Webchat with Dr Mary Aiken, leading expert in forensic cyberpsychology and author of The Cyber Effect: Thursday 8 September, 9-10 pm

[RachelMumsnet]

We're running a webchat on Thursday evening (9-10pm) with Dr Mary Aiken, forensic cyberpsychologist and the inspiration behind Avery Ryan, the leading character (played by Patricia Arquette) in CSI Cyber.

Mary's new book The Cyber Effect looks at the ever-changing effect of digital technology on human behaviour. She is particularly interested in the effect on developing children and the book aims to answer many of the questions Mary is frequently asked in her work: 'At what age can my baby start watching digital screen?' 'Is it okay for a toddler to play with an ipad?' 'Is there a connection between online gaming and ADHD in young boys?' 'Should I allow teenagers to spend hours on their smartphones?' 'Does technology contribute to social isolation?' and 'Can real relationships be formed in cyberspace?'

Join the discussion and put your questions to Mary on Thursday (8 September) between 9 and 10pm. If you're unable to join us on Thursday, then do post a question on this discussion thread before then.

I am seeing so many parents from babies to older children not having eye contact or talking to them as they are always on their I phones what harm are they doing to the young generation

How did you get into being a forensic cyberpsychologist? I'm doing a degree in Computing at university and I would love to end up working in this area!

Also a huge fan of CSI:Cyber!

Any tips for cutting back on smart phone time?

Had no idea Patricia Arquette had a real life model! Am going to hurry off and do some reading and then come back!

Hi,

How does the role of a forensic cyberpsychologist differ from that of a forensic psychologist?

I think I heard you being interviewed on BBC Radio 4 recently and felt quite worried about your concerns over screen time considering how much TV I have let my young children watch

Would you say a TV or a tablet is more harmful for a preschooler if I want 5 minutes peace?? Would it be better to mix and match or actually, would you ban one or both entirely?

Marking place

Addiction - I have a real issue with my six year old and the iPad - all of this started because I started him on school based mathlestics apps from reception and of course he wandered off to games - mind craft and all kinds of stuff - he loves YouTube too
I am now stopping iPad and screen time during the week may cut it out during the weekend too and I was so shocked at how addicted he is and was - would find him in bed late at night with the iPad under his duvet - eyes looking bloodshot. He would scream and beg and beg for the iPad.

Worst of all he would get his 3 year old brother to sit with him watching all kinds of rubbish.

it is so much better without screen time that I feel incredibly incredibly guilty for the past use - I am addicted to my phone too via work and so on as I am a news junkie so love reading news in my phone so am conscious now of setting a good example.

What do you think about educational apps - I feel it just opened a window of potential addiction and fed a games habit?

I have always limited 'screen time' (somewhat inconsistently mind you) but have allowed my children unlimited access occasionally just to see at what point they would switch the tv/Wii/ipad off and go do something else. They didn't. Yet I have friends who gave their kids iPads from the age of 5 or 6 and their children are able to self-regulate and will put them down and find something else to do after maybe an hour or so. Ditto people who have the TV on all the time - their children are able to tune it out, whereas mine are seemingly hypnotised by it, regardless of what's on. Why is this?? Have I actually created a rod for my own back by restricting screen time?

Ah caitlin I too have wondered that.

Screen time has a calming effect for my autistic child, do you find this is prevalent amongst autistic children and does it differ for NT children?

I'm interested in the issues around anxiety and social isolation. How can talking-and-chatting forums like Mumsnet help when there are so many trolls out there?

And, do you have any views on why trolls troll? We've had some awful cases on Mumsnet, with people pretending to have lost a child for example.

Mary is here and ready to answer your questions. Welcome Mary Aiken....

@Miisty

I am seeing so many parents from babies to older children not having eye contact or talking to them as they are always on their I phones what harm are they doing to the young generation

Thank you for the question. Good to be chatting with mums and parents on Mumsnet! Babies need eye contact, it's critical for baby to bond with parent and for parent to bond with their infant. The average adult checks their mobile phone about 200 times a day and mobile phone-checking increases when they go home. If you are a parent or care-giver of a young infant, then that will be 200 times that you have not looked at your child. Parents ask me what's the best age to introduce their children to screens (TV or digital) I reply that the American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend any screen time for children under the age of 2, however what is equally as important is what age you introduce your infant to your screen time.

Thanks for coming Mary.

