In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, young people around the world had to spend more time at home, which led to a noticeable increase in screen use for educational purposes, entertainment, or to stay in contact with friends and family.
Signs of screen addictions :
Here are some indicators of excessive screen use that might alert you :
• You find that you spend your evenings, until late at night, browsing social networks or playing online games on your phone or computer.
• You feel the need to sleep with your phone nearby.
• You wake up in the middle of the night to check notifications on your phone.
• As soon as you wake up, you feel the need to check your phone.
• You regularly interrupt your work to check activity on your phone.
• The idea of having misplaced your phone makes you panic.
• When you spend time with friends, you are constantly on your phone.
Understanding screen and online gaming addiction in young people
In parallel with increased screen use, an increase in online gaming has also been observed. A recent study (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11469-022-00816-y) conducted among university students sought to analyze these behaviors, focusing on excessive attachment to screens and online games. The study identified four distinct groups of students, each presenting different levels of attachment and behaviors.
The first group, called « non-dependent and non-player », scored the lowest on tests of attachment to screens and games. They did not display excessive or compulsive behaviors related to screens or online games.
The next group, « non-dependent player », had above-average scores for attachment to gaming, but did not show a tendency for excessive screen use. The third group, « dependent non-player », had high scores for attachment to screens but low scores for online gaming. Finally, the last group, « highly dependent and player », had the highest scores for attachment to screens and games.
The first group showed a moderate use of digital technologies without signs of excessive attachment, which is positive. This shows that young people's use of screens and online games does not necessarily lead to excessive attachment. However, it is important to note that this group is only one of the four identified by the study. The other three groups present higher levels of attachment, which highlights the need for targeted attention and intervention.
Identifying these groups is a key step to understand how young people interact with digital technologies and how these interactions can become problematic. By having a better understanding of these behaviors, parents, educators and health professionals can develop more specific intervention strategies.
For example, for young people who show signs of excessive attachment, strategies aimed at limiting screen time could be implemented. This could include rules on device use during certain hours, instituting regular breaks away from screens, or encouraging offline activities.
For young people who are passionate about online games, strategies could be implemented to encourage healthy and balanced gaming. This could mean helping young people understand the risks associated with excessive gaming, or finding other ways of socializing and entertaining.
This study highlights the importance of understanding young people's behaviors regarding the use of screens and online games. By recognizing the diversity of behaviors and levels of attachment, we are better able to respond to young people's needs and guide them in navigating the digital world.
References :
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11469-022-00816-y