Social Media Dependence
As computers and the microchips that run them have excelled in speed, intelligence and creativity over the past 20 years so has the endless dimensions and strategics of masterful video games. The video gaming market in the USA alone exceeds all of Hollywood movie box office in sales every year by over $30 Billion dollars, a staggering statistic. Video games along with Social Media are designed on neural network paradigms to engage and absorb players and users to continue using them with disregard to time or attention to more productive and necessary activities such as academics, sports and personal social development and verbal face to face communication. Younger people have little or no ability to self regulate or time manage usage.
Dr. O’Hara has worked with all forms of addiction including pathological gambling since the late 1980’s and for the past 20 years has focused on developing effective behavioral and existential approaches to help people young and old to manage and enjoy the passive entertainment of video gaming, social media and other online activities while making its usage sustainable and efficient within peoples lifestyles.