In terms of affecting our minds, check out the interactive tests and multimedia features in this NYTimes article on technology leading to impatience, forgetfulness, and lack of focus. I wasn't thrilled with my test results!
The Times also features a family with a dad seriously hooked on gadgets. He can't stand the 221 seconds he has to be offline when his train goes underground. The article mentions that getting quick hits of info on the web gives us a "squirt of dopamine," which makes us instantly happy in the way that food is so fulfilling to obsessive overeaters. This family's case might be a bit extreme (and the dad works in the web business), but what about your family?
I've definitely found myself enjoying surfing the web on my laptop at night while I watch TV lately, which is a little scary (and maybe bad for my eyes?!). But I'm not too hooked, according to the list of questions in "Are You Addicted to Technology?". I think I'll hold off on getting a phone with web access, though, just to ward off serious addiction anytime soon!
Remember to keep in mind how much time your kids spend using media. Where are our brains headed?! Did you even have the attention span to read to the end of this post? Or were the facts as good as chocolate cake? :)