We can't quit smartphones, but we can manage digital junk food better
Amy, a 27-year-old software developer, has struggled with disordered eating since she was a teenager. "But after learning to code, I got much better," she said in a research interview. "I often code for 10 or more hours without stopping." Her psychiatrist, however, worried that Amy had replaced one compulsive behavior with another.
Smartphones and digital technologies have become as necessary for modern life as food, making traditional addiction models ineffective. While excessive use can be harmful, simply abstaining is not a practical solution. Instead of viewing digital technology as a single category, we should consider its various roles in work, education and social connections.
Just as food regulation focuses on ingredients and consumption patterns rather than outright bans, digital technologies require a similar nuanced approach. This includes government oversight of platform design, data collection and psychological techniques, as well as promoting digital literacy and responsible use. By understanding the complex interplay between individual vulnerabilities, platform design and social conditions, we can develop sustainable relationships with digital technologies that balance their benefits and potential harms.
Written by urgent.news from Medical Xpress's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
