In this episode, Danni speaks with Clinical Neuropsychologist, Kimberley Wigg, about the role that a neurotransmitter called "Dopamine" plays in the addictive nature of smartphones and social media.
The South Australian state government has committed to banning student access to mobile phone in all secondary school across South Australia. This ban will be actioned in Term 2 this year at Brighton Secondary School. What does this mean for our students? And how are we able to start to build healthier phone habits for ourselves and our young people?
Phone Apps to reduce screen time:
iPhones - built into the device. Go to 'Settings', then under 'screen time', you can select 'app limits'. You can then toggle how much time you are allowed to have on these apps within a 24 hour limit. Also, go to 'Settings', then under 'Downtime' you can also decide what time all the apps shut down for the day.
Android - built into the device. Go to 'Settings', then under 'Digital Wellbeing and Parental Controls', you can select 'App Timers'. You can then toggle how much time you are allowed to have on these apps within a 24 hour limit. Also, go to 'Settings', then under 'Wind Down' you can decide what time of day you stop receiving notifications on your phone.
Some other apps: Forest | Flipd | Break Free
Book recommendation:
Dr Anna Lembke. Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence.Extra Resources and References:
https://www.esafety.gov.au/research/digital-lives-aussie-teens
https://www.brightonss.sa.edu.au/healthy-use-of-phones-social-media/
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- Carter, B., Rees, P., Hale, L. et al. (2016). Association between portable screen-based media device access or use and sleep outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatrics. 170, 1202–8.
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- Lembke, A. (2023). Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence. Headling Publishing Group. London, United Kingdom.
- Mendoza, J.S., Pody, B.C., Lee, S. et al. (2018). The effect of cellphones on attention and learning: the influences of time, distraction, and nomophobia. Computers in Human Behavior. 86, 52–60.
- Twenge, J.M., Martin, G.N., Campbell, W.K. (2018). Decreases in psychological well-being among American adolescents after 2012 and links to screen time during the rise of smartphone technology. Emotion (18). 765–80.
- Twenge, J.M., Joiner, T.E., Rogers, M.L. et al. (2017). Increases in depressive symptoms, suicide-related outcomes, and suicide rates among U.S. adolescents after 2010 and links to increased new media screen time. Clinical Psychological Science. 6(3),doi 10.1177/2167702617723376.
- Sampasa-Kanyinga, H., Hamilton, H.A., Chaput, J.P. (2018). Use of social media is associated with short sleep duration in a dose-response manner in students aged 11 to 20 years. Acta Paediatrica. 107, 694–700
- Van der Schuur, W.A., Baumgartner, S.E., Sumter, S.R. et al. (2015). The consequences of media multitasking for youth: a review. Computers in Human Behavior. 53, 204-15.

