Digital Addiction Is Altering Brain Structure

Digital addiction, a concept gaining rapid recognition in society, refers to an individual's uncontrolled and excessive use of digital devices such as phones, tablets, and computers, or through the internet, accessing content like social media or online games.

Highlighting that this issue is a serious problem that can negatively impact a person's daily life, social relationships, and academic or professional functioning, Specialist Psychologist Ezgi Dokuzlu Tezel from Anadolu Health Center Hospital stated, "It is important to continue using social media, video games, messaging applications, online research, shopping, and news tracking in a controlled manner that can provide benefits while protecting against addiction."

Digital addiction is a neuropsychological problem that affects areas of the brain responsible for reward processing, impulse control, and emotional regulation. Specialist Psychologist Ezgi Dokuzlu Tezel from Anadolu Health Center Hospital, noting that dopamine release triggers the reinforcement of addiction, said, "Digital content continuously stimulates dopamine release in certain brain areas, increasing short-term pleasure expectations. Over time, this weakens the ability to concentrate, regulate mood, and build healthy relationships. The prefrontal cortex, one of the most affected brain regions responsible for decision-making and self-control, weakens both structurally and functionally in those with digital addiction. Additionally, the amygdala suffers in terms of emotional responses, and the parietal lobe is damaged in attention and multitasking abilities. All these changes shorten attention span and lead to concentration difficulties. Therefore, it is important to remember that early detection and prevention of digital addiction is critical for brain health."

Those dependent on the digital world procrastinate more
Drawing attention to how excessive digital use can prioritize online interactions for individuals, Tezel stated, "This can lead to reduced face-to-face communication with family members, friends, and partners and quality time spent together, causing conflicts in relationships. Although technology creates the opportunity to strengthen social bonds by eliminating distances between people, when overused, it can have the opposite effect, causing the person to focus intensely on the virtual world, weakening social bonds and leading to feelings of loneliness. Additionally, procrastination, attention scattering, and productivity loss can be observed in academic, professional, and personal areas. If individuals cannot control the time they spend in the digital world, their concentration and sustained attention skills begin to weaken."

High-risk group: ages 9-18
Sharing that digital addiction most affects children and adolescents, Tezel stated, "Particularly those aged 9-18 whose cognitive development is not yet complete; since impulse control and self-control skills are not sufficiently mature, they are more sensitive to digital stimuli. In this age group, high interest in social media, games, and online interactions increases addiction risk. Digital addiction can also occur in adults, but the risk is lower due to more developed self-control skills. Particularly in individuals aged 10-15, there are studies showing that functional connections in brain regions belonging to the executive control network responsible for active thinking processes such as memory and decision-making are generally reduced. According to various research conducted on this subject, adolescents who are both dependent on digital devices and have working parents carry higher risk."

Fascination with the virtual world also disrupts sleep patterns
Sharing that according to one study, the likelihood of sleep problems among technology addicts is 2.2 times higher compared to non-addicted individuals, Tezel stated, "According to the same research, addicted individuals have unhealthier and shorter sleep duration compared to normal individuals. At the same time, the increase in social media use among young people is particularly damaging the self-confidence and body satisfaction of young women. Some research shows that media content is associated with body dissatisfaction and eating disorders, while some content can lead to comparison, self-dislike of appearance and experiences, blame, lack of self-worth, anger, and decreased motivation."