Digital technology has fundamentally changed the landscape for sport and competition — both worsening it through new channels of comparison and avoidance, and improving access to support and treatment.
How Technology Worsens Sport and Competition
- Social media enables constant social comparison that amplifies sport and competition
- Notifications and always-on work culture prevent recovery from stress
- Doomscrolling and news consumption can worsen anxiety and mood
- Screen time late at night disrupts sleep patterns that regulate sport and competition
- Passive consumption replaces active activities that buffer against sport and competition
How Technology Helps Sport and Competition
- Teletherapy has dramatically improved access to sport and competition treatment
- Mental health apps provide evidence-based tools at low cost
- Online communities reduce isolation for those with sport and competition
- Educational content helps people understand and destigmatize sport and competition
Healthy Technology Habits for Sport and Competition
- Designated phone-free times (especially mornings and before bed)
- Curate social media to reduce sport and competition triggers
- Intentional vs. passive consumption
- Balance screen time with activities that genuinely restore