Kardaras, N. (2016). Glow kids: How screen addiction is hijacking our kids--and how to break the trance. St. Martin’s Press.

Nicholas Kardaras is a psychologist, author, speaker and expert on mental health, addiction, and the impacts of our digital age.

Kardaras opens talking about emails he receives from parents describing "good kids who had become hooked on their devices and became aggressive and often violent when their parents attempted to cut back or limit their screen time." This book is aimed at "informing parents about the clinical and neurological dangers that excessive screen exposure can have on their kids." The term Glow Kids refers to children's screen habits within which he found a "gender divide" observing, "if video games are digital cocaine for boys, then social media and texting are the electronic equivalents for girls." Kardaras asserted that video games and social media are high attention designed to garner and maintain attention and pleasure seeking through variable rewards. Symptoms of technology addiction include neglecting responsibilities, social withdrawal, mood changes, depression, loss of interest, and even aggression - all contributing to the potential for a failure to launch, the inability to transition to adulthood. Kardaras acknowledges that parents offer several reasons for continuing technology use: (a) I don't want my kids to get behind, (b) the horse is out of the barn, as in, it's too late, (c) I want them to have a phone in case I need to get hold of them, (d) it will help them learn through all the information available, and (d) It's not as bad as people say, an outright denial that there's a potential for a problem. He provides evidence against each reason as to why these reasons are less valid in comparison to the potential danger to kids. Well researched, he includes a checklist for parents to discern whether their child might have a screen addiction and his website includes a bibliography of cited sources related to tech addiction.

This would be a good book for those interested in addiction, history of technology, technology use in education, and gender variances related to technology adoption and challenges.

This book provides a thoughtful and in depth presentation of the problem we are all facing today as parents. If you had any doubt about whether your common sense observation is correct about the fact your kid could have a tech addiction; this book presents indisputable evidence that your gut feeling is correct.

Dr. Kardaras presents an evidenced based case citing scientific study after scientific study to prove the point that we, as a society, are already deep inside the rabbit hole. We have been systemically and purposely deceived by sometimes well intentioned but oftentimes greedy group think corporate heads that placed tech into the hands of our young children.

As a physician, and the father of three boys ages two through 11, I have seen first hand the addiction in my kids. The facts presented by Dr. Kardaras will hit you like a ton of bricks. THIS IS ADDICTION--100%

It is not often that I read a passage in a book that literally stops me in my tracks and rocks me to my core. Again, as an MD, I've read 100's, if not 1000's of medical texts and articles. Don't get me wrong, you do not need any degree other than common sense to get the point of this book. It is all explained very well so that anyone will get it. But when he speaks of Little Johnny sitting in the corner with his iPad, seemingly in intense quiet concentration and focus. So much that one might say, "Look at how focused Little Johnny is, concentrating so hard on his game." But as Dr. Kardaras pointed out and I can concur from other medical research, Little Johnny 's brain is being damaged by the onslaught of hyper-stimulation. Although he looks so focused and concentrating, his ability to focus and concentrate is actually being destroyed by the hyper stimulation to his cerebral cortex.

That was the passage that stopped me cold. How many times have I seen my own kids mesmerized in apparent concentration while their higher order brain centers were being bombarded with sequential rewards and temptations. I literally got sick to my stomach.

The second part of the book presented a treatment plan. I implemented this in my life and successfully broke my kids addiction. I used the not well known "Restrictions" functions on their iPad and iPhone device and restricted everything. I confiscated all tech and sent them into painful withdrawal. 6 months later, I am happy to say my older one doesn't even remember or care if he has his phone or not, their grades have improved and although they think this is a punishment, which I keep telling them it's not; we are a much better off family unit.

This book will change your life if you think you have kids that are addicted to their devices.

Thanks Nick

When I filed for a divorce some 4+ years ago, it was a very challenging time. My daughters at the time were 5 and 2, and there was a fundamental difference in outlook in terms of raising the girls. While at the core the girls are fully loved by me and their mother, right from wrong and foundational components are at polar opposite ends of the spectrum.

