With constantly changing technology habits so deeply rooted in our society, dependence on technology is an everyday phenomenon. However, lockdown due to Covid19 has forced people to stay at home and work remotely. This has increased screen time and is beginning to blur the line between the online world and the offline world. Today we discuss how spending too much time hooked on the internet and social media can become an addiction to the smartphone.
Society is increasingly dependent on technology not only to do its work, but also to carry out the most common day-to-day tasks and habits. This is radically changing communication, personal relationships, consumption patterns and, broadly speaking, interaction with the world. This paradigm shift, in which people almost always need an electronic device to do anything, is beginning to create a strong dependence on smartphones and technology in general. More attention is being paid to notifications and digital activity than to what is happening in the physical environment. This new context affects the most “connected” generations to a greater extent, such as young people and adolescents.
What is smartphone addiction?
This dependence on technology is causing people to focus more and more attention on the digital environment. As a result, this new reality changes their priorities and the way they respond to stimuli around them. The more time spent hooked on the computer, social media, the internet, or browsing, the more it becomes a habit and a new lifestyle. This can encourage the onset of disorders, such as mobile phone addiction.
Mobile phone or smartphone addiction is caused by overuse of this device. When a person spends an excessive amount of time using the phone, they begin to focus all their thoughts on it before, during and after using it. This prevents them from doing any other activity, resting, or even attending to their immediate habits and needs. This irrational and excessive use of the smartphone is known as nomophobia. A term referring to individuals who suffer from mobile phone addiction, especially adolescents and minors.
Mobile phone addiction during Covid19
Lockdown has meant that people have had to stay at home permanently, trying to continue with their lives as normally as possible. However, this removes the disconnection barrier between work and arriving home, or attending to responsibilities. As a result, many people find it difficult to switch off from work, or they have too much free time and need to distract themselves to avoid boredom. In these cases, people almost always turn to browsing social media, watching videos online, talking to friends on Whatsapp, etc. Because of the high level of entertainment it provides, this gradually encourages mobile phone addiction.
Symptoms of dependence on the smartphone
Dependence on new technologies causes psychological disorders and is harmful to health. If mobile phone use, social media, or any other related activity is not used responsibly, it can affect a person’s health and behaviour. Some of the symptoms of mobile phone addiction that may be experienced are:
- Inability to maintain long conversations or any other sustained activity
- Constant need to check for new messages, notifications or other information on the phone
- Difficulty sleeping without the smartphone switched on and nearby
- Frequently checking Whatsapp messages from friends and family
- Symptoms of anxiety when the smartphone is forgotten or lost
- General discomfort when the phone runs out of battery
Consequences of smartphone addiction
The consequences that addiction to the smartphone has for health are usually serious. They create a personality disorder, modify behaviour and alter a person’s habits and priorities:
- Anxiety when not using the phone
- Compulsive behaviour to check new notifications, battery level, signal coverage or anything new that makes it possible to use the smartphone again
- Worsening of personal relationships. They affect work, home and the immediate social circle. They harm friendships, concentration and productivity
- The phenomenon of “friendly presenteeism”. The person is present but does not pay attention to what is happening around them. Any social event is interrupted by continued mobile phone use
Addiction to the smartphone is a serious addictive disorder. Although it does not directly produce physical effects, it has a major impact on the individual’s mind and emotional health. In the short term, it can cause discomfort, problems of considerable magnitude, and harm to their habits and vital needs. However, in the long term it can become a serious illness that affects all areas of a person’s life. For this reason, dependence on technology should be treated as a significant condition and addressed as soon as possible to minimise its consequences.
CCAdicciones is a treatment centre for addictions and dependencies that can help you rehabilitate and regain normality. Seeking professional help from our addiction therapists is an effective solution to leave bad habits behind and enjoy a healthy lifestyle again.
