How to prevent technology abuse in youth – Online Psychologists

The world has changed and young people today are growing up in a society that no longer resembles the one their parents remember. Education and the way of relating to others have been transformed. And, at the same time, we have also witnessed a change in the modes of entertainment that has favoured the abuse of technology.

Teenagers and children are increasingly starting to use social networks at an earlier age. And, if that weren't enough, They spend more and more time using themIn fact, according to data from Motorola, 50% of Argentine teenagers spend 12 hours a day with their mobile phone within reach.

In Spain the data are equally worrying. A study carried out by Caritas has shown that One third of teenagers between 12 and 17 years old spend more than six hours using their mobile phone.

These figures are even more worrying when one considers that almost half of the teenagers who use mobile phones excessively have failed at least three subjects.

The abuse of technology poses serious problems for our youth. It negatively affects your academic performance and your social life. And it can also have a detrimental effect on your self-perception.

Precisely for this reason, the Zubia Equality Centre, the town council and the Andalusian Government have made available to the public a manual whose objective is prevent technology abuse during youth.

The document is titled Gender-based prevention guide on problematic uses of ICTs in girls, boys and adolescentsAlthough its aim is to prevent harmful use of technology among young people, its authors do not intend to demonize technological progress or devices.

In fact, they recognize that ICTs have numerous positive effects on people's lives:

But to enjoy these positive effects, it is essential to be aware of the risks involved. Only then will it be possible to deal with these risks and neutralizing the negative potential of technologiesin order to make the most of its benefits.

When we talk about the abusive use of ICT we can refer to two types of behavior.

On the one hand, to the spending an excessive amount of time using a mobile phone, computer or other technological devices. On the other hand, to the query of «inappropriate content».

However, these are parameters that are difficult to measure from the outside, especially during adolescence, when young people spend hours away from their families. After all, teenagers spend a large part of their time at school, with their friends or in the privacy of their own room.

In this context, parents may find it difficult to measure the amount of time their children spend connected to a technological device. However, there are a number of measures Symptoms that may alert to technology abuse:

These types of behaviors constitute what is known as non-substance addictions: «everyday activities and behaviors that, when converted into addictions, prevent a satisfactory life.»

If you or someone you love has an abusive relationship with technology, it may be time to contact an online psychologist.

A barrier-free environment like the Internet facilitates the implementation of abusive behavior, such as sexual harassment.

On the one hand, social media allows potential stalkers to finding vulnerable peoplesuch as children and adolescents. On the other hand, it gives them the possibility of disguising their own identity, for example, by using fake photographs.

Furthermore, it is common for consensual practices, such as sextinglead to more harmful ones, such as «sextortion«This term refers to «the behavior of blackmailing the person who has taken the photographs or videos of themselves, so that they do something in exchange for not sharing them with other people or on social networks.»

A practice that, in turn, can be linked to sexpreading, which consists of disseminating images of a sexual nature without the consent of the person depicted.

He bullyingor bullying, is surely one of the practices that most severely affects the lives of children and adolescents.

In the past, bullying was limited to a physical space: school or college. However, the Internet allows bullying to cross physical boundaries and follow victims into their homes via social networks.

Besides, «ICTs facilitate the anonymity of those who practice it, giving rise to impunity»On the other hand, they contribute to reducing empathy, since the coldness of social profiles allows harassers to ignore that, behind the screen, there is a real person.

The Internet makes it easier for the less fortunate to access inappropriate or illegal contentwhich circulate freely on the web.

We are talking, for example, about content with violent, discriminatory or pornographic overtones. Content that may be explicitly prohibited, such as child pornography, or that, despite being legal, may affect the development of young people.

Gambling and betting have long since ceased to be relegated to casinos and gaming halls, which are becoming increasingly common in cities.

Today, it is possible to access online gaming sites. And although access is usually restricted to minors, some manage to circumvent these restrictions by using false identities.

This early access to gambling can promote the emergence of addictive behaviors, such as gambling addictionThis addiction causes those who suffer from it to feel an uncontrollable desire to bet money.

Teenagers are especially vulnerable to gaming stimuli, as their brains are still developing.

Teenagers are especially vulnerable to engaging in risky technology-related behavior. Fortunately, the example, support and monitoring of the close environment can significantly reduce these risks.

To prevent the emergence of abusive behavior related to information and communication technologies the family must:

To prevent the abuse of technologies, Teachers should:

At we are experts in online therapy since 2012. We can help you overcome technology addiction and prevent the abusive use of mobile phones, video games or social networks.