Finding Balance in a Tech World

You Have Zero Friends

What We’ll Cover Tech Usage Stats Tech Usage Stats Benefits of Technology Benefits of Technology Areas of Concern Areas of Concern Tech Addiction Tech Addiction Finding Balance: What can we do about it? Finding Balance: What can we do about it?

A Few Introductory Thoughts Technology isn’t good or bad – it just is Technology isn’t good or bad – it just is Books are inherently better? No way! Books are inherently better? No way! Uses of a brick? Uses of a brick? There’s no turning back, only moving forward There’s no turning back, only moving forward Parents: Don’t judge your teens! Parents: Don’t judge your teens! Teens: Don’t judge your parents! Teens: Don’t judge your parents! Caution: Our brains did not evolve to be in the world in which we now live Caution: Our brains did not evolve to be in the world in which we now live

Tech Usage Stats Kaiser Family Foundation study found that kids ages 8-18 Kaiser Family Foundation study found that kids ages 8-18 Spend 7.5 hours per day using tech on average Spend 7.5 hours per day using tech on average Or 52.5 hours per week Or 52.5 hours per week 270 minutes/day watching TV 270 minutes/day watching TV 73 minutes/day playing video games 73 minutes/day playing video games 90 minutes/day text messaging 90 minutes/day text messaging 89 minutes/day in non-school computer use 89 minutes/day in non-school computer use

Facebook Usage Stats More than 400 million active users More than 400 million active users Average user spends 55 minutes on FB per day Average user spends 55 minutes on FB per day 8 billion minutes spent on FB per day (or over 15,000 human years spent per day) 8 billion minutes spent on FB per day (or over 15,000 human years spent per day) 50% of active users log on every day 50% of active users log on every day 3 billion photos uploaded every month 3 billion photos uploaded every month 100 million users access FB by mobile devices 100 million users access FB by mobile devices Mobile users are 50% more active than non- mobile users Mobile users are 50% more active than non- mobile users

Benefits of Technology Benefits?: Your thoughts & examples Benefits?: Your thoughts & examples Fun Fun Connections/Relationship Building Connections/Relationship Building Makes Life More Efficient Makes Life More Efficient Power/Esteem Power/Esteem Creativity/Innovation Creativity/Innovation Freedom & Discovery Freedom & Discovery Education/Learning Education/Learning

New Technologies? Dropbox Dropbox iPad – anyone have one/want one? iPad – anyone have one/want one? Xbox Natal: Xbox Natal: Other technologies? Other technologies?

Areas of Concern Gaming – Can have benefits. Not proven to increase aggression, but potential is there. Gaming – Can have benefits. Not proven to increase aggression, but potential is there. Sexting – You can be prosecuting for child pornography. It can spread and be there FOREVER. Sexting – You can be prosecuting for child pornography. It can spread and be there FOREVER. Tech Addictions – Lots of sources. It is a major problem. Tech Addictions – Lots of sources. It is a major problem. Texting & Driving – 23x more likely to crash. Texting & Driving – 23x more likely to crash. Multitasking – we task switch. Multitasking – we task switch. Cyberbullying – Can devastate recipients. Cyberbullying – Can devastate recipients. Porn – Um, don’t look at it. It will rot your brain! Porn – Um, don’t look at it. It will rot your brain!

Tech Addiction – Is There Such a Thing? My experiences My experiences Your experiences (without divulging any private/embarrassing information!) Your experiences (without divulging any private/embarrassing information!) What teens (& adults) tend to be getting addicted to… What teens (& adults) tend to be getting addicted to…

Tech Addictions MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-playing Games) MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-playing Games) WoW, Everquest II, LOTR Online, City of Heroes, Star Wars Galaxies, Runescape, Guild Wars, Sims Online WoW, Everquest II, LOTR Online, City of Heroes, Star Wars Galaxies, Runescape, Guild Wars, Sims Online Other video games – Halo 3, Modern Warfare 2, Guitar Hero Other video games – Halo 3, Modern Warfare 2, Guitar Hero Second Life Second Life Facebook, My Space, Twitter Facebook, My Space, Twitter FarmVille FarmVille Texting Texting Blackberries, iPhone Blackberries, iPhone YouTube YouTube eBay eBay Surfing Surfing Porn Porn

A Problem of Definition “Addiction” is a hypothetical construct “Addiction” is a hypothetical construct No blood test for it or brain scan for it No blood test for it or brain scan for it We can do brain scans and “see” addiction, but it still arbitrary as to when it crosses a threshold We can do brain scans and “see” addiction, but it still arbitrary as to when it crosses a threshold Is addiction merely describing an extreme range of a behavior or is it something more? Is addiction merely describing an extreme range of a behavior or is it something more? When does frequent engagement cross the magic threshold into addiction? When does frequent engagement cross the magic threshold into addiction? What about someone who swims/plays an instrument 5 hours per day? What about someone who swims/plays an instrument 5 hours per day? How do we know when/if we are “addicted” to tech? How do we know when/if we are “addicted” to tech? Examples? Do you have a “friend” who is addicted? Examples? Do you have a “friend” who is addicted?

