The 9 Warning Signs of Screen Time Addiction and What You Can Do About It
If your kids have access to any kind of digital screen, you probably think they’re addicted. After all, it seems almost impossible for them to stop watching, playing, or texting.
But signs of screen time addiction are actually distinct — and they aren’t necessarily tied to how much time your kids spend on their smartphones, tablets, or computers, say researchers at the University of Michigan Center for Human Growth & Development in a recent study.
Instead, it’s how kids use their devices that’s the strongest indicator of whether they’re having emotional or social problems connected with screen addiction, according to the UMCHGD scientists.
“Typically, researchers and clinicians quantify or consider the amount of screen time as of paramount importance in determining what is normal or not normal or healthy or unhealthy,” said lead author Sarah Domoff. “Our study has demonstrated that there is more to it than the number of hours. What matters most is whether screen use causes problems in other areas of life or has become an all-consuming activity.”
Domoff believes the study is the first tool in the U.S. to measure screen media addiction in children ages 4–11. It could also change how parents think about monitoring screen time. You might be more flexible with the amount of time you’re allowing your kids to spend with their gadgets as long as you don’t see these problems crop up.
What matters most is whether screen use causes problems in other areas of life or has become an all-consuming activity
The study pinpoints nine specific behaviors to look for:
If you spot any of these warning signs in your kids, here’s what you can do about it:
Unsuccessful Control
Track how much time your kids are spending on their devices and give them the tools to monitor their own usage so they get better at time management. Awareness of time spent is the first building block. Our Kids app shows kids how much time they’ve spent online and on which apps. Meanwhile, our Parental app lets parents limit overall entertainment screen time on any device with a couple of clicks.
Helpful tip: Tracking screen time minutes is key to encouraging healthy use
How unGlue can help: Entertainment Time and Kids app
Loss of Interest
Have a real conversation with your kids about the content that they’re consuming so much and why they’re so obsessed with it. It may help you understand their motivation and figure a way to offer an alternative.
Helpful tip: Understanding what your kids are doing on their devices will help with the conversation
How unGlue can help: Activity report
Preoccupation
Similarly, if your kids don’t seem to think about anything else besides screen time, you’ll want to find out why. For example, they may be obsessed with checking social media because they’re getting bullied at school or going through some other trouble that they’re hesitant to talk about.
Helpful tip: Excessive time spent on social media, videos or games should be investigated
How unGlue can help: Activity report
Psychosocial Consequences
Put firmer boundaries on when your kids can use their devices, especially during family meals or other important events. Set schedules for screen time use. Make times when everybody in the family (parents included!) must be device-free.
Helpful tip: Communicate and agree, even using a written agreement, when devices should be off limits
How unGlue can help: Turn OFF all devices with one button to enforce agreed upon times
Serious Problems Due to Use
Sit down with your kids and explain how their behavior is affecting the whole family. Encourage better behavior by trading more time doing chores or physical activity for more time on their devices. Get everyone to sign a Family Media Agreement for responsible screen-time use.
Helpful tip: It’s a fact: Your kids want more time. Give them a way to earn it on your terms
How unGlue can help: Chores for time. Let your kids earn screen time by helping out around the house
Withdrawal
Organize activities where your kids can be social with their friends and family members — without having to be on their phones. This might be going for a run or a hike or a swim, or some other physical activity where it’s hard to check your devices. It’s especially powerful if they earn something they want (more screen time, of course) while doing the activity.
Helpful tip: Like with any addiction, motivation helps with withdrawal symptoms
How unGlue can help: Steps for Time. Let your kids earn screen time while getting in more physical exercise.
Tolerance
Media is created to be addicting, whether it’s videos, games, or social media. To make things worse, kids usually have very little sense of time. They can play video games for 4 hours straight and not even realize it
Helpful tip: Kids must learn that time is limited and comes with some cost. Alerting your kids before they run out of their allotted screen time helps them adjust and keep to a schedule.
How unGlue can help: Notifying kids before their time is out
Deception
If your child is determined to sneak around your rules, they’ll probably find a way to do it. The best approach is to involve your kids in deciding how much screen time they should have so they don’t feel tempted to go behind your back.
Helpful tip: Apps that rely on “parental controls” don’t usually work because they don’t teach your kids to learn healthier habits on their own over the long-term
How unGlue can help: Our Kids app puts the solution in their hands so they have some ownership over their screen time and, therefore, are less tempted to sneak around
Escape/Relieve Mood
Give your kids more tools to be self reliant. Encourage them to use their imagination rather than relying on media to entertain themselves, such as through play and games that don’t involve high technology. Raise your kids to love to read so they’re not always seeking out a screen for entertainment.
Helpful tip: Collaborate with your kids to help them understand the difference between helpful and educational online content and other content that’s just mindless and addictive
How unGlue can help: Our Entertainment Time feature bundles “fun content” together in a single bucket so you can simply turn it on and off, depending on your child’s schedule. Need to do homework? Sure. Want to spent time on Entertainment? Nope.
By Alon Shwartz,
CEO & Co-founder of unGlue and a father of three
http://www.unGlue.com
unGlue is the world’s first collaborative technology that empowers people to manage their digital distraction and screen addiction
