New Books in Psychology cover image

New Books in Psychology

Brain Rot: What Screens Are Doing to Our Minds (1)

Jan 22, 2025
Dr. Harry Gill, a prominent psychiatrist with a PhD in neuroscience, joins host Dr. Karyne Messina to delve into the alarming impacts of excessive screen time. They explore how constant digital stimulation fosters isolation and addiction, particularly among children and adolescents. The conversation highlights the deterioration of social skills, the spread of misinformation, and the necessity of interactive play for emotional development. Together, they provide insights into managing screen habits and preserving mental health in a tech-driven world.
46:25

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Excessive screen time disrupts critical early development in infants, impeding attachment, trust, and essential self-regulation skills.
  • Prolonged exposure to screens fosters addictive behaviors in children and adolescents, undermining their executive functioning and time management abilities.

Deep dives

The Impact of Screen Time on Early Development

Excessive screen exposure during infancy can severely hinder the development of critical attachment and trust. Infants need face-to-face interaction with caregivers to establish secure bonds, which screens cannot provide. The overuse of screens can lead to overstimulation, preventing infants from developing essential skills for self-regulation and attention. Consequently, this lack of engagement may have long-lasting effects, setting the stage for future developmental challenges.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode