So, I’ve now gone through why I think that technology can be “addictive,” (see previous posts An Addiction vs. A Problem and The Neuroscience of Tech Addiction) although I think it is important to not got get too hung up on the exact terminology. It is typically easier to discern whether it is a problem by …Read More
The Problem of Technology “Addiction” – The Neuroscience of Tech Addiction
Mar 21, 2011
Before we even tackle why various technologies can be addictive, a clear concern about Facebook, texting, email, video games, etc. is that they can become so compelling that we stop engaging in other need-satisfying activities. To borrow a term from the economic world, any technology that we become enamored with creates an “opportunity cost.” What aren’t we …Read More
The Problem of Technology “Addiction” – An Addiction vs. A Problem
Mar 8, 2011
I was recently interviewed on KXAN regarding technology addiction. Too much technology may tweak your life: kxan.com Given some of the constraints inherent in a TV news cast, I thought I’d follow up with some additional thoughts on this fascinating and timely topic. I’ve presented on the topic of technology addiction to various schools around Austin, and …Read More
Digital Nation from Frontline News(video recommendation)
Mar 14, 2010
A friend told me about this news program from PBS’s Frontline, and I’d say it is a “must watch” for those interested in how technology is affecting our lives, those of kids and teens, and changing society as a whole. Frontline: Digital Nation The program covers many fascinating topics such as what technology is doing …Read More
Internet Addiction & Depression
Feb 13, 2010
As cited in a recent Reuters news article on MSNBC, a study by British scientists published in the journal Psychopathology found that people who spend a lot of time on the Internet are more depressed than those who don’t. In this study, the researches analyzed the Internet use of 1,319 Britons between the ages of …Read More
Curbing Your Spending
Feb 17, 2009
The temptations to spend in our capitalist society are enormous. More is better, right? If we only had that shiny widget, then we would be happy! The reality is that happiness from spending is short-lived, and the misery and stress from overspending is a heavy price to pay. Part of the economic woes that we …Read More
Can Texting Be Damaging for Teens?
Jan 20, 2009
I was recently interviewed by Fox News here in Austin about whether excessive texting can be damaging for teens. Here is a link to that interview: http://www.myfoxaustin.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=EDCD902153D1F988A219AC848700B221?contentId=8257261&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1 Now, you have to qualify this by stating that I am still learning how to give a good interview. This was a live interview, and so it was …Read More
Cell Phone Follies
Jan 10, 2008
The next time you are driving and considering making a call (or answering one) on the cell, ask yourself whether this is really necessary. The temptation of using the cell phone while driving is like the call of the Siren. Yes, it’s fun to chat on the phone while we are driving. Sometimes we can …Read More