The answer to stopping this technology-overuse epidemic is using technology in moderation, not idolizing newer technologies and seeing them as a cure for the problem they have created.

Don’t even start ... I love technology! I am not a TechnoHitler, but a TechnoModerator who believes in TechnoReason in this

TechnoCrazy world. We may be living a better life today in a lot of respects, but in many others our lives have taken a big turn for the worse. Take for example, the case of anxiety and depression among our youth.

Heavy use of social media and automation are destroying our kids’ lives right under our noses, and we aren’t doing anything about it. This social media madness is negatively affecting our kids as it pertains to connecting to others, quality of interpersonal conversation, illusion of popularity and the idea that more friends on social media outlets means that they really are more social.

The number of research studies linking heavy social media use and issues relating to anxiety and depression are overwhelming.

“Facebook Depression” is now a variable studied by researchers all over the globe. Why are we allowing these unhealthy, uncaring behaviors to destroy our children? I won’t believe you if you tell me that we need to sacrifice God’s gift to us — our children — for the sake of technology.

Let me say this straight. More technology use, especially those we find in social media, won’t help your kid or mine to be safer from the dangers of depression.

Self-harm and feelings of sadness, self-pity or “beautiful suffering” are real problems youth struggle with these days precisely because of technology. By the way, it is well documented that kids who take their own lives do so in a tragic, misguided attempt to end their pain.

Look, there are a lot of benefits from social media, including one’s ability to keep in touch with distant family and friends, but to say that we need more technology to cure social media anxiety is nonsense to me, when we know that more frequency and exposure of social media use increases the rates of depression 2.7 times.

It isn’t that complicated, people. Explain to me how any technology intervention will help an envious teenager who is seeking to be popular on YouNow to actually succeed — without this teenager having to spend a considerable amount of time and money in this endeavor. It isn’t possible. This is why many are caught in this illusion that social media will solve the problem it has created.

Let me say this loud and clear. We are losing a whole generation to depression and anxiety because of social media use.

There is nothing wrong with acting responsibly!. We don’t need technology in order to communicate. What we do need is to have a sit-down conversation with our kids, listen, and also explain to them that all this technology isn’t required for them to live a good life.

I believe that it is possible for us, responsible adults, to guide our children to have a more moderate life online, and to realize that social media is simply a tool of communication. We need to do what we can to help our kids and not risk losing them in the process. Depression and anxiety are real issues that we must deal with nowadays.

Why should I, as the head of my household, allow anything, including technology, to influence my family for the worse? It won’t happen.

I suggest to you that you take the moderate stance and protect your kids from one of the major dark sides of technology, depression and anxiety. Your kids deserve better. They don’t need anxiety or depression.

They need you, not that smartphone. Got it?

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(About the writer: Dr. Luis C. Almeida is an associate professor of communication at Lee University and TEDx speaker. He is the author of the book, “Becoming a Brand: The Rise of Technomoderation,” and a devoted Christian. He can be reached via his website at luiscalmeida.info.)