A. Michael Blanche MSS, LCSW
amichaelblanche.com
What’s the Problem with Technology
?
 The Mis-Information Highway
 Multiple avenues of influence
 Dissemination of information without any
filters or value system
 Set up for impulsivity (phone and texting)
 Loss of non-verbal cues in communication
 UCLA Study 2008: 90% of communication is
non-verbal.
Your Kids and Technology
 Research shows that kids aged 8 to 18 spend, on average, 11.5
hours per day engaging with and through digital technology.
 Since most kids are awake for only 15 or 16 hours per day,
somewhere between 71 and 76 percent of their waking hours are
digital.
 Another study finds that children aged 12 to 17 send an average of
60 texts per day, with kids aged 14 to 17 whipping off nearly 100
texts per day.
 Most tellingly, this study tells us that texting is now the primary
mode of communication between teens and their friends and
family, far surpassing face-to-face interactions.
Depth of Dilemma with
Technology
Today’s texting and instant connection with phone,
internet and IM does not allow for process time or
perspective.
Immediate unfiltered reactive conversations without
any time to think through events for an adolescent
already with impulse control issues, adds to the
complexity of decision making for this generation.
Taking images and messages out of context can lead
to aggression and depression.
Desensitizing Culture
 Language / terms
 Bullying / foul language
 Images (Body Image, even in males)
 Video (Pornography)
 Gaming (Violence)
 Exposure to multiple media stimuli
 Lack of depth in developmental
conversational pieces
Communication and Technology
 Fragmented language leads to
fragmented relationships
 Lack of healthy relationships decreases
social support
 Language is changing and lowering
standards; disjointed incomplete
phrases accepted as relationships; does
not develop supportive relationships.
 Modeling behavior and social cues are
lost
Updates
 244 million American Internet users in 2012
 38 million User-generated reviews on Yelp
 150 Times per day mobile phone users checks their devices
 100 Hours of video uploaded to YouTube every minute
 88% Share of American-made mobile operating systems
 Video games 10. 5 million year industry
 Average age of gamer… 34 !
Desensitizing Culture
 Language / terms
 Bullying / foul language
 Images (Body Image, even in males)
 Video (Pornography)
 Gaming (Violence)
 Exposure to multiple media stimuli
 Lack of depth in developmental
conversational pieces
Correlation of Technology and
Mental Health
 Shaming, verbal abuse and derogative
statements on a public level
 Abandonment on a public level
 Potential of re- trauma of events
 Potential for obsessive relationships
 Importance of status update
 Principle of exaggeration
Impact of Technology on
Substance Abuse
 The Internet is the new drug dealer: Access
 Medication’s without prescription sites: Affordability
 Adolescents have more research and language to
walk into a PCP or a psychiatrist and say the “right
thing” to get the prescription they want.
 Blog sites and uncensored information: Anonymity
 Glorification of drug use and lifestyle
 Texting and instant connections
Symptoms of problematic relationship
with technology :
 Failed attempts to control behavior
 Heightened sense of euphoria while involved in
computer and Internet activities
 Neglecting friends and family
 Neglecting sleep to stay online
 Feeling guilty, ashamed, anxious, or depressed as a
result of online behavior
 Physical changes such as weight gain or loss,
backaches, headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome
 Withdrawing from other pleasurable activities
Facebook Delivers News To 30% Of
U.S. Adults
Pew study shows Facebook looms
over its rivals.
Parent messages on social
media
 Parents are a thousand school teachers
 What message are you sending your kids?
 How are you conducting yourself around your family
with technology?
 Do you have family rules or expectations around
technology?
 Do you talk with your kids about it?
Interventions for parents
 Communication communication communication
 Listening, how do you pay attention
 Read signs they may not be ready to talk
 “life is a marathon”.. Pace yourself in communication
especially with sensitive issues
 Regulate your own anxiety (try not to overreact)
 Follow through with what you say and how you expect
them to live… Kids watch what you do more that what
is said
More interventions around
Technology
 Create technology free time. Family events that do not
need any technology.
 Live by example and put down your phones and
look at your kids….
 Attachment theory and importance of feeling
emotionally supported is vital part of development
 Accepting Technology is here it’s how it’s used
(avoiding being a fuddy-duddy about it )