ADDICTION

The issue: This is a newer area, and there’s no scientifically established condition of social media or smartphone addiction.

There are however “problematic behaviours” associated with the technologies that are similar to the ones found in recognized addictions to drugs, alcohol or gambling, such as not being able to cut back on use, says Centre for Addiction and Mental Health senior scientist Dr. Robert Mann.

Mann says a 2016 CAMH survey of adults found 40 per cent said yes to at least one of a number of questions such as whether screen habits had ever caused the respondent to miss school, work or important social activities, or whether a family member had ever expressed concern.

Eight per cent of respondents said yes to three or more of the questions.

Matthew Johnson, director of education at digital literacy non-profit MediaSmarts, wouldn’t call it an addiction either. But he has heard of serious problematic behaviours, especially among young people using apps or social media sites that seem designed to keep them coming back.

Snapchat streaks, where kids keep sending Snapchats to their friends every day to keep their streak and earn a flame icon, even if it means missing sleep, are one example.

Benjamin Wong, a registered clinical counsellor in behavioural addictions in B.C., says he’s seen about a 5 per cent increase over the last five years in people with screen or tech issues. He believes “hooking” customers with colourful, engaging social media sites or apps is a “cornerstone” of the tech business. What others are doing: Other jurisdictions haven’t gone as far as they have on issues such as data collection, or fake news.

France recently passed a law that companies with more than 50 employees can’t email employees after business hours, giving individuals “the right to disconnect.”

The goal, said officials in that country at the time, was to prevent burnout and reduce work-related stress. But Mann says such an idea might also help with addictive behaviour.

“I think it’s interesting to consider that that kind of a law might reduce the need or the urge to continually access your devices,” he says.

In the U.K., the digital, culture, media and sport parliamentary committee launched an inquiry into the growth of “immersive and addictive technologies” in December 2018, looking into the “addictive nature of some technologies,” and how they can impact behaviour. What Canada is doing: “Not a whole lot has been done” in this country, says Wong, adding even much of the advocacy about regulating tech giants has been around privacy and data.

Mann says it’s a rich area for researchers, who might start by developing guidelines for healthy use.