Adolescent technology engagement: It is more complicated than a lack of self-control

Abstract

This is a theoretical paper about adolescent technology engagement. It overviews dual-systems theory, which has been used to explain internet addiction, and purports that it is the result of deficits in self-regulatory mechanisms that cannot suppress the learned and automatic habit to go online. Implicit in this perspective is that an individual has the goal of reducing his or her addictive tendencies around technology, and it is argued here that adolescents do not hold this goal. As developing adolescents become autonomous from their parents, their social goals become paramount and in today's digital world, they meet these emerging social needs through online socializing. This means that technology plays an adaptive function allowing adolescents to efficiently and effectively meet their developmentally appropriate social needs. Unfortunately, spending too much time online is linked to poor mental health outcomes, and online socializing doesn't actually satisfy social needs, which leads to maladaptive outcomes. Given that adolescents spend the most time online of any demographic and are at the highest risk for experiencing the negative outcomes associated with an overreliance on technology, untangling this issue is an important task for researchers. The paper discusses directions for future research, as well as approaches for intervention and prevention strategies.