ABSTRACT
Digital technology is the great disrupter of the 21st century. While it affords numerous educational, social and entertainment benefits, it is often blamed for contributing to negative health outcomes such as depression, anxiety and addiction. Despite the fact that extant research suggests these concerns may be overblown, the narrative of toxic digital technology persists, triggering a heated debate over whether, and how, it should be regulated. In this chapter, I explore the links between digital technology and wellbeing. I examine whether measures to safeguard the wellbeing of digital technology users are warranted based on the current evidence, and if so, how this might be achieved. I begin by defining the key constructs and outlining the conceptual mechanisms which link them. I then review the current, inconclusive state of knowledge. I highlight existing knowledge gaps and methodological weaknesses and propose a road map for future research. Finally, I examine governmental and market digital technology interventions to date and suggest actionable points for enhancing future research and policy design. I conclude that while a definitive account of the wellbeing consequences of digital technology still eludes us, current evidence suggests that, on balance, its negative impact on wellbeing is likely to be negligible and heavily usage dependent. Future policy initiatives would benefit from an increased recognition of individual differences and a greater focus on positive interventions aimed at harnessing digital technology to foster individual and societal wellbeing.
