Glow Kids: How Screen Addiction Is Hijacking Our Kids - and How to Break the Trance Hardcover – August 9, 2016

Kardaras, N. (2016). Glow kids: How screen addiction is hijacking our kids--and how to break the trance. St. Martin’s Press.Nicholas Kardaras is a psychologist, author, speaker and expert on mental health, addiction, and the impacts of our digital age.Kardaras opens talking about emails he receives from parents describing "good kids who had become hooked on their devices and became aggressive and often violent when their parents attempted to cut back or limit their screen time." This book is aimed at "informing parents about the clinical and neurological dangers that excessive screen exposure can have on their kids." The term Glow Kids refers to children's screen habits within which he found a "gender divide" observing, "if video games are digital cocaine for boys, then social media and texting are the electronic equivalents for girls." Kardaras asserted that video games and social media are high attention designed to garner and maintain attention and pleasure seeking through variable rewards. Symptoms of technology addiction include neglecting responsibilities, social withdrawal, mood changes, depression, loss of interest, and even aggression - all contributing to the potential for a failure to launch, the inability to transition to adulthood. Kardaras acknowledges that parents offer several reasons for continuing technology use: (a) I don't want my kids to get behind, (b) the horse is out of the barn, as in, it's too late, (c) I want them to have a phone in case I need to get hold of them, (d) it will help them learn through all the information available, and (d) It's not as bad as people say, an outright denial that there's a potential for a problem. He provides evidence against each reason as to why these reasons are less valid in comparison to the potential danger to kids. Well researched, he includes a checklist for parents to discern whether their child might have a screen addiction and his website includes a bibliography of cited sources related to tech addiction.This would be a good book for those interested in addiction, history of technology, technology use in education, and gender variances related to technology adoption and challenges.

This book provides a thoughtful and in depth presentation of the problem we are all facing today as parents. If you had any doubt about whether your common sense observation is correct about the fact your kid could have a tech addiction; this book presents indisputable evidence that your gut feeling is correct.Dr. Kardaras presents an evidenced based case citing scientific study after scientific study to prove the point that we, as a society, are already deep inside the rabbit hole. We have been systemically and purposely deceived by sometimes well intentioned but oftentimes greedy group think corporate heads that placed tech into the hands of our young children.As a physician, and the father of three boys ages two through 11, I have seen first hand the addiction in my kids. The facts presented by Dr. Kardaras will hit you like a ton of bricks. THIS IS ADDICTION--100%It is not often that I read a passage in a book that literally stops me in my tracks and rocks me to my core. Again, as an MD, I've read 100's, if not 1000's of medical texts and articles. Don't get me wrong, you do not need any degree other than common sense to get the point of this book. It is all explained very well so that anyone will get it. But when he speaks of Little Johnny sitting in the corner with his iPad, seemingly in intense quiet concentration and focus. So much that one might say, "Look at how focused Little Johnny is, concentrating so hard on his game." But as Dr. Kardaras pointed out and I can concur from other medical research, Little Johnny 's brain is being damaged by the onslaught of hyper-stimulation. Although he looks so focused and concentrating, his ability to focus and concentrate is actually being destroyed by the hyper stimulation to his cerebral cortex.That was the passage that stopped me cold. How many times have I seen my own kids mesmerized in apparent concentration while their higher order brain centers were being bombarded with sequential rewards and temptations. I literally got sick to my stomach.The second part of the book presented a treatment plan. I implemented this in my life and successfully broke my kids addiction. I used the not well known "Restrictions" functions on their iPad and iPhone device and restricted everything. I confiscated all tech and sent them into painful withdrawal. 6 months later, I am happy to say my older one doesn't even remember or care if he has his phone or not, their grades have improved and although they think this is a punishment, which I keep telling them it's not; we are a much better off family unit.This book will change your life if you think you have kids that are addicted to their devices.Thanks Nick

My son was showing signs of ADHD and I had a gut feeling screen time had something to do with it. I tried the screen fast suggested in the book for 4 weeks and my child is so well behaved and focusing great. The research cited is mind blowing and this book is completely changing how I parent. I used to worry that having my young kids go completely screen free was somehow going to affect their ability to regulate their media use in the future but this book put my worries to rest. I can't recommend this book enough. It helps you to understand the effects of media on a child's brain and backs it up with research. He goes into depth about the harmful effects of media, especially on those with conditions like Asperger's. My favorite part highlighted why technology in education can be damaging (and a total waste of money). This is a book every parent and educator should read.