Tech trap: Young children being treated for smartphone addiction

Technology addiction has become so widespread that children as young as 13 are now being treated for excessive use of smartphones and video games at a facility in the US, media reported.

The reSTART Life Centre near Seattle is the only treatment unit of its kind in the western world and helps youngsters with addiction to digital technology, including video games, reported Sky News. The treatment facility for adolescents between ages 13 and 18 is named Serenity Mountain.

“In a world filled with endless virtual influences impinging on personal and family connection, we are thrilled to have settled on a location rich in chill, and long on calm,” reSTART said in a statement.

“When you start handing these devices to young children and they’re distracted by the movement, the colour and sound coming from this device, that is mesmerising enough that it will override all those natural instincts that children actually have for movement and exploration and social interaction,” said the centre’s founder Dr Hilarie Cash.

During this time, a specialised team of skilled clinicians works with individuals and their families to better understand the complex nature of digital media use, the inherent developmental challenges being faced, and the underlying medical and mental health conditions which complicate a desire to change.