More than 20% of Canarian youth admit to being hooked on technology and around 14% show addictive indicators, according to a study by the Adsis Foundation, through the Techno-addiction Prevention Program and other addictive behaviors of the Aluesa Center, a research in the Canary Islands that studies the uses of ICT and Techno-addictions in adolescent and young population.
The Adsis Foundation explains that "the overexposure to technologies that has taken place in the pandemic era has especially affected young people, normalizing digital leisure behaviors that are harmful to mental health." To analyze this phenomenon, Adsis has interviewed 2,355 Canarian students between 9 and 20 years old from educational and non-formal education centers.
The analysis reveals that risky uses of ICT have increased compared to the previous year. Of the population surveyed, more than 10% admit to making inappropriate and dangerous use of technology. Not taking into account privacy on social networks, exchanging intimate photos or videos, or talking to unknown people are some of the risky behaviors carried out by young islanders.
The most widespread technological uses among the adolescent and young population are WhatsApp with 92.8% of the population using it, TikTok with 78.9%, YouTube with 74.7%, Instagram is used by 74.2%. On the other hand, the increase in the use of smartphones to play video games is also noteworthy.
“The increase in exposure to ICT Risks in adolescents and the consolidation of the increase in techno-addictions in the youth population are some of the alarming conclusions that stand out in the research. For this reason, we believe it is necessary to regulate and combat the dangers of ICT in a comprehensive and effective way through prevention and early treatment”, says Óscar Lorenzo, psychologist and coordinator of the Aluesa Center of the Adsis Foundation in the Canary Islands.
