Screen Addiction
Chasing the Dopamine Hit
There’s no denying that screens are engaging, so much so that children (and adults) often find it hard to disengage. But this isn’t just about entertainment. It’s rooted in brain chemistry.
When children use screens—watching videos, scrolling through social media, or playing games—their brains release dopamine, a chemical often called the “feel-good” hormone. Dopamine is released during pleasurable experiences and is a key part of the brain’s reward system. It gives children temporary excitement, novelty, or enjoyment that keeps them returning for more.
But here’s the problem: while screen-based activities provide that instant stimulation, they rarely offer lasting satisfaction. The dopamine hit wears off quickly, leaving children wanting more. The brain begins to crave repeated stimulation, which drives repeated behaviour. It’s not unlike the cycle seen in other forms of addiction.
In his TED talk, Adam Alter mentions the impact of screen time encroaching on personal time. Thus, valuable time spent on enjoyable activities and relationship building is being curtailed by screen time. This can have a significant impact, including a lack of building social connections, resulting in a feeling of isolation and related mental health issues.
Psychologically, young people tend to get more recognition and validation on social media, which is one factor in their reliance on these media. Building a healthy relationship with family and friends and engaging in more outdoor activities could benefit children and young people.
The dark side of algorithms
Social media platforms and many online games are predominantly algorithm-driven. They feed users similar content to what they’ve previously engaged with, ensuring they remain hooked. For a developing brain, this creates a powerful and often overwhelming loop.
In previous years, most screen-based programs had a stop. For example, the television serial would end at a particular time, and the next episode would be in a week or so. So, people were required to wait for the next episode. But currently, there is no “stop switch”, resulting in people continuing the never-ending watch list and suggestions that are driven by algorithms.
Furthermore, if the content watched is violent or inappropriate for the age group, the algorithms feed more similar content that keeps the young people engaged and, to an extent, addicted.
Impact on children with neurodiversity
Children with ADHD are particularly vulnerable. With already limited impulse control and reduced executive function, these children struggle even more to regulate their screen use. The constant alerts, pop-ups, and shifting content are tailor-made to capture—and fragment—their attention. What might begin as a harmless scroll can quickly spiral into hours of screen time, with little awareness of the time passed.
This repeated pattern not only strengthens a child’s reliance on screens for stimulation but also dulls their sensitivity to more natural sources of dopamine, like exercise, achievement, creativity, or social connection.
Parents must recognise that what may seem like a harmless habit could reinforce a dependency on external stimulation, making it harder for children to stay engaged in the real world. Encouraging screen-free time, building real-world rewards, and helping children find joy in offline activities can support a healthier balance—and help recalibrate the brain’s reward system to respond to life beyond the screen.
Strategies for mindful use of screens
Having strategies to have stop switches is helpful to reduce screen addiction. For example, self-imposed stop switches such as not having screen during mealtimes with family, turning off the mobile to flight mode during weekends, shutting down the computer after the intended work is done as a sign of detaching from work, taking frequent breaks- examples 5 minutes after 20 to 30 minutes of work etc. can be helpful strategies to build in stop-switches in our system. A world without screens is impossible, but developing self-discipline in its use is achievable.
Suggested Resources
Adam Alter. Why our screen makes us less happy. TED2017