Many of us believe we or our children spend too much time staring at screens. From gaming to social media use or even “doom scrolling,” it can sometimes feel like we're immersed in technology for hours on end without even realizing it.
But according to Catherine Knibbs, a psychotherapist who specializes in cyber trauma and online victimization, there are concrete steps we can all take to take back control from tech companies.
In his new book, Managing Your Gaming and Social Media Habits: From Science to Solutions, which is part of a new Ask a Psychology Expert series in partnership with the British Psychological Society, Knibbs argues that technology in itself is not good or bad – rather it's how it's used and who uses it.
“Social media and gaming can be life-saving for some people,” Knibbs said. “Gaming allows people to connect and combat other feelings in their lives, like loneliness, anxiety and depression.”
For example, Knibbs noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, technology has played a role in enabling people to connect with others when they were unable to interact physically.
“Connections in cyberspace create connections between people. Young people and adults say that participating in online communities makes them feel understood, seen and surrounded by people who share their interests. This helps them when they feel lonely and need support.”
But problems can arise when people spend so much time on technology that they stop paying attention to cues that their bladder is full and stop wanting to engage in the real world, Nibbs explained, which could ultimately lead to kids missing school and adults not going to work.
The key, she suggests, is to manage your technology use in a way that allows you to reap the benefits of screen time without falling victim to its negative aspects. The first step in this process, according to Knibbs, is understanding the tricks tech companies use to get users hooked on their apps and devices in the first place.
“Tech companies intentionally create products that appeal to our deepest wants and needs in order to draw our attention to their products,” Knibbs says.