I read voraciously, and I encourage the same of my now 9 and 6 year olds--and it's working... I order several books each month to keep up with their reading habits. They prefer the outdoors to the indoors, but they're still kids in 2017, and there is a grand attraction to the television, and iPads. For all I've done right, I know I've made some poor choices. By providing each of the girls with their very own iPads, I figured that I could limit their time and there would be no harm done. After all, they're climbing trees, building forts, riding bikes, walking the dogs, and reading when they're not with friends or at sporting events. This book is making me reconsider a lot of my choices, or at least recommit to a way of life that will benefit the girls in the long run.

The book was recommended to me by my father--not only because I have daughters (he loves the way I raise my girls and keep them more interested in riding horses that playing Candy Crush), but because he has grandchildren who are also glued to a device literally at all times, and it breaks his heart. 50 pages in, he insisted my brother (has two boys same ages as my girls) and I buy it. I read it in a day. A lot of the book is common sense that ain't so common anymore, but the data-driven evidence and support of theories is hard to argue.

Is technology bad? No, absolutely not. Is it dangerous? YES. I highly recommend this book to anybody, but particularly those parents out there who wonder if their kids are spending too much time playing video games, surfing the web, etc. It's never too late.

I bought this book as I have two young kids who will only know of a life with technology. I was concerned by how much my four year old wanted to watch TV, play games, or use a tablet. Looking back on my own childhood, I spent a lot of time outside and I feel this is the most important thing for children; playing outside and using their imagination during free play.

I had only about 1/4 left of this book until I stopped reading. I had gained all the valuable information I needed, and I felt the author kept tirelessly repeating himself after the first few chapters. Alot of the emphasis was on video games, which I know can be a source of derealization for those who play for hours on end, especially violent games and games like World of Warcraft. This was obviously something I was interested in, but not to the point where he kept sharing stories of his clients constantly. I was more concerned with how screen time in general can alter young, impressionable minds and the consequences in behavior, which he covered early on in the book.

I did find this book valuable and would recommend it to other parents with children. Still, there's nothing better than sending your kid barefoot outside and letting them get creative with mud pies and make believe. I'm not a perfect parent, and my kid does still have screen time, but we limit it greatly. And I can always see the change for the best when I do so. My ship hasn't sailed yet for the teenage years, but I'll deal with that when I get there. I still have awhile.

I hope to teach my kids the value of a simple life, the importance of family values & homesteading and being out in nature as much as possible. But we are modern day humans after all. It's all about finding a balance.

This book is a must read for anyone raising children in the 21st century. I haven’t even finished it yet and I’m already online ordering copies for friends and the principle at my children’s elementary school. While my children, 8 and 10, have never played violent games, they definitely have a penchant for Minecraft and Roblox and have been playing games like these since they were probably 5 or 6. They each have an iPad with parental controls and that has made us feel somewhat safe, but we have to regulate the times they use it and sometimes they fight back saying we are too strict and ‘nobody else’ has these rules. I would rather be strict and continue to regulate than have the opposite be true and this book only proves that we all need to stay vigilant. My son would stay on his iPad or Xbox all day if we let him, which I understand is typical of most boys. My daughter is getting ready to go off to Middle School and many of her friends are getting phones. While she won’t be allowed to do social media until she’s probably 17, I see that text threads are very popular among her friends. The chapters on kids, social media, cyber bullying and sex trafficking are a wake up call to any parent who is willing to listen. My kids love to read, are active in sports and music and very smart, but I can see how all these electronics are a slippery slope and can swallow them up if we aren’t careful. This will be an ongoing battle that we all must face and deal with or we will lose our children and the world as we know it will fall apart. It sounds dramatic but read this book and please discuss what you can with your children. They may roll their eyes, but I feel confident they will Thank us in the future. They need to have the tools and information to help THEM make the right choices for when they become their own regulators!

