Teens & Technology on BCTV

Today’s teens are digital natives, with a natural affinity for technology. While that can have it’s advantages, it can also make kids less likely to limit their screen time. The results can be detrimental.

“What they don’t realize is that these behaviors are changing the way their brain works, and that can have a long-term impact,” said Sarah Billman, COCA Prevention Specialist during a recent BCTV interview with COCA Community Programs Specialist Yvonne Stroman.

Perhaps even more disconcerting is the fact that experts aren’t really sure what those long-term impacts might be.

“It’s almost as though we are doing an experiment on a whole generation,” Billman said.

What research has shown is that online gaming is closely related to gambling, producing the same chemicals in the brain as, say, playing a slot machine at a casino. What’s more, teens who spend more time online are more likely to suffer from depression, sleep deprivation and obesity.

Watch the entire video to learn more about Teens & Technology, along with solutions to getting kids to disconnect.