Digital media addiction. Why the brain can’t cope

illustration: DALL-E

She believes society must recognize that children and teenagers are especially vulnerable. Lembke called for smartphones to be removed from schools, especially in early education. She argued that kids should have space to learn and grow without distractions, and teachers should be free to teach. According to her, a phone in a child’s pocket acts like a “digital drug.”

Families, she said, should delay giving children personal devices and use basic phones instead. Monitoring online activity is key. But individual responsibility isn’t enough — Lembke called for systemic action. She proposed age verification laws, algorithm changes, and less addictive app design. Not everything will work, she admitted, but doing nothing isn’t an option.

Lembke also explained that the way societies frame addiction matters. If people treat it as a brain disease, those affected are less stigmatized and more likely to seek help. In contrast, when addiction is shamed, individuals hide their problems and avoid treatment.


She pointed out that China was the first to officially recognize gaming disorder. Chinese authorities classified it under the WHO and launched dedicated treatment centers. The U.S., by comparison, has been slower to address digital addiction, though it leads in treating substance abuse.

Lembke said it`s hard to know how many people will develop media-related addictions, but she estimates it could affect 10 to 20 percent of the population - similar to drug and alcohol addiction rates. She also observed that modern life exposes people to more addictive stimuli than ever: processed food is engineered to be irresistible, social media manipulates social rewards, and even shopping and gaming have become more stimulating.

As technology becomes more immersive, she said, people need to understand the risks. Most will self-regulate, but some won`t. Lembke urged society to act before the damage spreads further.

***
Based on an interview with Anna Lembke for PAP Polska Agencja Prasowa (Nauka w Polsce)