Dr. Nick Kardaras on helping teens find purpose and reduce screen time

Audree Grubesic published this post on Sep 17, 2024. It was updated Dec 8, 2024. Dr. Nick Kardaras is a digital addiction expert, academic, entrepreneur, husband, and father of twin teenage boys.

Who Dr. Nick Kardaras is

• He wrote Glow Kids, a book about the clinical, neurological, and social implications of technology addiction.
• He is set to release Digital Madness: How Social Media Is Driving Our Mental Health Crisis—and How to Restore Our Sanity.
• The new book is available for preorder and will be released in September.
• He is CEO and Chief Clinical Officer of Maui Recovery and Omega Recovery in Austin, Texas.

Problems he addresses

• Tech addiction
• Depression
• Anxiety
• “Failure to launch”
• Self-harm
• Substance abuse
• Loneliness

Five strategies for teens

1. Engage in open-hearted conversations about values

Kardaras recommends asking teens about what they value, what online content they enjoy, and what they love doing in their free time. He says patience is important.

2. Discuss current events

He suggests using current events to explore teens’ ideas and opinions. He recommends a gentle Socratic approach to build critical thinking.

3. Encourage creative experimentation

He encourages teens to try different activities, including:

• Drawing
• Painting
• Writing
• Acting
• Singing
• Cooking
• Crafts
• Entrepreneurship

4. Explore spiritual beliefs

He often begins by asking, “What do you think happens to a person when they die?” He uses that question to open meaningful conversations about spiritual or non-spiritual beliefs.

5. Promote time in nature without devices

He advocates spending as much time in nature as possible without digital devices.

Programs and support

• Kardaras says peers and other adults should be involved along with parental guidance.
• Dream Lab is described as a peer-centric program for ages 13 to 18.
• The program helps teens develop purpose, passions, and plans.
• It also helps them meet friends from across the country and work on projects that can strengthen college and job applications.

Contact details included in the post

The post says it was created from a post by Laurel Donnellan originally published at Forbes.com.