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The Impact of Technology on Our Epidemic of Loneliness
In May of 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General found that about half of U.S. adults experience measurable levels of loneliness. Digital technology may play a role. Science shows that activities such as viewing feedback are associated with activation in areas of the brain linked to social rewards, and external comparison can lead to greater rates of loneliness.
Are Attention Spans Actually Decreasing?
Almost a decade ago, a Time magazine article went viral when the author proclaimed that humans now have a shorter attention span than a goldfish. But what does the science actually say?
Tolerance of Uncertainty
People who are intolerant of uncertainty are also more afraid of anxiety. Intolerance of Uncertainty has long been linked with increased worry and anxiety, resulting in higher risk for anxiety and other emotional disorders.
Executive Functioning
Children are less able than adults to perform skills that require impulse control or careful response selection. Executive functioning skills, such as cognitive control and response inhibition, are lower in children than adults.
How children use digital devices
Children engage differently with digital devices depending on their age. Parents report that the vast majority of young children engage in “screen time,” including nearly half of 0-2 year olds who interact with a smartphone.