These results suggest that adolescents with IGD invested more effort in response–inhibition systems 35,37,41. For example, Dong, Huang, and Du recruited a guessing task to assess the brain function of adults with IGD and found that compared to non-IGD adults, adults with IGD revealed a higher activation in the OFC 49. Moreover, abnormal brain activation is also found in other addictions like cocaine, alcohol, and drugs, with hyperactivation found in the DLPFC and IFG 50,51. Most of these studies involved psychological experimental paradigms to assess brain activation during cognitive activities, such as the go/no-go task, the N-back task, the color Stroop task, the number–letter task, and the DCCS 4,35,47.

With the rapid spread and growth of the Internet, they have appeared some social phenomena such as cyberbullying, internet pornography, grooming through social networks, cybersuicide, Internet addiction and social isolation, racism on the web. Moreover, there is always the risk of any sort of fraud exploitation by the so called experts of technology systems who use Internet as a mean to carry out illegal acts. In addition, it is not clear whether excessive use of Internet is the cause or the consequence of mental problems. It’s a pattern of compulsive use, whether it’s social media, video games or endless scrolling that begins to impact a teen’s mood, behavior and ability to function in everyday life.

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In conclusion, one would say that the Internet benefits are numerous and contribute to the progress and prosperity of humans in all areas. However, Internet is provided in abundance and is easily accessible and the illogical use of the Internet makes it be quite dangerous, especially for young users. For this reason, users should be aware of and face critically the information handed at the websites, so that to ensure a proper behavior and delimit the excessive use it of it. The result will be to never appear any effect that will endanger the personal welfare of the users.

Primary education in Bangladesh has advanced significantly, but secondary education has not yet reached the anticipated levels of development 46. A significant portion of high school students in Bangladesh are unable to pass the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) or equivalent examinations every year 46. One of the main reasons why so many pupils in this nation failed the secondary school certification exam is the increased frequency of poor academic performance. The results thus point to the necessity of putting in place a suitable counseling plan to monitor the academic progress of the underachievers. Findings on the impacts of excessive Internet usage on addict’s mental health are inconclusive. But altogether, the general health of Internet addicts is more at risk than that of normal users.

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• We did not limit the studies based on study design; therefore, studies with interventions were included in this meta-analysis.
• A 2021 study of young adults found that cellphone use before bed predicted difficulty sleeping.
• The present shows a reduced cortical thickness in the right lateral OFC and pars orbitalis, which is in line with previous findings 71,72,73.
• Thus, we explore the possibility that a sense of online community changes the nature of the association between self-concealment, addiction, and wellbeing.

These findings suggest that individuals with PSU grapple to employ cognitive capabilities, such as inhibition, leading to dysfunctional smartphone utilization. A dozen research articles have utilized fMRI to assess functional connectivity (FC) in children with digital addiction. Our synthesized review concludes that adolescents exhibiting internet gaming disorder (IGD) show compromised FC within the cortico–subcortical circuits. Particularly, a distinct downturn in FC between the dorsal thalamus and the bilateral primary somatosensory cortex in adolescents portraying IGD has been identified to be directly proportional to online gaming duration. The magnetism of digital gaming can be partially attributed to its capacity to offer stimulating, immersive, and thrilling experiences, especially for the adolescent demographic. Succumbing to such allure leads to changes in FC across specific brain regions responsible for advanced cognitive functions.

Technology addiction can significantly increase the risk GoldenAgeSouls on Pinterest of anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders. The constant connectivity that comes with social media, gaming, and other digital platforms often fosters feelings of FOMO (fear of missing out), leading individuals to experience low self-esteem, social comparison, and even depression. The overstimulation caused by excessive screen time also triggers the body’s stress response, keeping the nervous system in a state of heightened alert. This chronic stress can disrupt hormonal balance, exacerbate fatigue, and further contribute to mental health concerns. Additionally, the frequent switching between tasks online can reduce attention span over time, making it difficult to focus on tasks without distraction. Technology addiction is a behavioral addiction, meaning it can change the brain’s reward systems similarly to how substances like drugs or alcohol do.

Although there is no official technology addiction definition recognized by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), it is often treated as a behavioral addiction by clinicians. Gaming addiction may intensify preexisting mental health issues and cause sleep problems. Individuals may also exhibit personal hygiene issues, financial debt, and plummeting physical health. One model that could explain such findings is that novel and stimulating mentalexperiences, such as searching on the internet, initially lead to minimal activationbefore the internet user discovers strategies for solving the unfamiliar mentalchallenge. After repeatedsessions, the initially novel mental task becomes routine and repetitive, no longerposing a mental challenge.

Therefore, anyone unsure about the impact of technology on their lives should consider reducing device usage and screen time and reassessing their well-being both with and without these devices. Always consult with a professional in case of risks and consider taking therapy options, to get rid of this addiction. Various factors, including underlying mental health conditions, genetic predispositions, and environmental influences, such as excessive screen exposure and lack of offline social connections, can cause technology addiction. Treatment options for the effects of technology addiction range from self-help strategies, such as limiting problematic online activities and managing time effectively, to seeking professional and medical support. If you’re worried you may have a technology addiction, there are a few things you can do to help yourself before seeking professional treatment.

Pre-print and post-print archiving is permitted in accordance with the CC BY-NC 4.0 license terms. Anyone who feels technology is negatively affecting them may wish to cut back on their use or reconsider how they use it. Additionally, out of over 2,400 children involved in the study, only 24 (1%) met the criteria for ADHD.

Additionally, communication technology addiction involves increased time spent online that can serve to assist in the development in online and communication technology skills (Hargittai, 2002). These skills have the potential to provide their users with improved access to social support (Shah, Kwak, & Holbert, 2001). This provides further evidence that communication technology addiction positively predicts online social capital. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) standard protocol and guidelines were followed (Page et al., 2021). Two Chinese databases, (1) the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and (2) Wanfang, and two English databases, (1) PubMed and (2) Web of Science, were utilized for the search to yield relevant studies from their inception to April 2024. Detailed information on the search strategy (keywords) of this systematic review and meta-analysis is provided in Table S1 in the Supplementary Materials.

Gender differences play a role in digital addiction, with research indicating variations in the ways males and females engage with digital devices. For instance, studies suggest that males may be more prone to excessive online gaming, while females may be more susceptible to social media addiction. Understanding these gender-specific patterns is essential for tailoring interventions to address the unique needs of each gender. Protracted digital engagement can exacerbate feelings of depression and contribute to social isolation.

Internet addiction (6) is a relatively new form of dependency, which is under review by the scientific community. Essentially it refers to the increasing number of people who report more and more involvement with the Internet to raise the feeling of satisfaction and a systematic increase in the time spent for pumping this feeling. The Internet addiction although not officially recognized as a clinical entity is a condition that causes significant reduction in the social and professional or academic functioning of the individual. Experts of mental health are increasingly invited to approach therapeutically people with problematic Internet use. The finding that Bangladeshi adolescents enrolled in school had higher prevalence of game addiction raised concerns about an important public health issue.

In a meta-analysis of computerized cognitive training, investigators found an overallmoderate effect on cognition in mild cognitive impairment across 17 trials.46Small to moderate effects were reported for global cognition, attention, workingmemory, and learning abilities. Kirsh and Mounts12explored the hypothesis that playing videogames would interfere with the ability torecognize emotions conveyed through facial expressions. They examined the effects ofplaying videogames on recognition of facial expressions of emotions in 197 students(ages 17 to 23 years). Participants played violent videogames before watching aseries of calm faces morph into either angry or happy faces. Participants were askedto quickly identify the emotion while the facial expression changed. The authorsfound that happy faces were identified faster than angry faces, and that playingviolent videogames delayed happy-face recognition time.

Recent reports highlight the persistently high and steadily increasing global prevalence of digital users, and the age of digital addicts is showing a trend of becoming younger over time. A meta-analysis revealed that 25.89% of adolescents suffer from internet addiction 11. The American Medical Association survey said that up to 15% of adolescents may be digital addicts, and a national study in Norway reported that the prevalence of problematic digital games was 4.1%, and the addiction rate was 0.6% 12. Additionally, in 2013, the American Psychiatric Association included “Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD)” (both online and offline gaming) in the DSM-5 to provide diagnostic criteria and called for further research 13. Moreover, the World Health Organization classified video game addiction as a mental disorder, either online or offline, in the 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases in 2018 14.

For some individuals, particularly teens and young adults, technology use can spiral into an unhealthy dependence that disrupts daily life. This dependency, often referred to as technology addiction or internet addiction, has become a significant mental health concern. Physically, individuals may succumb to sedentary lifestyles, sleep disturbances, and eye-related issues.