Witness says digital media can act like a drug for children

A witness from a youth clinic told the panel that digital media can have physiological effects on children similar to addictive substances, saying, "digital media is a powerful tool, but also a potent drug." The witness said moving images trigger dopamine release "in the brain's reward pathway," and added that "anything that does that has the potential to be addictive."

The witness described clinical experience, stating that "over 50% of our referrals now are for kids who are addicted to some form of digital media." When asked to repeat the point so listeners could hear it, the witness affirmed: "over 50% of referrals today are for kids who are pathologically addicted to some form of digital media."

The exchange began with a question asking specifically about the physiological impact of screen time on children's mental capabilities, and the witness focused the response on neurochemical mechanisms and clinical referrals rather than behavioral guidance or policy prescriptions. The questioner sought clarification and a restatement to ensure the statistic and characterization of addiction were heard clearly.

No statutes, ordinances, or formal actions were discussed or recorded in the transcript. The record captures clinical observations and a scientific framing of how digital media may affect reward pathways in developing brains; it does not include diagnostic criteria, longitudinal data, or references to specific studies in this excerpt.

The conversation concluded with the witness reiterating the clinic referral statistic and the characterization of the condition as pathological addiction; the transcript ends without policy recommendations, votes, or next procedural steps.