child tech addiction

From smartphones to social media to video games to texting, child tech addiction has become prevalent in our digitally connected world.

According to The Center for Internet and Technology Addiction, Dr. David Greenfield developed this simple 12 question Child Technology Test to help you determine if your child is suffering from digital distraction:

1. Do you find your child spending more and more time online or on their digital devices (computer, laptop, tablet or Smartphone) than they seem to realize?
2. Do you find your child mindlessly passing time on a regular basis by staring at their Smartphone, Tablet, or Computer–even when there might be better or more productive things to do? And do they seem to lose track of time when on any of these devices?
3. Do you find your child spending more time with virtual friends as opposed to real people nearby?
4. Has the amount of time your child spends on digital devices and the Internet been increasing?
5. Do you wish your child could be a little less wired or connected to digital devices such as smartphones, laptops, tablet, Internet, video games, etc.?
6. Does your child sleep with his or her smartphone ON under their pillow or next to their bed regularly?
7. Do you find your child viewing and answering texts, tweets, and emails at all hours of the day and night—even when it means interrupting other things they’re doing, such and schoolwork, meals, sports, or other family activities?
8. Do you limit, block, or filter Internet and digital screen-time access for your child?
9. Do you feel your child’s use of technology actually decreases their academic productivity and real-time socialization, family participation, or physical activity?
10. Do you find your child feeling somewhat ill-at-ease or uncomfortable when they accidentally leave their phone or other Internet/digital device in the car or at home, or when they have no service, or their device is broken?
11. Do you feel your child is reluctant to be without their smartphone or other digital devices, even for a short time; when they leave the house they ALWAYS have their Smartphone or other digital device with them?
12. Do you find yourself feeling reluctant to limit or remove your child’s use of their digital technology, and when you do limit it or take it away from them they have a strong emotional or physical reaction?

Historical perspective: By 2018 social media usage exploded among kids, according to The Week, with 10.9 percent of children under 12 and 72 percent ages 12 to 17 regularly using the platforms. As for video sites like YouTube, 49.5 percent of under-12s and 93.4 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds are users. Kids’ internet access began to increase when Apple launched the iPad in 2010 and their screen time has only increased since then. Some 40 percent of children ages 8 and under have their own tablet, up from 1 percent in 2011.