Teenagers today are extremely tech-savvy. Thus, it is not surprising that they spend a good part of their day scrolling through their phones, documenting their lives on Instagram, playing video games on their laptops, or staying up all night to binge-watch a show. While technology does have its uses, more and more young adults are succumbing to electronic addiction without even realizing it. If you’re looking for resources on how to stop electronic addiction for your teenage child, reach out to Venture Academy at the earliest opportunity.
Electronic addiction can adversely affect your teen’s life in multiple ways. It disconnects them from their surroundings, hampers their relationships with family, and also leads to poor posture and failing eyesight. By curating an online persona to compete with their friends, their mental health also worsens, and they become disinterested in daily activities. To learn more about electronic addiction help and resources for troubled teens, call us at 866.762.2211.
How to Stop Electronic Addiction
Studies show that American teens spend over seven hours a day looking at screens. By gradually decreasing screen time and encouraging your teen to find alternative, fulfilling hobbies, you can help them beat electronic addiction.
Below are some simple but proven tips on how to stop electronic addiction:
1. Find Out How Much Time Is Spent on the Internet
Most of us (teens included) think that we’ll take a five-minute social media break and then return to our present task. But more often than not, those five minutes turn into an hour or two of doom-scrolling. Most of us spend more time staring at screens than we realize.
Thus, the first step to fighting electronic addiction is to measure one’s screen time and find out how much time one spends on each app.
2. Sign Out, Uninstall or Deactivate Certain Apps
Some teens may be obsessed with posting daily updates on Instagram. Others may be too busy checking their phone for likes on their latest tweet. Or they may be texting a stranger on the other side of the world on a messaging app. By finding out where one’s time is being spent the most, you can decide which apps to keep and what to uninstall.
For example, you can encourage them to uninstall Twitter from their phone and only check notifications once or twice a day from the computer. Or, they can deactivate Instagram for a few days to focus on their mental health.
3. Lay Down Some Ground Rules to Curb Electronic Addiction
Electronic addiction cannot be overcome in a day. But by laying down a few ground rules, such as the following, you’re bound to see an improvement in a few weeks:
- Designating a particular day of the week for staying offline
- No checking emails or social media before breakfast or after dinner
- Limiting time spent on video games to one hour a day
- Filling one’s time with more satisfying and productive hobbies such as reading, working out at a gym, joining an art class, learning a new language, and so on
4. Opt for a Digital Detox
In some cases, the electronic addiction might be so severe that your child may need a ‘digital detox.’
You can reach out to a quality treatment centre like Venture Academy for an assessment and a customisable treatment plan to break the toxic cycle of electronic addiction.
Get Electronic Addiction Help at Venture Academy
At Venture Academy, we specialize in treating behavioural issues for troubled teens and helping them unlock their true potential.
From electronic addiction to substance abuse, we help young adults identify and overcome their issues, improve their academic performance, develop better relationships with family members and peers, and live productive and fulfilling lives. At our clinics in Canada, your teen will first undergo a 30-day assessment and intervention program. After a thorough evaluation by a multidisciplinary team, we develop a personalized treatment plan aimed at improving their behaviour, mental health, and coping skills.
If your child is struggling, don’t be afraid to seek professional help. Call us at 866.762.2211 and schedule an appointment today. You can also fill out our online form and let us get back to you.
