Adolescents may copy behaviour from unhelpful computer roll models

Queens University Belfast study finds high computer use in adolescents is associated with approximately 50 per cent increased engagement with a cluster of six MRB, including smoking, drunkenness, non-use of seatbelts, cannabis and illicit drug use,

http://www.queensu.ca/news/articles/increased-computer-use-adolescents-cause-concern

This research is based on social cognitive theory, which suggests that seeing people engaged in a behaviour is a way of learning that behaviour.  Since adolescents are exposed to considerable screen time—over 4.5 hours on average each day—they’re constantly seeing images of behaviours they can then potentially adopt