My son was showing signs of ADHD and I had a gut feeling screen time had something to do with it. I tried the screen fast suggested in the book for 4 weeks and my child is so well behaved and focusing great. The research cited is mind blowing and this book is completely changing how I parent. I used to worry that having my young kids go completely screen free was somehow going to affect their ability to regulate their media use in the future but this book put my worries to rest. I can't recommend this book enough. It helps you to understand the effects of media on a child's brain and backs it up with research. He goes into depth about the harmful effects of media, especially on those with conditions like Asperger's. My favorite part highlighted why technology in education can be damaging (and a total waste of money). This is a book every parent and educator should read.

This book made us make some serious changes at home with our own children as to how we view screens. As a public school substitute teacher I can see how awful screens have been for students as well, even the “educational games”. It’s robbing our children of a fun childhood filled with going outside, playing in dirt, interacting with other children, knowing how to ride a bike, able to do monkey bars, and this list can go on and on.

This confirms my own observations on how screens have turned them into zombies with clear shot eyes, addicted and not wanting to do much else.

Amazing and super insightful book. It has changed my view of screens. I am trying to find a shirt that has the cover or the Title on it so people around me can ask me about my shirt and check out the book!

It truly is so sad what screens have done to children.

Highly recommend. Describes many research angles to the situation, so it's lengthy, but reinforces the points. As a Gen X parent definitely have seen the effects happening as described in the book, and have taken steps to limit our children's screen usage, prohibit social media, games and smart phone. The book reinforced our decisions and observations with other tweens and teens from games and social media,

If your concerned for your kids spending go much time online then this will give you a better insight on the effects. Fab thought provoking book

It's a very relevant topic that people are not paying enough attention get. Dr Kardaras brings a lot of research indicating the adverse effects of technology and how to get free of those bad habits.

Un bon livre sur l'effet des écrans de façon générale.

Although I totally agree with the Philosophy of the author and enjoyed much the preface, the book itself is highly disappointing.

1. There is no real structure.

2. He repeats the same again and again but doesn’t offer good arguments. He neither present convincing objections to his view to be refuted.

3. The worst part, in my view, is the total lack of care in choosing his sources. Sometimes he mentions “research says” and doesn’t provide the sources. Other times he refers to newspaper articles and alike! Really terrible and unacceptable from someone who holds a PhD.

4. He claims to be one of the biggest experts on addictions but he doesn’t really present credible credentials. The book is messy. Often generalizes from his own (limited) experience. Sometimes he refers to research based on studies using-literary-17 people! Lack of care in preparing the book. It seems that he was in hurry to publish it.

Overall I am very disappointed. Although I totally agree with the objections against the usage of screens, the book is unconvincing due to the lack of care and professionalism one would desire.

For people interested in the topic, I definitely recommend Desmurget’s book or, if one can read Spanish, Francisco Villar Cabeza. Both are far better than this one.

Glow Kids is absolutely amazing. I bought the 2 great books...."Glow Kids" and "Irresistible: The Rise of Additive Technology and the Business of Keeping us Hooked" By Adam Alter for many of the people at my workplace. Both should be bought for birthdays and Christmas presents and for all members of your family, friends and work makes. Cell phones and video games have turned social society into a selfish, zombie like low self esteem reality all over the place. These 2 books are the only ones ever written about this societal crisis. Facebook depression, social comparison, dopamine tickle and cliffhangers all contribute to addictions. The same chemical that is triggered when we pro create and consume food is the same chemical that gets released when we watch TV, use our cell phones and play video games, drink alcohol, do drugs and even consume chocolate. Dopamine + environment = addiction.

Why is Ontario suing facebook and Snapchat for $5.5 billion when we could get all the students to read Nicholas Kardaras 's "Glow Kids" and Adam Alter's "Irresistible" and write an essay, short term paper or do a group project presentation for the class. Introduce a media literacy training course for students and level the playing field. These are the 2 best written books of our era simply because of the huge negative impact cellphones and video games have had on our lives. The bus and subways are chalk full of cell phone zombie kids, cell phone zombie adults and cell phone zombie seniors. Read both and give both as gifts to the people you care about. Please please please do this right now. Thank you kindly for allowing me to share my views on these important topics.