The explosion of cutting-edge technology has exponentially increased in the power of computer processing, software, and phone apps, and over the past several decades has improved life overall. But these powerful tools must be handled with caution.
Compare the technological advancement of computers and phones to the automobile. The invention of the automobile was a revolutionary technological advancement, but placed in the hands of teenagers, an automobile can be a deadly weapon. Statistical analysis shows that an inordinate amount of car accidents, injuries and deaths are attributed to drivers between the ages of 16 and 25 years old. You can’t even rent a car until you are 25! No one would throw the keys to the car at their 16-year old without specific training and licensing. Kids and teenagers using cutting-edge technology requires similar protocol as driving an automobile; students need to be taught how to use technology responsibly so they are not hampered academically, emotionally, socially, and physically.
Here are some examples of the collateral damage related to the overuse of screens by teens and their effects upon the executive functioning of the brain:
1. Wasted time. Students who get lost into a gaming world, watching videos, or just reading comments on Instagram lose track of time and can waste hours in a single day. Time management, initiating tasks, and understanding how much time is needed to finish a project are a few executive function skills with which every teenager naturally struggles.
2. Sleep problems. According to research conducted by the Harvard Medical School, the blue light emitted from screens such as smartphones and TV monitors can interfere with natural sleep patterns because it suppresses the secretion of the hormone melatonin. Sleep deprivation leads to a myriad of executive function problems.
3. Short-term memory loss. This is directly connected to sleep deprivation, as deep REM sleep is crucial for brain development, and for processing and storing information, even from the day before. Focus, concentration, staying on task, and recalling important information are executive function areas that are affected here.
4. Lack of exercise. The allure of screens, which often involves sitting for long periods of time is one major factor that can cause the bodies of teenagers to atrophy, leading to obesity and other side-effects such as diabetes. Students need exercise to keep their metabolism up, maintain strong muscles, and to relieve stress. It is highly recommended that students take periodic breaks from studying, but then get a quick burst of exercise; even a short, brisk walk can settle and refocus the mind.
5. Addiction. Viewing screens can be highly addictive. Numerous university studies have determined that the brain interacting with a smartphone is similar to a brain on cocaine. In both cases we get a “high” every time a notification pops up or we get likes on our last Instagram post. Physiologically, it’s the dopamine, the “feel-good” chemical in our brains that is released whenever we experience something enjoyable. This is primarily connected to “time wasted” above. But in this case, students haven’t lost track of time, rather they intentionally choose not to transition to homework or other responsibility not as “fun” as screen time.
For teenagers who already struggle with executive function skills, the distraction from the screens on their phones and other devices can be crippling to the more important tasks they need to accomplish on a daily basis. Screens can be a serious obstacle to motivation, organization, time management, initiating tasks, concentration, short-term memory, and other executive function skills that kids and teenagers must sharpen in order to become successful adults. The Dayspring Executive Function coaches will work with parents to help equip and monitor this aspect of a student’s daily life. Managing this powerful tool successfully can be a pathway to help each student reach his or her full potential.
