Dr Justin: How technology is damaging your child’s brain
WITH almost a third of teens using two or more media devices simultaneously, alarming new research has found not only does it leave them with fewer brain cells, but the inability to “connect” with people in real life. Dr Justin Coulson explains.
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WITH the tsunami of technology sweeping up our kids, especially our teens, they are becoming more adept at using multiple media at once.
How often have you seen your teen watch Netflix while “hanging out” on Facebook, snapchatting a friend, and doing homework?
Media multi-tasking gives us the feeling we’re accomplishing a lot — we think being “busy” is a good thing!
But all of this media engagement is having a profoundly negative effect on our kids.
Almost a third of teens use two or more media simultaneously.
The body can perform multiple tasks — we can pat our tummy and rub our head — but even these physical things are hard and require concentration.
On the other hand, the brain generally can’t deal well with input from multiple sources — even multiple streams of very simple information is too much.
And we only have to look at data on car accidents and smartphone use to see the problem with trying to do multiple complex things at once.
Ironically, in an effort to be “connected” our teens are losing the ability to connect.
Research in Australia is limited, but in a US study researchers found the risk of an accident increased fivefold when the driver uses a device in the car, six times when texting, 10 times when reading and 12 times when dialling.
The brain goes into overload when trying to manage the complex task of driving a car at the same time as doing other things.
It applies to technology, driving and it applies to children.
Studies show kids who media multi-task have problems remembering information they are receiving, both while they are working on the task and over the long-term.
Even though they appear to be busily working their brains are less efficient.
Most telling of all, teens who media multi-task have less brain density in the neural regions responsible for empathy and cognitive and emotional control.
Our multi-tasking teens literally have fewer brain cells than non-multi-tasking peers.
Not surprisingly, they also have lower IQs.
University of London researchers found multi-tasking leads to an IQ decline of up to 15 points — similar to if we’d stayed up all night. Media multi-tasking is literally rewiring our teens’ brains — and not for the better.
It’s no surprise when teens text while doing homework, they have problems paying attention.
Media multi-tasking affects their ability to concentrate.
ASK DR JUSTIN COULSON