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In addition to short term issues, there are so many long-term consequences of excessive technology use. This is why it's important to set technology boundaries with young children, and to continue explaining, discussing, and modifying technology boundaries in your home with older children.

Eventually young adults need to be able to set technology boundaries for themselves, when they become adults, so explaining the consequences of excess use is important. Read all about the long-term consequences of excessive technology use along with why and how to set boundaries in my book, TechnoLogic: How to Set Logical Boundaries and Stop the Zombie Apocalypse. 

• Social media comparisons can cause intense feelings of loneliness or jealousy. Facebook has been called a “significant public health threat” by Dr. Ablow due to various studies. (Studies show Facebook may be true, significant public health threat)


• Digital dementia, deterioration of cognitive abilities, similar to a head injury or psychiatric illness can occur. People who rely on electronic devices often can't remember important everyday details of life.


• Brain development can be affected. Heavy digital users are likely to develop the left side of their brains, leaving the right side less used or underdeveloped.


• Memory is damaged. The right side of the brain is linked with concentration and its failure to develop will affect attention span and memory. (How Technology Is Warping Your Memory)


• An Inside Higher Ed article warns that 2 million US college students are addicted to computer games. (Kids’ Video Games for Profit)


• Excessive gaming is linked to lower academic performance.(Excessive Gaming Linked to Lower Academic Performance)


• Colleges are seeing a variety of internet-related disorders treated at campus health centers, such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, and social phobias. (Surge in Digital Dementia)


• Increased suicide risk. (Research ties excessive use of technology to poor health for young adults)


• Using technology to escape real life. (How gadgets and the internet are turning us into a nation of emotional basket cases)


• Depression and sadness. ( Shocking Ways the Internet Rewires the Brain )


• Digital addiction: when a person lives much of their life online, and excessive internet or device use interferes with activities of daily living or social relationships. ( Signs and Symptoms of Internet Addiction )

Sooo....have you had that discussion with your teenagers? How did it go?