The ManKind Podcast 219 - The Hidden Costs of Screen Addiction and How to Reclaim Your Life with Dr. Michael Eiden
Aug 5, 2025
Dr. Michael Eiden, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Board-Certified Sex Therapist, shares insights on the hidden costs of screen addiction. He highlights how excessive screen use hampers social skills and emotional growth in children and adults alike. Eiden provides practical tips for parents to enforce healthy screen habits, such as device-free zones. He discusses the importance of addressing screen habits in relationships through compassionate communication. Boredom is repositioned as a creative tool, emphasizing its role in enhancing mental well-being and family dynamics.
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Smartphone Impact on Development
- The smartphone transformed technology from a tool into a constant summon with notifications and cameras.
- Kids exposed to smartphones before 18 develop differently, often lacking non-screen social skills and distress tolerance.
Early Warning Signs of Screen Addiction
- Lack of distress tolerance and diminished executive function are early signs of harmful screen use.
- Avoiding boredom and always using auditory stimuli like earbuds can indicate unhealthy tech dependence.
Use Family Experiments for Recovery
- Approach screen addiction as a family experiment where everyone reduces non-essential tech use.
- Abstinence periods vary by age: days for toddlers, weeks for children, months for teens.
