Rising technology use prompts digital detoxing efforts in Austin

Today, the World Health Organization recognizes a type of technology addiction known as “gaming disorder,” which is on its official disease classification list. Furthermore, the WHO has signaled that problematic use of social media has been associated with less sleep, potentially impacting adolescents’ overall health and academic performance.

As these issues gain more public recognition, organizations such as Omega Recovery in Austin are offering programs to help people gain control over their digital habits.

Nick Hoenes, executive clinical director of Omega Recovery, said “younger generations,” such as youth in their late teens or early 20s, are more likely to visit in search of care.

“I would say that, largely, this is a group of people that was impacted by the COVID shutdown. ... They were cut off from connection with their peers,” Hoenes said. “This was the only way to connect, everything was really scary, and this became a really easy way to manage emotions—to kind of do this online thing in whatever form that took for people.”

As it relates to gaming addictions, skilled players often receive more positive feedback or enjoy a community of online friends, Hoenes said, which could make it more difficult to put the controller down.

However, Hoenes also said the recovery center has seen people seeking help “across generations,” and that those who walk through the doors at Omega Recovery have often experienced family discord, job loss or have dropped out of school.

“What we’re talking about is compulsive technology use that is interfering with some function of life ... technology use that’s impeding with our ability to maintain relationships, with our ability to go to work, or go to school, or with our ability to maintain our activities of daily living,” Hoenes said.

As part of the programs offered at Omega Recovery, the center works with recovery home partners that provide clients with a technology free environment. Clients might stay with the home partner and participate in activities outside of the digital world, such hiking, going to Zilker Park and enjoying community meals.

Hoenes also recommends that even those without a technology addiction practice moderation and said there are avenues for people to do this on their own. For instance, he said more people are swapping out their smartphones for “dumb phones,” or devices with limited capabilities and no access to the internet.

“People can leave video game consoles, laptops and things like that with a trusted friend, or put them somewhere you’re not going to access them, and go about that for 30 days and see what the difference is after that time,” he said.

Other steps people can take to curb their tech usage is limit their screen time to 20 minutes after they get home from work, and avoid “doom scrolling.” If people are curious about how technology is impacting their life, Hoenes recommends they journal how they felt before and after they get onto social media, scroll through websites or play a game on their phone.

Those looking for support can also attend free Internet & Technology Addicts Anonymous meetings at 10 a.m. every Friday at the Omega Recovery campus, which is located at 1710 Evergreen Ave., Austin.