Rewired: Protecting Your Brain in the Digital Age

Our constant use of smart phones and social media is rewiring our brains, leading to weaker and more ephemeral ties. This is harming our ability to connect and form strong social bonds, which are essential to human experience. Rewired offers scientifically supported solutions to help people restore their tech-life balance and improve their mental health.

Format: Hardback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 24 June 2022
Publisher: Harvard University Press

Living in a world of digital distraction has had a profound impact on our brains, leading to a loss of balance between our tech-life and personal relationships. Carl D. Marci, MD, a renowned expert in social and consumer neuroscience, examines the mounting evidence that excessive use of smartphones and social media is rewiring our brains, favoring weaker and more transient connections over the meaningful relationships that sustain us and promote our well-being.

The human ability to connect and form strong social bonds is a fundamental aspect of our existence, shaped by unique brain structures. However, the rise of powerful technologies and widespread access to media has hijacked our innate desire for intimate and emotional connections with others. The constant stimulation provided by clicking "like" and swiping right activates the same neurological reward centers associated with social relationships, leading to an overstimulation of these centers. This overstimulation puts significant pressure on critical brain regions associated with attention, emotion, and memory, altering how we process information and impacting our communication and relationships, even at a physiological level.

As a psychiatrist actively engaged in research on the impact of digital technology, Marci has witnessed this transformation firsthand. In his book "Rewired," he offers scientifically supported solutions for individuals seeking to restore their tech-life balance. Whether parents concerned about their children's exposure to the internet or stressed workers struggling with the constant demand for availability, "Rewired" provides practical strategies to help individuals reclaim a sense of control over their digital lives and prioritize the relationships that truly matter.

In conclusion, the digital age has brought about a profound shift in our brains, leading to a loss of balance between our tech-life and personal relationships. By recognizing the impact of excessive digital consumption on our brains and adopting scientifically supported solutions, we can strive to restore our tech-life balance and prioritize the connections that truly enrich our lives.

Weight: 532g
Dimension: 166 x 243 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780674983663