1. Fulton Psychological Group Technology, Communication and Gaming What Every Parent Needs to Know

2. Fulton Psychological Group Individual Therapy Individual Therapy Group Therapy Group Therapy Parent Training Parent Training Family Therapy Family Therapy Couples Therapy Couples Therapy Psychological Testing Psychological Testing Psychiatry Psychiatry

3. Fulton Psychological Group Types of Screen-Time Hand held game systems (Nintendo DS, PSP) Hand held game systems (Nintendo DS, PSP) Cell phone and Ipad Cell phone and Ipad Texting Texting Social Media (Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter) Social Media (Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter) Sending pictures and videos Sending pictures and videos Games and Apps Games and Apps Oh yeah, calling Oh yeah, calling Television Television Watching programs Watching programs Videogames Videogames Computer Computer Internet (IChat, email, social media, Youtube) Internet (IChat, email, social media, Youtube) Interactive computer games Interactive computer games Non-interactive computer game Non-interactive computer game

4. Fulton Psychological Group Internet and Gaming Addiction Internet interactive gaming addiction Internet interactive gaming addiction Non-interactive gaming addiction Non-interactive gaming addiction Cyber-relational addiction Cyber-relational addiction Cyber-sexual addiction Cyber-sexual addiction Information overload Information overload Communication obsession Communication obsession Gaming addiction Gaming addiction

5. Fulton Psychological Group Signs of Gaming/Internet Addiction Sneaking time on the internet/gaming Sneaking time on the internet/gaming Decrease interest in other activities Decrease interest in other activities Can’t be away from phone/checking media Can’t be away from phone/checking media Difficulty not playing games for a few days Difficulty not playing games for a few days Chronic arguments around game time Chronic arguments around game time Academic decline Academic decline Irritability Irritability Up to 10% Addicted Up to 10% Addicted

6. Fulton Psychological Group Physical Problems Associated with Excessive Gaming/Internet use Migraines Migraines Sleep Disturbances Sleep Disturbances Backaches Backaches Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Increased risk of epileptic seizures Increased risk of epileptic seizures Eye irritation Eye irritation

7. Fulton Psychological Group Psycho-social Issues Associated with Excessive Gaming/Internet Use Decrease interpersonal activities Decrease interpersonal activities Depression Depression Desensitized to profanity and sexual solicitation Desensitized to profanity and sexual solicitation Over-focused on gaming/internet/social media Over-focused on gaming/internet/social media Irritability, angry outbursts, fatigue Irritability, angry outbursts, fatigue Under-developed social skills, reduction of empathy Under-developed social skills, reduction of empathy Conflict with parents Conflict with parents Lower GPA Lower GPA Impaired attention span Impaired attention span

8. Fulton Psychological Group Communication Today  Cell phone, IPad and Computer Texting, WhatsApp, IChat, Texting, WhatsApp, IChat, Emailing Emailing Sending pictures and videos Sending pictures and videos Social Media Social Media Skype, Facetime Skype, Facetime Oh yeah, calling Oh yeah, calling

9. Fulton Psychological Group Social Media Facebook wall, Instagram feed, Twitter timeline Facebook wall, Instagram feed, Twitter timeline For social interaction, dating, finding old friends, games, publicity, networking For social interaction, dating, finding old friends, games, publicity, networking Can be highly personalized Can be highly personalized Helps convey things to many people at once Helps convey things to many people at once Used to stay in touch with long distant friends Used to stay in touch with long distant friends Method of posting photos and videos Method of posting photos and videos Used to update people to what you are doing Used to update people to what you are doing

10. Fulton Psychological Group Types of Social Media Snapchat Snapchat Instagram Instagram Tumblr Tumblr Vine Vine Facebook Facebook Twitter Twitter Ask.fm Ask.fm Google Plus Google Plus

11. Fulton Psychological Group Things Displayed Personal information such as: name, mood status, marital status, religion, age, gender, DOB Personal information such as: name, mood status, marital status, religion, age, gender, DOB Contact information such as: email address, hometown and school attended Contact information such as: email address, hometown and school attended Comments, conversations with others, questions Comments, conversations with others, questions Pictures, videos, interests Pictures, videos, interests History, events attended, friends History, events attended, friends Whatever was on your child’s mind at that moment Whatever was on your child’s mind at that moment

12. Fulton Psychological Group Positive Aspects of Technology & Communication Can keep your child connected with their peers (e.g. school friends, camp peers, etc.) Can keep your child connected with their peers (e.g. school friends, camp peers, etc.) Youth can learn how to communicate online, craft a public identity, create a home page, post links etc. Youth can learn how to communicate online, craft a public identity, create a home page, post links etc. Social media has become a virtual community Social media has become a virtual community Technological communication sometimes allows youth to delve deeper into subjects they would otherwise be uncomfortable to discuss Technological communication sometimes allows youth to delve deeper into subjects they would otherwise be uncomfortable to discuss It helps youth express themselves who are shy or have difficulty in verbal communication It helps youth express themselves who are shy or have difficulty in verbal communication

13. Fulton Psychological Group Potential Hazards of Social Media Child can be stalked by a predator Child can be stalked by a predator Child can feel excluded or envious Child can feel excluded or envious Can build relationship with inappropriate person Can build relationship with inappropriate person Child can send sexually explicit content Child can send sexually explicit content Bully others or post damaging information Bully others or post damaging information Become involved with fringe, dangerous groups Become involved with fringe, dangerous groups Create a negative identity Create a negative identity Car accidents, pedestrian accidents, etc. Car accidents, pedestrian accidents, etc.

