Technology Addiction & Usage - The average person in 2024 spends roughly 7 hours and 4 minutes a day on screens, which is a third of the day [6] - Teenagers spend up to 9 hours a day on screens [6] - Technology addiction is defined as the inability to stop scrolling through social media despite knowing one should stop [8] - Certain apps, like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, utilize the dopamine feedback loop to keep users addicted [9] Impact of Technology - Technology addiction can lead to reduced sleep time, missed homework, and ignoring people [9] - Technology impacts mental health by lowering attention spans, increasing anxiety, and causing restlessness when offline [10] - A study from the Canadian University of Dubai in 2019 showed that 69.7% of their students spend more than 5 hours a day on social media [11] - In 2025, nearly 910 universities across the UAE and their students spend more than 7 hours a day on screens [11] Overcoming Technology Addiction - Strategies to overcome technology addiction include one hour of screen-free time before bed, no phones at the dinner table or in the living room, and engaging in hobbies [14] - Changing one's vocabulary can impact mindset, promoting social interaction and focus instead of distraction and isolation [15][16]