A&E's Digital Addiction: Understanding Digital Addiction Through the Eyes of Steffanie
The A&E television series, Digital Addiction often begins with a shocking statistic. For example, one episode begins; according to the University of Hong Kong, Department of Psychology, “over 420 million people around the world are addicted to digital media.” Let's absorb that fact for just a moment. To put that into perspective, that is over five percent of the world's population! With that revelation, it is no wonder that addiction professionals are taking note and starting to address it.
When it comes to digital addiction, there is a tendency for people to minimize its impact or even its very existence for that matter. Many questions arise, such as “After all, everyone uses technology now, what's the big harm?” and “how can anything be addictive that you can't physically put into your body?” We now know that these questions are unfounded, and can be harmful to those with digital addiction.
For those struggling with a digital addiction, it can be hard to self-recognize this problem. This can be because they are not informed of how damaging their addiction has become or because the active addiction itself is stopping them from seeing the harm. The good news is that whether it comes from a lack of understanding or internal struggle, there are solutions that can help those struggling see the dangers of their behaviors. We here at Next Level Recovery Associates have those solutions.
Understanding Digital Addiction
Our digital addiction specialist, Amanda Marino is one of the interventionists that worked on the A&E show, Digital Addiction. In season one, episode two of the show she assesses a client named Steffanie that spends over 15 hours on her phone a day. Steffanie suffers from three forms of digital addiction. The series identifies five forms in total.
Social Media Addiction
Social media addiction refers specifically to those that spend significant amounts of time on social networking sites (SNSs). This attention to social media can cause significant disruption to a person's social, familial, and professional lives.
Now, it is important to remember that this addiction may not specifically be to a specific platform, but rather to the feelings and emotions that the platform evokes. According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “On the Internet, people engage in a variety of activities some of which may be potentially addictive. Rather than becoming addicted to the medium per se, some users may develop an addiction to specific activities they carry out online.” This is one of the digital addictions that Steffanie is struggling with.
Pornography Addiction
Steffanie also struggles with pornography addiction, spending up to four hours a day absorbing it online. This addiction is relatively straightforward as it is an addiction to online pornography. However, its consequences can cause body issues, risky sexual and online behaviors, and severe social interruption.
Information Overload
Steffanie also struggles with something she calls “doom scrolling,” which is when she cannot control the amount of information she tries to consume online. This attempt to gain stimulation from online information is not only time-consuming and energy-wasting, but it can also elevate feelings of depression and anxiety.
Video Game Addiction
Online gaming has made way for a boom in digital video game addiction. The “world-building” games that now exist can cause individuals to compulsively ignore reality and responsibility. While it affects all populations, it has been shown to affect the adolescent population the most.
Compulsive Spending
The ability to consume and spend money from the comfort of your home has made way for an elevation in people that struggle with compulsive spending. This digital addiction can cause irrevocable financial harm, as well as serious relationship and emotional issues.
Relating to Steffanie’s Story
While Steffanie's addiction is rather severe, it exemplifies the struggles that people suffering from a digital addiction go through on a daily basis. Steffanie's story is also a prime example of why digital addiction should not be ignored or minimized. Her story illustrates the dangers, symptoms, and consequences that come from digital addiction.
Steffanie's story involves risky and toxic sexual behaviors, complete occupational disruption, and even suicidal ideation and attempt. Yet, during the intervention process, there are moments when she is faced with disbelief and a lack of understanding. This is why it can be so critical to have an intervention specialist, like Amanda Marino, to help loved ones through the intervention process.
During the intervention, Steffanie agrees to go to a 28-day inpatient recovery facility. In this facility, she was not allowed to have her phone. After spending these 28 days, the transformation is astounding. Steffanie has begun working on the deeper root causes of her digital addiction, as well as creating a plan to treat her digital addiction after treatment, while also being able to participate in the unavoidable “online world.” On the show, Steffanie shows us two vital aspects of digital addiction. One, that is serious and requires help. Two, that recovery from digital addiction is readily available and highly possible.
Digital addiction is a serious illness and it should be addressed as such. Many people minimize it out of ignorance or stigmatization, but this is a fallacy. Here at Next Level Recovery Associates, we have the tools, resources, specialists, and connections that can help. Whether it be problematic online gambling, a social media disorder, or an internet use disorder, we will be here to get you, a loved one, an employee, or a client through the hardships of these addictions. Digital addictions are becoming more prevalent every day, and they are destroying the livelihoods of countless individuals. But there are solutions, and we can help you achieve them. Please call Next Level Recovery Associates at (561) 735-2590 for more information.