribute to depression and feelings of inadequacy. The episode also delves into the influence of social media influencers who construct performative, toxic narratives around psychiatric issues. This influencer-driven content can shape young people's sense of identity and values. Additionally, the podcast mentions the alarming increase in rates of gender dysphoria and dissociative identity disorder, which may be influenced by social contagion effects on social media.
The impact of early exposure to screens on children's development
One of the main issues discussed in the podcast is the negative impact of early exposure to screens on children's development. The speaker emphasizes the importance of delaying screen time for young children, as research shows that it hinders their ability to develop self-control and handle devices responsibly. The podcast highlights how schools have been giving screens to children at increasingly younger ages due to a misguided educational arms race, but this approach is not ideal for children's well-being and educational research supports delaying screen usage. The speaker provides an example of finding a balance by allowing kids to have a non-wifi compatible phone, called a gab phone, in middle school for transitional years, and gradually introducing smartphones in high school while setting boundaries on social media and gaming.
The harmful effects of excessive screen time on reading and critical thinking
Another key point addressed in the podcast is the detrimental effect of excessive screen time on reading habits and critical thinking skills. The speaker references studies that demonstrate a decline in reading enjoyment and volume among young people due to increased screen usage. The podcast highlights the impact of hyper-stimulating digital content on attention span, making it difficult for individuals, including adults, to focus and engage in reading. Additionally, the podcast emphasizes how social media algorithms, designed to maximize emotional reactivity, contribute to the decline in critical thinking and nuanced discourse. The speaker suggests that finding ways to foster meaning, purpose, and real-world engagement can help mitigate the allure of digital escapism and promote healthier habits.
Dr. Nicholas Kardaras is an Ivy League educated psychologist, one of the country’s foremost addiction and mental health experts and the bestselling author of Glow Kids. A former clinical professor at Stony Brook Medicine, he’s developed treatment programs all over the country, has written for TIME Magazine, Scientific American, Salon and Psychology Today, and has appeared on Good Morning America, ABC's 20/20, CNN, the CBS Evening News, PBS, NPR, FOX & Friends and in Esquire and Vanity Fair. He lives in Sag Harbor, NY with his wife and twin sons.
