In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, young people around the world have had to spend more time at home, leading to a notable increase in the use of screens for educational purposes, entertainment or to keep in touch with friends and family.
Signs of screen addiction :
Here are a few indicators of excessive screen use that might alert you:
- You find that you spend your evenings, well into the night, surfing social networks or playing online games on your phone or computer.
- You feel the need to sleep with your phone nearby.
- You wake up in the middle of the night to check your phone's notifications.
- As soon as you wake up, you feel the need to check your phone.
- You regularly interrupt your work to check the activity on your phone.
- The thought of having lost your phone makes you panic.
- When you're spending time with friends, you're constantly on your phone.
Understanding young people's addiction to screens and online games
Alongside increased use of screens, an increase in online gaming has also been observed. A recent study (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11469-022-00816-y) conducted among university students sought to analyze these behaviors, focusing on excessive attachment to screens and online games. The study identified four distinct groups of students, each with different levels of attachment and behaviors.
The first group, called "non-dependent and non-gamers", had the lowest scores in tests of attachment to screens and games. They did not show excessive or compulsive behaviors related to screens or online games.
The next group, "non-gambling addicts", had above-average scores for attachment to gaming, but showed no tendency towards excessive screen use. The third group, "non-gambling addicts", had high scores for screen attachment, but low scores for online gambling. Finally, the last group, "highly addicted gamers", had the highest scores for attachment to screens and games.
The first group showed moderate use of digital technologies without signs of excessive attachment, which is positive. This shows that young people's use of screens and online games does not necessarily lead to excessive attachment. However, it's important to note that this group is only one of four identified by the study. The other three groups show higher levels of attachment, highlighting the need for targeted attention and intervention.
Identifying these groups is a key step in understanding how young people interact with digital technologies, and how these interactions can become problematic. With a better understanding of these behaviors, parents, educators and health professionals can develop more specific intervention strategies.
For example, for young people showing signs of excessive attachment, strategies to limit screen time could be put in place. This could include rules on device use during certain hours, instituting regular breaks away from screens, or encouraging offline activities.
For young people who are passionate about online gaming, strategies could be put in place to encourage healthy, balanced gaming. This could mean helping young people understand the risks associated with excessive gaming, or finding alternative ways of socializing and having fun.
This study underlines the importance of understanding young people's behaviors when it comes to using screens and online games. By recognizing the diversity of behaviors and levels of attachment, we are better able to meet young people's needs and guide them as they navigate the digital world.
References :
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11469-022-00816-y
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