04 | Brain Rot: Is internet addiction real?

Science Friction

Plenty of people will say they are addicted to the internet. But how well-recognised, scientifically, is an addiction ... to your screen?

In episode four of Brain Rot, we dig into how behavioural addictions work.

And we hear from self-described internet addicts about the treatment programs that help them stay “internet sober”.

Brain Rot is a new five part series from the ABC’s Science Friction about how tech is changing our brains, hosted by Ange Lavoipierre.

Guests:

Jillian and Kate

Internet and Technology Addiction Anonymous members

Hilarie Cash

Psychologist and Co-Founder, reSTART

Anna Lembke

Professor of Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine

Anastasia Hronis

Clinical Psychologist; Author, The Dopamine Brain

Dar Meshi

Associate Professor, Michigan State University

Credits:

• Presenter: Ange Lavoipierre
• Producer: Fiona Pepper
• Senior Producer: James Bullen
• Sound Engineer: Tim Symonds

This story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar peoples.