Living in a tech-savvy digital world has brought with it challenges. “In the UK, there has been a dramatic rise in the number of cases of digital or technology addiction,” says Dr Catherine Carney, a psychiatrist and addiction expert at Delamere, a residential private rehab clinic in Cheshire.
“The online world of targeted algorithms has produced an environment of ‘digital sugar’ designed to tempt people into wanting more and more.
“The dopamine produced by screen engagement and internet use is the same as that from many types of illicit drugs – but spotting the point at which recreational enjoyment tips over into addiction is difficult,” she explains.
“Many people underestimate how long they spend online. This results in denial about having a problem, particularly when discussing the negative impacts on mental health, relationships or work and academic performance.
“While rehab clinics traditionally focus on substance addiction and addictions such as gambling, we are now seeing an increase in people coming to us for gaming and online screen addiction. It’s an area few know much about.” Here’s what everyone needs to understand:
The NHS doesn’t recognise it as an addiction: “Technology plays a significant role in modern life,” says Dr Carney. “And not everyone who spends a lot of time using it experiences negative effects – which makes classifying it as a disorder a challenge for health organisations like the NHS and World Health Organisation (WHO). Unlike substance abuse disorders, which have clear physical symptoms, tech addiction does not present in a uniformly recognisable way.
“Excessive use of social media may affect people differently depending on their personality or social context, making it hard to establish a clear clinical definition. While the long-term psychological and physiological impacts are still being studied, the WHO has already taken steps towards recognising some related issues, such as excessive and problematic use of video games, classifying gaming disorder as a mental health condition in 2018.”
It’s not just about gaming and social media: “Tech addiction can involve a variety of activities, all primarily centred around the excessive and/or compulsive use of digital devices,” Dr Carney explains. “It can include shopping, dating apps – even compulsively checking work emails.
Anything that leads you to endlessly scroll through content without a specific purpose – causing time loss and distraction from other important tasks or neglecting sleep, work or social activities – can lead to dependency.”
Social anxiety can be a trigger: “Individuals who struggle with face-to-face interactions may use technology as a coping mechanism or escape from uncomfortable social situations,” explains Dr Carney.
“Social media, gaming or messaging apps may make communication feel safer or less intimidating, but over time this reliance on digital communication can escalate into tech addiction.
“Social media may feel like a comfortable space for self-expression without the discomfort of in-person communication, while online gaming can also create a sense of belonging in gaming communities where people can interact with others from behind the anonymity of a screen.
“As someone who is shy retreats into technology, their real-world skills may atrophy further, deepening their reliance on technology. This cycle can make addiction less obvious, as it seems rooted in social discomfort rather than addictive behaviours.”
It isn’t just a young person’s issue: “While it’s true young people, especially adolescents, are among the heaviest users of technology, some studies suggest figures as high as 20-25% of teenagers exhibit some signs of problematic internet use of tech addiction – double that of 2018 – but the number of over-55s who excessively use tech has also dramatically increased since the pandemic,” says Dr Carey.
“The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found many adults in this age group reported increased reliance on digital technology for communication, entertainment and information seeking.
“Many older adults face social isolation and loneliness, especially as they retire, experience mobility issues or lose close friends or family members, while cognitive decline and memory issues may make it harder to regulate technology use.”
It can lead to other dependencies: “Dopamine pathways activated by technology use are similar to those activated by substance use,” warns Dr Carney. “This shared mechanism can increase the risk of developing an addiction to substances like alcohol or drugs as individuals seek to replicate or intensify pleasurable sensations.
“A Journal of Behavioural Addictions study found heavy use of the internet, particularly in gaming and social media, was associated with increased substance abuse, such as smoking and alcohol consumption. Other studies, including one published in Computers in Human Behaviour, found individuals with problematic social media use were more likely to binge eat.”
Tech addicts can experience ‘withdrawal’: “Similar to building tolerance with substances like recreational drugs and alcohol, addicts may need to spend increasing amounts of time using technology to achieve the same level of satisfaction or enjoyment,” says Dr Carney.
“When unable to access technology, they may experience psychological discomfort, such as irritability, anxiety, restlessness, reflecting withdrawal symptoms seen in other behavioural addictions.”
Recovery is tough: “Giving up a tech addiction is particularly challenging due to the pervasive nature of technology in modern life,” says Dr Carey. “Unlike substance addictions, where abstinence is often the goal, tech addiction is more complex as technology is integral to so many of our work and social interactions. Most people would struggle to fully disconnect as their jobs or education require them to remain online.
“Short-term ‘digital detox’ can be a temporary way to manage tech addiction. But research suggests this is hard to sustain, so understanding the root cause of your addiction is vital to support long-term, healthy recovery.”
