Is my child addicted to new technologies?

These are the warning signs that characterize addiction to new technologies.

Addiction to new technologies is a very common problem in adolescents and, if not addressed properly, can cause many problems in young people.If it is not properly addressed, it can cause many problems in young people.

New technologies are a way of providing and storing information that is available to everyone, including our teenagers. Internet, smartphones or video game consoles are clear examples of devices that can cause this behavioral addiction.

What makes new technologies so attractive to young people?

On the one hand, these new technologies allow us to access a large amount of information whenever we want. We can stay connected and know what is happening anywhere in the world with just one click.. They allow us to stay up to date with a single mouse click.

But they also allow us to work better, in a simpler way, since they save us a lot of time and effort.

Another advantage of these tools is that they make communication much easier. they make communication much easier. To talk to anyone, we only have to dial a number on our cell phone, or send a tweet on social networks or a message through Facebook. The possibilities that new technologies offer us to communicate with other people are endless.

And of course, they are also a form of entertainment, they are also a form of entertainment. Just look at the newest video game consoles, such as the Playstation 5 or any other. Not only do they have a huge catalog of games available on the market for them, but they offer endless online options.

So what's the problem with all this?

The advantages provided by new technologies are precisely those that can lead to the development of behavior that is problematic with respect to them.

When we talk about an addiction to new technologies we apply the same conditions that apply to chemical substances, redirecting them to these behaviors. In such a way, we will be in front of an addiction if it is shown during a prolonged period three of these elements that we indicate next.

1. Tolerance

This implies that the person needs to use them more and more to feel good. Basically, he/she will not get away from the phone or the computer.

2. Abstinence

Withdrawal causes discomfort when this behavior is no longer habitual for a certain period of time.. The person will not feel well and will experience various symptoms such as agitation, anxiety, and may even become obsessed with it.

3. It will be a repeated behavior

This is the case of those people who enter the Internet with the excuse of checking their e-mail and get lost in the network.

4. Attempts and frustrated desires to stop doing it

There are times when people addicted to new technologies realize that they spend a lot of time on these devices. In spite of this, it is an impossible task to decrease the time in front of them..

5. Their related use makes him/her lose a lot of time

It usually happens when the person, for example, searches for information continuously and excessively in order to be fully informed about which device is better to buy and why.

6. They leave their life completely aside

It occurs when devices and new technologies rule the person's life. You may stop doing anything else, such as going out with friends or even being with your family.. His world is the computer or cell phone.

7. The behavior persists over time

It doesn't matter what negative consequences the behavior generates. In spite of everything, he will not be able to stop doing it, even if he wants to and tries to.

Is it something to worry about?

Addictions are always something to worry about because of the consequences they can have on the person who suffers from them. In principle, the use of new technologies should not be problematic, but in certain cases they can be..

If your child loses control by using them for longer than expected and they tell us that they cannot stop, it is time to go to a professional for help. Do not forget that freedom is something that your child should never lose, and that happens with addiction.

If you detect even the slightest hint that this may be happening, seek professional help as soon as possible to avoid major problems.