#TechnologyImpact

Revolutionary laboratory experiments with common marmosets—small South American primates sharing significant genetic similarities with humans—have revealed shocking insights into the fundamental psychological mechanisms driving compulsive smartphone usage that could transform how Thai families, educators, and policymakers approach digital wellness throughout the kingdom. These groundbreaking studies demonstrate that screen attraction stems not primarily from meaningful content or social connections as previously assumed, but from simple, repeatable sensory changes that trigger basic reinforcement pathways in primate brains, suggesting that the compulsive checking behaviors plaguing millions of Thai smartphone users result from evolutionary responses to engineered digital stimuli rather than personal weakness or lack of self-control.

In a world increasingly dominated by digital screens, new research from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden sheds light on the concerning interplay between screen time, sleep disruption, and rising depression rates among teenagers. Published recently in PLOS Global Public Health, the study underscores the critical need for stakeholders, including parents and educators, to tackle this growing issue with urgency.

The study analyzed data from over 4,800 adolescents, aged 12 to 16, tracking their screen use, sleep habits, and mental health symptoms over one year. It discovered that excessive screen time significantly compromises both the quality and duration of sleep, which in turn elevates depression risk, notably among young girls. For boys, the link between screen use and depression was more straightforward, while for girls, disrupted sleep was the pivotal factor connecting screen exposure to mood disorders.