We all live in a technological age of attentional overload that, for many, has reduced our meaningful connection with humans. There is a near infinite amount of digital content competing for our attention in algorithms designed for addiction rather than healthy use. Not all content is created equal as well. There is content that can be beneficial and educational, while other low-quality digital content contributes to mental exhaustion and “brain rot”. Trying to navigate content for both quality and quantity is a struggle for most of us. Yet, until there is greater regulation, the onus to shape technology use lands on the user or on parents trying to navigate the rapid evolution and exponential growth of AI. It is overwhelming.
We have all heard in recent years about the ‘epidemic of loneliness’. In 2023, the US Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, reported that about half of US adults experience measurable loneliness. The effects of social isolation on health are comparable to smoking up to 15 cigarettes per day, and it increases the risk of premature death by almost 30%. Since the release of this report, the use of AI chatbots for companionship has only grown across all age groups. People fall prey to addictive algorithms that keep us scrolling on social media, rather than being present with those around us. We all likely perceive the effects of growing social isolation with increased rates of anxiety and depression in our patients and possibly within our own families.
With my patients who are struggling with their mental health, I have always encouraged them to connect with a trusted confidante in their life, but that recommendation today is all the more pertinent when we see a growing number of adults getting their mental health advice from AI. When the chatbot becomes the confidant to address the effects of our loneliness, we end up in a vicious, self-fulfilling cycle.
This past weekend I attended the CAFP Prism of Practice (POP) conference, where I got to connect with colleagues and hear from experts on the impacts of AI on our patients and on our practice. A lecture I found particularly valuable was from Eisha Buch, M.S.E. with Common Sense Media. She spoke on addressing technology use in our pediatric and adolescent patients, but her advice I found valuable to frame technology use regardless of age. Rather than focusing on a set amount of time used, we should make sure daily that we are sleeping enough, moving our bodies, successfully navigating our daily life demands, and making meaningful human connection. If we are doing all of these things daily, we are less likely to have unhealthy use of technology. This is a great goal that we should all strive for and should encourage in our patients, regardless of age.
Our next LAAFP event on Saturday, October 10th will give us the opportunity to connect in real life with our own community of family physicians, while also giving back to the greater community of Los Angeles. As we volunteer to prepare boxes of food to be given away at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, we will get to talk and connect with our colleagues and friends, we will get to move our bodies, and we will help keep our community healthy by addressing food insecurity within Los Angeles. After we finish volunteering in the morning, we will all get to socialize and connect over a lunch hosted by LAAFP at a nearby restaurant. I hope to see you all there for some physical activity, altruism, community, and connection. It will be a rewarding half day spent together.