14. Fulton Psychological Group Cyber Bullying Type of emotional bullying Type of emotional bullying Starting rumors Starting rumors Making disparaging comments Making disparaging comments Sharing private or personal information Sharing private or personal information Threats Threats Making or disseminating pictures and videos Making or disseminating pictures and videos Explicitly excluding Explicitly excluding Hacking into someone’s social media Hacking into someone’s social media

15. Fulton Psychological Group Creating the Technoself Pictures, videos and music Pictures, videos and music Links with other “ friends ” on site Links with other “ friends ” on site Shareable blogs, journals, and comments Shareable blogs, journals, and comments Timelines, events and interests Timelines, events and interests Creates an impression on others (ideal self) Creates an impression on others (ideal self) Can even create an Avatar Can even create an Avatar

16. Fulton Psychological Group Facts about Social Media Every teen will use it Every teen will use it Is a prime method of communication Is a prime method of communication More than half divulge sexual behavior, violence and substance use More than half divulge sexual behavior, violence and substance use Teens underestimate public aspect of social media Teens underestimate public aspect of social media Many teens meet new people through it Many teens meet new people through it

17. Fulton Psychological Group Sexting Provocative language, pictures sent via phone Provocative language, pictures sent via phone Over 40% of teens do it (more boys than girls) Over 40% of teens do it (more boys than girls) 33% of people have sent a pic by the age of 24 33% of people have sent a pic by the age of 24 Leaves digital footprint Leaves digital footprint Illegal to produce, forward sexual pics of teens Illegal to produce, forward sexual pics of teens Is likely to be passed around to peers Is likely to be passed around to peers Leads to cyber bullying, social humiliation and sometimes even suicide Leads to cyber bullying, social humiliation and sometimes even suicide

18. Fulton Psychological Group Reasons for Sexting Increase in libidinal energy Increase in libidinal energy Desensitized (media, others doing it, etc.) Desensitized (media, others doing it, etc.) Poor impulse control (can ’ t see consequences) Poor impulse control (can ’ t see consequences) Illusion of privacy/anonymity Illusion of privacy/anonymity Succumb to pressure, bullying Succumb to pressure, bullying Sender wants attention (poor self esteem) Sender wants attention (poor self esteem) Defiance to parents Defiance to parents

19. Fulton Psychological Group Dangers of Sexting Leads to humiliation and exploitation Leads to humiliation and exploitation Arrested, trouble in school Arrested, trouble in school Creates permanent, inappropriate record Creates permanent, inappropriate record Could interfere with future goals, opportunities Could interfere with future goals, opportunities Sexual advances from others Sexual advances from others Inappropriate image Inappropriate image Shame and suicide Shame and suicide

20. Fulton Psychological Group Video Networking Allows anyone to upload and share videos they produce, copy or find Allows anyone to upload and share videos they produce, copy or find Anyone can post anything Anyone can post anything No identity verification to become registered No identity verification to become registered Age restricted material on honor system Age restricted material on honor system There is much sexually explicit content, violence, profanity and substance use There is much sexually explicit content, violence, profanity and substance use Creates electronic footprint Creates electronic footprint

21. Fulton Psychological Group Technology and Fantasy Technology has spurred a whole fantasy life (through role play games, role play websites, etc) Technology has spurred a whole fantasy life (through role play games, role play websites, etc) People who are depressed tend to be attracted to these sites People who are depressed tend to be attracted to these sites Teens use role playing for identity “ tryouts ” Teens use role playing for identity “ tryouts ” Can lead to a loss of interest in real world activities Can lead to a loss of interest in real world activities

22. Fulton Psychological Group Pornography Addictions Addictions Objectifies people Objectifies people Creates unrealistic image of sex partners Creates unrealistic image of sex partners Create unrealistic expectations of sex Create unrealistic expectations of sex Can lead to fetishes, harmful or unusual sexual practices Can lead to fetishes, harmful or unusual sexual practices Can lead to shame and embarrassment Can lead to shame and embarrassment

23. Fulton Psychological Group Take the Necessary Precautions Be proactive and involved from the beginning Be proactive and involved from the beginning Learn about the internet and texting Learn about the internet and texting Discuss the potential hazards Discuss the potential hazards Set parameters around language, time and content Set parameters around language, time and content Have the computer in a “ public ” area rather than the child ’ s bedroom Have the computer in a “ public ” area rather than the child ’ s bedroom Have the passwords to your child ’ s accounts or be listed as a friend Have the passwords to your child ’ s accounts or be listed as a friend Consider using a monitoring software (e.g. Net Nanny, WebWatcher or TeenSafe ) Consider using a monitoring software (e.g. Net Nanny, WebWatcher or TeenSafe )

24. Fulton Psychological Group Responding to Offenses Be approachable, do not overreact Be approachable, do not overreact Ask questions to see if your child recognized how the incident impacts him/her Ask questions to see if your child recognized how the incident impacts him/her Express your own concerns and potential hazards Express your own concerns and potential hazards If you do consequences, make them natural (e.g. confiscate phone, more limited time on computer, etc.) If you do consequences, make them natural (e.g. confiscate phone, more limited time on computer, etc.) Contact other parents if need be Contact other parents if need be

25. Fulton Psychological Group Strengthen the Relationship Establish a good relationship with your child Establish a good relationship with your child Share your concerns Share your concerns Convey your understanding of your child ’ s social needs and interests Convey your understanding of your child ’ s social needs and interests Be approachable and encourage your child to come to you if he encounters a problem online Be approachable and encourage your child to come to you if he encounters a problem online Communicate with your child via the internet and texting Communicate with your child via the internet and texting