going to limit your possibility for joy in your life. There are different kinds of joy that you have in real person-to-person social interactions that feels pretty good on social media if you get lots of likes, but it’s not the same,” Dr Wendy Suzuki, told host Steven Bartlett, the host of the popular podcast The Diary of a CEO.
Smartphones ‘frying’ our brains refers to the increasing negative impact caused by the overuse of your phone. It suggests the state of the brain is overstimulated and possibly harmed by constant dopamine hits and stress responses owing to frequent smartphone use.
During the podcast, Dr Suzuki pointed out that the increasing dependence on smartphones is rewiring our neural pathways, reducing the potential for brain growth, and eventually impacting our overall well-being. She also talked about how increased screen time, especially through social media use, is leading to more anxiety, depression, and a decrease in human connections which is crucial for brain health.
Designed to be addictive
During the chat, the renowned neuroscientist and memory researcher said smartphones and social media apps are designed to be addictive. She compared the experience of this extensive use to gambling. “Social media is … like pulling the slot machine handle. I pull down on the feed and I get a ping. ‘Oh look there’s a nice picture’. ‘Oh ping, there’s notifications and comments’. It’s that constant… dopamine hit,” she told Bartlett.
She said the constant stream of notifications, likes, and new content triggers a release of dopamine in the brain’s reward centres. Over time, she said, a user becomes conditioned to crave this stimulation, leading to compulsive behaviours like frequently checking smartphones or social media apps.
Dr Suzuki also pointed to the impact of social media and smartphones on the developing brain. The researcher acknowledged that while smartphone use impacts people of all ages, she expressed a deep concern about its impact on young people. “When kids started getting smartphones and started to spend more and more seven hours a day on social media, that’s when the anxiety and depression went up.”
The neuroscientist noted the increased use of smartphones and social media correlates with “huge increases in depression and anxiety levels, particularly in young girls”. She said the constant comparisons and instant access to metrics such as likes and reach seem to add to the unprecedented stress in adolescents.
Dr Suzuki highlighted that the alarming addiction to smartphones is impairing our ability to hold genuine human connections. “There’s no substitute for real human connections when it comes to brain health and emotional wellbeing,” she said. She added that face-to-face social interactions can activate key regions of the brain in ways that digital interactions simply cannot have. “A lot of the social interaction areas including the insula…part of the brain right in the side here just in the area near the ear deep into the cortex gets activated.”
The researcher warned that constantly reaching for our smartphones instead of engaging with those around us may be “atrophying” the neural pathways responsible for empathy, emotional intelligence, and deep relationships.
How to use smartphones smartly
Dr Suzuki also touched upon strategies people can adopt for a healthier relationship with their digital devices, as she offered several evidence-based approaches for tackling smartphone addiction and nurturing better brain health.
She recommended digital detox by taking long breaks from your smartphone to help reset habitual behaviours such as frequently checking your phone. This can lead to healthier ways to spend your time, she said.
“Exercise immediately decreases anxiety and depression levels… Ten minutes of walking can significantly decrease your anxiety and depression levels,” said the researcher adding that physical activity provides a natural mood boost at the same time reducing stress.
She said conscious breathing helps one to activate the relaxation response, and can counter the stress from constant connectivity. “Take three deep breaths…that’s the only thing you have conscious control over that can launch all the rest of that parasympathetic activity slowing your heart rate.”