A follow up question if there is time - how do you view e readers like Kindle when thinking about screen time?

Do you think that over - exposure to digital screens etc in the under 5s affects the development of their ability to form social relationships?
Has any research been done on this?

@LineyReborn

I'm interested in the issues around anxiety and social isolation. How can talking-and-chatting forums like Mumsnet help when there are so many trolls out there?

And, do you have any views on why trolls troll? We've had some awful cases on Mumsnet, with people pretending to have lost a child for example.

Trolls are a major problem online - there is some interesting science behind why trolls like to troll. A recent study found a significant relationship between people who like to troll and their score on personality assessment scales. Known as the 'dark tetrad' of personality - they scored highly on metrics for narcissism, psychopathy, Machiavellian and sadistic traits. The study concluded that trolling was a manifestation of 'everyday sadism'.

In terms of trolling cases on Mumsnet, I discuss in my book The Cyber Effect the emergence of Munchausen's type-behaviour online and this is known as MIB or Munchausen's by internet. The logic is pretty straightforward - getting sympathy from thousands of people online is much more rewarding than trying to get sympathy from one person in a white coat. What's really important is not to believe everything you read online - you don't know who you're talking to in these forums and you don't know if the information is true. Mumsnet has had cases of people looking for sympathy on this platform by making false posts. The majority of users are genuine people with genuine stories. It's just important to be a little discerning when you're engaging in chat online - just the same way as you would in the real world.

@Senac32

Do you think that over - exposure to digital screens etc in the under 5s affects the development of their ability to form social relationships? Has any research been done on this?

When it comes to under 5s, overexposure to anything is not recommended! However, when it comes to screen time some research supports that limited engagement with educational apps can increase word power and mathematical ability as well as improve eye-to-hand coordination. However, as with all things, moderation is important -specifically, in terms of social skills - no technology can replace the benefits of human-to-human and parent-to-child communication particularly for the under 5s.

@AverageGayLad

How did you get into being a forensic cyberpsychologist? I'm doing a degree in Computing at university and I would love to end up working in this area!

Also a huge fan of CSI:Cyber!

Good to e-meet a fan of the show. Goodness how did I get into this?! I did an undergrad in Psychology, a postgrad in Forensic Psychology, a Masters of science in Cyberpsychology, a Phd in Forensic Cyberpsychology and followed that up with fellowships in Network Science, Information Communication Technology, Criminology and Cyberpsychology. So if you have 20 years to spare and enjoy academic study, this is the career for you! Joking aside, it's quite a commitment to qualify in this area but immensely rewarding - it's a new research frontier. There are a number of courses at different universities - some of them online. Just search under cyberpsychology and you will see what's on offer near you.

@JacquettaWoodville

Any tips for cutting back on smart phone time?

There are actually technology solutions to technology facilitated problem behaviour such as smartphone-checking. There are a number of apps which can actually help you to monitor your smartphone use. Just search online and you will find a selection which you can pick from.

@JacquettaWoodville

Any tips for cutting back on smart phone time?

Just another thought - when you're using your computer, there can be a time-distortion effect where you lose track of time when you're online, I find it helpful to set my devices to announce the time on the hour. This helps me to keep track of my time in cyberspace.

Thank you for answering my question about trolling and for your response. It's absolutely fascinating (to me!).

It does make me wonder if little children who are over-exposed to screen time and social media, and under exposed to parental attention, could become Generation Troll. Not a nice thought.

I've read some articles/reviews about your book which I think sounds fascinating. I was interested in the chapter in your book about cyber-hypochondria. I know I'm guilty of self-diagnosis via the net - can you tell us a bit more about this - do you think it causes lots of problems for health professionals and the NHS?

@JacquettaWoodville

Thanks for coming Mary.

A follow up question if there is time - how do you view e readers like Kindle when thinking about screen time?

An e-reader to read a book for example on Kindle cannot be considered in the same way as constantly checking your smartphone - they are different activities. The book is about a leisure read or learning something - phone-checking is related to variable ratio and intermittent reinforcement aspects of technology which is a fancy way of saying that the internet can be like a giant slot machine - every so often you get a great result - a text with good news, an email from your boss praising you and so on. That is far more compelling and compulsive than if every communication was good or was bad. So in terms of modifying your behaviour, the first question you have to ask is why am I doing it?

That's a good question, Woodenhouse.