By Jadin Marshall, MS, and Erica D. Marshall-Lee, Ph.D., ABPP, on behalf of the Atlanta Behavioral Health Advocates
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by persistent patterns of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that impact overall functioning before the age of 12. Symptoms of inattention can look like difficulty sustaining attention, challenges with organizing tasks, or being forgetful. Hyperactivity and impulsivity symptoms are described as feeling “on the go,” squirming, talking excessively, or often interrupting (American Psychiatric Association, 2022). These symptoms point to a very important component of the disorder known as executive dysfunction. Executive functioning refers to mental processes that are responsible for our working memory, planning, organization, self-regulation, and emotional control (Diamond, 2013).
Social Media and Self-Diagnosis of ADHD
We’re sure you’ve heard your friends, family, or coworkers mention their use of ChatGPT, TikTok, Google, etc., to self-diagnose. Mental health clinicians certainly have. Imagine this: Jadin, 25, is sitting on the couch with her friend—let’s say her name is Naomi, 24, and they’re watching TikToks. Two hours go by. This moment consists of constant scrolling, laughter, and sending each other videos and memes back and forth. Gen Z quality time. Then…
“I think I have ADHD,” Naomi blurts.
“Huh? Why do you think that?” Jadin asks.
“Well, I saw on TikTok a video of this girl saying that if you struggle to complete tasks, multitask, have low motivation, and some other stuff, you have ADHD. I just started feeling that way recently, so I’m pretty sure I have ADHD,” she responds.
Now, Naomi hasn’t always had these deficits, but it seems she’s pretty convinced, given these symptoms.
How can this be addressed? How does someone display symptoms of attentional deficits but not necessarily have the disorder? Furthermore, why do so many individuals have attention deficits?
The key factor in what makes a disorder disorderly is the piece we discussed earlier—dysfunction. In ADHD, symptoms must emerge before the age of 12 and lead to dysfunction/impairment due to the symptomatology, seen when in school, work, relationships, etc.
Onset Age and Impairment Criteria Matter in ADHD Diagnosis
In addition, it’s important to note that ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder (Posner et al., 2020), meaning the disorder emerges within childhood, which ultimately affects how the brain maturates. With that being said, can someone suddenly start displaying attentional deficits after no history of these concerns?
The answer: Yes, although an increase in attentional deficits does not necessarily mean the development of ADHD. A portion of what is being self-labeled as ADHD may actually reflect attentional dysregulation shaped by excessive stimulation from digital environments rather than a neurodevelopmental disorder.
How Technological Overload Impacts Attention
Over the past few years, we have seen an increase in technological advancement and usage. Smartphones; self-driving cars, which offer features such as Netflix; Meta glasses that you can wear and listen to podcasts and music without anyone knowing; and dual monitors for work and playing games. It’s a lot. Adults are overloaded and compulsively seeking the dopamine hit of technology. Eating dinner? On your phone. On the train? Listening to a podcast. In the car? Listening to music. Walking to class? Watching YouTube. It’s a never-ending cycle. Some even attempt multitasking within digital environments. They work while they watch TV or cook while listening to Audible.
Technology operates on intermittent reinforcement, like gambling. When you receive unpredictable rewards such as likes, notifications, or new content, you condition your brain to seek out constant stimulation. The immediate gratification from technology can worsen ADHD symptoms like impulsivity, inattention, and hyperactivity (Smith, 2024). Ra et al. (2018) found a similar relationship, noting that excessive media use was associated with increased ADHD symptoms over time. Constant task-switching and divided attention reduce one’s ability to sustain attention over time, making it difficult to engage in slower, effortful tasks. Over time, you require higher levels of stimulation just to maintain a base-level engagement.
As aforementioned, a condition is considered a disorder not just because the symptoms exist but because those symptoms cause clinical impairment or distress within multiple contexts. So, if attentional difficulties improve when technological stimulation is reduced and don’t cause functional impairment, it becomes difficult to conceptualize them as evidence of a disorder rather than an adaptation to a particular context. However, when the attentional difficulties continue to produce impairment in functioning, the environmental influences, such as technology, may alter how ADHD manifests without nulling the diagnosis itself.
Attention Essential Reads
Here is some food for thought. Is the individual impaired, or is the environment demanding divided attention? Are we differentiating between lifelong attention patterns versus more recent changes in focus? Are we adequately assessing the use of technology when assessing for ADHD? Are we assessing functionality before excessive technology use and after? If attention improves when technology use diminishes and the functionality improves across settings, we may not be treating a disorder. We may be treating an adaptation.
The Role of Psychologists in Addressing Technology-Related Attention Concerns
Currently, as psychologists, we can lead the charge in educating the public, including our friends and family, about the benefits of and caution required when employing technological aids. Additionally, we can remain vigilant in assessing for ADHD, taking into consideration patterns of behavior and the environment. Lastly, we can put aside diagnostic labeling and pharmacological interventions when unwarranted and think culturally and curiously so we can do our best to facilitate appropriate interventions.