Keynote speaker

Lukas Blinka

Masaryk University (Czech Republic)

Children, Adolescents, and Excessive Digital Engagement: Beyond Panic and Complacency

Digital engagement—whether through gaming or social networking—has become the predominant leisure activity and a primary means of social interaction for children and adolescents, in some cases surpassing even time spent in school. Concerns about excessive or problematic use have been widely debated, yet public and professional discourse often oscillates between moral panic and passive permissiveness—evident in controversies such as the inclusion of Gaming Disorder in the International Classification of Diseases and the banning of mobile phones in schools.

Drawing on evidence from sources such as the international Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study, I will differentiate between normative, excessive, and potentially problematic digital use. I will assess the associated risks—including mental and physical health implications, as well as social and cognitive effects—while also considering the potential benefits of digital engagement. I will advocate for a balanced, research-informed perspective that moves beyond polarized debates and toward evidence-based strategies for understanding and managing digital engagement among youth.

Bio:

Lukas Blinka is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the Psychology Research Institute, Masaryk University, Czech Republic. He earned his PhD in Media and Communication from the University of Tartu, Estonia, and in Psychology from Masaryk University. His research primarily explores the relationship between excessive digital media use and various social and health aspects of adolescent life – mainly within the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children project. He also investigates the distinction between problematic (gaming disorder) and excessive but non-problematic computer gaming. Recently, he has also been focusing on investigating the role of digital technology in sexual life, e.g., in the ageing population.