These technologies havebecome ubiquitous, and young peoples distress has continued to increase since then.
Many articles in the popular and academic press assert that digital technology is to blame.
This is understandable because itsvery hard to pay attention to and accurately recallsomething that you do frequently and habitually.
It’s free, every week, in your inbox.
This has enormous implications.
Although measurement isnt a sexy topic, it forms the foundation of scientific research.
If your measures are defective, then your data is untrustworthy.
This isthe case for the majority of researchinto the effects of technology use over the past 15 years.
Now imagine that people who actually have the virus are more likely to misdiagnose themselves.
The consequences of relying on this unreliable measure would be far-reaching.
And the resources expended based on this flawed information would be largely wasted.
This means that the putative link between digital technology and psychological distress remains inconclusive.
An example of an objective measure is Apples Screen Time program, which automatically tracks machine use.
In fact, those who used their smartphones more frequently reported lower levels of depression and anxiety.
The reasons for this inconsistency are many, but flawed measurement is at the top of the list.
However, the reality is likely to remain unclear until more reliable evidence comes in.