Signs of Addiction Two classic signs apply to drugs/alcohol Two classic signs apply to drugs/alcohol Increased tolerance Increased tolerance Physiological withdrawal Physiological withdrawal Significant negative functional impact on at least 2 major life domains Significant negative functional impact on at least 2 major life domains School/work School/work Friends, family Friends, family Emotional well-being Emotional well-being Sleep Sleep

Why Tech Can Be Addictive Positive Reinforcement Positive Reinforcement Social comparison Social comparison Power/Esteem needs met Power/Esteem needs met Ease of access Ease of access Anonymity Anonymity Freedom Freedom Variety Variety Social connections Social connections Discovery Discovery Find “flow” (i.e., get in “the zone”) Find “flow” (i.e., get in “the zone”) Anticipation Anticipation

This Is Your Brain on Tech Many “addictive” technologies have a the “Vegas Effect” built into them (Tetris, Halo 3, texting, Facebook) Many “addictive” technologies have a the “Vegas Effect” built into them (Tetris, Halo 3, texting, Facebook) Anticipation– what might happen next? Anticipation– what might happen next? Dopamine, a pleasure chemical in the brain, gets released when we are in a state of anticipation Dopamine, a pleasure chemical in the brain, gets released when we are in a state of anticipation

Vegas, Baby!

The Vegas Effect & “Addictive” Behaviors Gambling Gambling Fishing & hunting Fishing & hunting Christmas? Easter egg hunts? Christmas? Easter egg hunts? American Idol, Survivor, Project Runway, Top Chef, & many other reality TV shows American Idol, Survivor, Project Runway, Top Chef, & many other reality TV shows Pokémon Cards and any card collecting Pokémon Cards and any card collecting FB, My Space, Twitter, texting, , etc. FB, My Space, Twitter, texting, , etc.

I got a Wii!!!!!!!!

Pokémon Ecstasy

Help! Suggestions on managing my son’s tech time? Suggestions on managing my son’s tech time?

Finding Balance with Tech Don’t get hung up on whether you are “addicted” Don’t get hung up on whether you are “addicted” Ask yourself: Is it a problem? Ask yourself: Is it a problem? When have you been happiest in life that doesn’t involve tech? What are real world activities that you find fun/engaging? When have you been happiest in life that doesn’t involve tech? What are real world activities that you find fun/engaging? Reconnect with those! Reconnect with those!

Finding Balance with Tech Set some goals for grades, sports, other hobbies, homework time, income generation Set some goals for grades, sports, other hobbies, homework time, income generation Prioritize them Prioritize them Determine how much tech time would still allow you to reach those goals Determine how much tech time would still allow you to reach those goals Track your tech time Track your tech time

Be Proactive About Tech Time Avoid tech/games (e.g., WoW) that inherently require lots of time Avoid tech/games (e.g., WoW) that inherently require lots of time Make tech less accessible Make tech less accessible No TV/game system in your bedroom No TV/game system in your bedroom Turn off the alert/ringer on the cell Turn off the alert/ringer on the cell Don’t keep FB running in the background when online Don’t keep FB running in the background when online Turn cell off at a certain time at night Turn cell off at a certain time at night

Be Mindful Mindfulness is being aware of thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and sensations without judging them Mindfulness is being aware of thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and sensations without judging them In a way, being mindful is the opposite of acting impulsively or without thinking In a way, being mindful is the opposite of acting impulsively or without thinking Mindfulness exercise Mindfulness exercise Mindfulness allows you the space to: Mindfulness allows you the space to: Ask if what you are doing helping you get what you want? Ask if what you are doing helping you get what you want? Ask this question of yourself before you engage in an activity – become an observer of your thoughts & behaviors Ask this question of yourself before you engage in an activity – become an observer of your thoughts & behaviors Readjust what you are doing to find balance & achieve your goals Readjust what you are doing to find balance & achieve your goals You CAN have your cake & eat it too…if you work at this. You CAN have your cake & eat it too…if you work at this.