Technology and Mental Health in Youth in North America

Abstract

Technology addiction is an emerging issue that can present itself in many ways. It is characterized by excessive and obsessive use of any form of technology. First identified by the World Health Organization as a public health concern in 2015, discussions of the dangers of excessive technology use have only risen. By 2015, 46.4% of the world’s population was online, and this number has only grown (Zheng et al., 2016). As young people’s technology use increases (Statistics Canada, 2021), it is crucial to examine the health implications of this phenomenon. This literature review sought to explore the impacts of technology addiction on the mental health of youth populations in North America. It focuses on defining the ways technology addiction can present itself, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and physical and mental health, while placing emphasis on these factors with respect to young people. Review of existing literature suggests that gaming disorder, problematic social media use and excessive internet use are of particular concern post-pandemic and have concerning impacts on both physical and mental health. These issues are exacerbated in youth, whose technology use has risen in recent years. As technology use increases and addiction takes on novel forms, it is vital that pathology is standardized to allow treatment pathways to be created and ensure proper diagnosis.