Technology Addiction: Understanding Behavioral Dependence in a Digital World (NA2570)

Course Format

This course is online. All course material is available online and is accessible immediately after purchase from your account homepage. Certificate of Completion is available immediately upon passing the exam.

Course Overview

Technology is integrated into nearly every aspect of our lives, providing numerous benefits and making disengagement increasingly challenging. Technology itself remains neutral; its impact depends on usage. Nevertheless, as with many other areas, there are potential risks for addiction.

While addiction is well defined in the DSM-5, technology addiction is not currently recognized, and behavioral addictions, aside from gambling, are not included. This course examines behavioral addiction theory, highlighting its connections to substance addiction in both symptoms and approaches to treatment.

As we address the growing concern surrounding technology addiction, it is important to remain mindful of technology's advantages, particularly its positive contributions to mental health, and avoid restricting access where it offers valuable support.

Course Objectives

1. Explain addiction and its effects on the brain.


2. Discuss the prevalence of technology addiction.


3. Illustrate the similarities between behavioral addiction and substance addiction.


4. Describe the symptoms of technology addiction and its current recommended treatments.


5. Discuss psychological and behavioral theories that have been proposed to explain technology addictions.


6. List prevention techniques that can be used, especially for adolescents.


7. Explain the benefits and detrimental effects of technology on the brain.


8. Explain the controversy of limiting time and connection to the internet in policy and law.

Course Outline