Ep. 98: Managing Technology Use at Home with Dr. Joe Dilley

With the use of technology increasing at a rapid rate among people of all ages, we have to ask ourselves how much is too much? The answer to that is kind of complicated. It depends on the content, depends on the activity, and it definitely depends on each individual user. But today’s guest shares why it is important to follow your gut if you think screen time and technology use is a deeper problem. In this episode, Dr. Joe Dilley helps us see how to identify when kids are dependent on their electronics. This type of addiction as with any addition can be detrimental so he also shares ways we can break the addiction. We have to look for reasons and the motivations behind the use of technology and determine how much is enough and what is beyond the limit. Dr. Joe Dilley is a licensed Clinical Psychologist practicing in Texas and California. He is also the author of a fantastic book called The Game is Playing Your Kid. This book was written pre-pandemic and although the Covid-19 pandemic changed the way we use technology, the book remains relevant and useful.   Show Notes: [2:07] - Dr. Dilley wrote his book and a few articles for ChildNEXUS regarding technology use in kids pre-pandemic. [3:03] - The pandemic provided an unexpected and unwelcome boost to everybody’s digital time spent. [4:01] - Lockdowns and quarantines exacerbated an already high use of technology at home. [5:08] - Dr. Dilley shares some of the issues high use of technology can cause. [6:22] - Anxiety has a complex relationship with isolation. [7:55] - We are just scratching the surface of mental health effects. What will the ripple effect be with academics? [9:03] - Kids having to learn to read remotely during the pandemic, especially those who have learning differences, are likely to get looked over. [11:29] - There are unique risk factors of tech use for those with ADHD and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder. [13:36] - Technology could also be used as an escape for struggling students. [15:27] - Trust your gut as a parent. If you are concerned that your child is spending too much time using technology, look into it. [16:55] - Kids are going to push back. [18:31] - “Screen time” encompasses so many types of use like television, social media, phone use, video games, and more. [19:54] - What are the physiological and psychological effects of screen time? There are differences depending on the quality of the screen time. [21:30] - There is a very complex relationship between the use of technology and the possible effects it has. [22:58] - After about 3 hours, the benefits of gaming diminish. [23:58] - Playing a video game as a team for 2 hours is much different than scrolling through Instagram for 2 hours. [26:26] - The methods in his book have been recommended to parents by their own children.  [27:27] - Going back to school could be a great time to reset the guidelines around technology use at home. [29:34] - There are ways to communicate with your child or adolescent that can place boundaries on technology use. [30:41] - This isn’t a quick process and it can be difficult. [31:31] - It is much easier to just put the kids in front of the screen, especially the younger ones. [33:22] - Seize the opportunities to make some changes.   About Our Guest: Dr. Joe Dilley graduated from the University of Iowa with honors and high distinction in Psychology. He then brought this multifaceted view of the human psyche to his doctoral studies at Northwestern University, where he completed his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Now a licensed psychologist practicing in Texas and California, Dr. Joe specializes in the assessment and treatment of anxiety, ADHD, and Gaming Disorder. His book The Game Is Playing Your Kid: How to Unplug & Reconnect in the Digital Age offers practical and fair approaches to managing screen time, even in the COVID era.   Connect with Dr. Joe Dilley: Synergy Psych Website Phone: (626) 539-2001 x1   Links and Related Resources: The Game is Playing Your Kid by Dr. Joe Dilley How to Unplug and Reconnect in the Digital Age by Dr. Joe Dilley Clarifying Gray Areas in Family Tech Use Family Tech Use Part 2: Resolving Common Dilemmas Episode 24: Should We Worry About Screen Time During a Pandemic? with Dr. Allison Kawa   Join our email list so that you can receive information about upcoming webinars - ChildNEXUS.com The Diverse Thinking Different Learning podcast is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or legal advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Additionally, the views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are not considered treatment and do not necessarily reflect those of ChildNEXUS, Inc or the host, Dr. Karen Wilson.