"Tech Addiction in Children Linked to Increased Risk of Psychosis: Study"

A study from McGill University found that children who play video games on devices like smartphones and iPads are more likely to experience psychotic episodes later in life, with smartphones and social media use in adolescence linked to paranoia, delusions, hallucinations, and 'bizarre ideas' by age 23. The research, based on data from over 1,200 participants, suggests that higher video gaming and increasing-then-decreasing computer use during adolescence are associated with higher levels of psychotic experiences. However, the study emphasizes that technology itself is not to blame, and a child's addiction to devices could be a warning sign of vulnerability to mental illness, with shared risk factors including parental mental health problems, loneliness, and bullying.