Smartphone Addiciton

What is smart phone addiction?

Smartphone addiction is a condition characterized by compulsive use of mobile devices, which is commonly measured by the number of times users access their devices and/or the average amount of time they spend online during a given period.

One form of technology addiction is compulsive smartphone use. Other technologies that are prone to overuse, such as social media and gaming, are frequently accessed via mobile devices. Smartphones are prone to abuse because, unlike a desktop or laptop computer, they can be conveniently taken with the user everywhere they go. As a result, the computers are becoming more and more the main computing platform for users.

Smartphone addiction may include a wide range of impulse-control issues, such as:

Relationships that are just virtual. Addiction to social media, dating apps, texting, and messaging will progress to the point that fictional, online friends take precedence over real-life friendships. We've all seen couples seated together in a restaurant avoiding each other and instead focusing on their phones. Although the Internet can be a wonderful place to meet new people, reconnect with old friends, and even start romantic relationships, it is not a safe replacement for real-life experiences.

Overabundance of knowledge Compulsive web browsing, video streaming, gaming, or reading news feeds can reduce productivity at work or school and isolate you for hours at a time. Compulsive Internet and mobile app usage will cause you to neglect other facets of your life, such as real-life relationships, hobbies, and social activities.

Addiction to cybersex. Usage of Internet pornography, sexting, nude-swapping, or adult messaging services on a regular basis can have a negative effect on your real-life personal relationships and emotional well-being. Though cybersex and online pornography are both forms of sexual addiction, the Internet makes them more accessible, anonymous, and convenient. It's easy to lose track of time when immersed in dreams that are difficult to achieve in real life. Excessive use of dating apps that promote casual sex can make it more difficult to form long-term romantic relationships or damage an established one.

Online compulsions. Gaming, gambling, stock trading, online shopping, and bidding on auction sites like eBay are all examples that can contribute to financial and employment issues. Although gambling addiction has long been recognized as a concern, the availability of Internet gambling has made it much more available. Compulsive stock trading or online shopping may be equally detrimental to one's finances and social life. Addicts on eBay can wake up at odd hours in order to be online for the final minutes of an auction. You could buy items you don't need or can't afford just to feel the rush of making the winning offer.

The cause of smartphone addiction

There are a number of factors that can play a role in addiction:

Loneliness– Loneliness can make a person feel completely powerless. The presence of a smartphone with all of the social media applications that allow you to communicate with a large number of people can make an individual feel less lonely and that someone is listening to them.

Stress - Job, school, and college stress are all bound to exhaust an individual. Smartphones can be used to momentarily relieve tension by watching movies, reading e-books, communicating with friends, and much more.

Unstable home or work setting – It's tough to deal with families where parents are often involved in fights, addicted to drugs, or have an autocratic boss. Using smartphones as a means of escaping the difficulties that must be met on a daily basis is possible.

Anxiety in social settings– Some people are extremely uncomfortable in social situations. Smartphones are a convenient way for such people to communicate with others at their own speed.

The availability of services, such as an up-to-date cell phone with all of the features and 24/7 internet access, is also a major contributor to addiction. The better the tools available, the more likely it is that a person can make the best use of them.

The effects of smartphone addiction

Smartphone addiction take up a lot of your time.

If you feel like there aren't enough hours in the day, it may be time to put your phone away. All of this time could be better spent studying, face-to-face socializing, working, interning, exercising, cooking, sleeping...In reality, there are few things that are less helpful to you than gazing at your smartphone. It adds little value to your life but consumes an enormous amount of time.

Smartphone addiction alters your sleep pattern

Bright light exposure at night sends a message to your body that makes falling asleep even more difficult, acting similarly to caffeine. Cell phone light, in reality, will keep you awake for twice as long as coffee. Meanwhile, 68 percent of 18 to 29-year-olds fell asleep with their phones or other electronic devices in bed with them. To - the negative effect on your sleep patterns, switching off your phone an hour or two before your night routine. Charge your phone as far away from your bed as possible – preferably in another room.

Smartphones addiction have the potential to destroy.

It might sound dramatic, but the statistics show that an overwhelming number of young people die each year as a result of texting while driving – almost 3,000 in the United States alone. Even if the effects can be fatal, we've all done it. Cell phone use while driving is 6 times more likely to cause an accident than driving drunk, according to statistics, making it a major road hazard.

Smartphone addiction will damage your personal relationships.

Overuse of phones, rather than bringing us together, may potentially damage our social lives. Young people are losing out on chances to really engage with their peers because they are distracted from engaging in the moment and actively listening. This is due in part to the widespread use of smartphones in social settings. You'll be a happier, more trusted, and valued friend if you keep your phone hidden during social gatherings.

Ways to avoid overusing a smartphone:

• Keep track of how much time you spend on your phone each day.

• Set aside some time to respond to emails and texts.

• Sleeping with your phone in the bedroom is not a good idea.

• Remove any apps that you don't need from your phone.

• Unimportant applications' alerts should be turned off.

• Use for entertainment purposes should be restricted.

• When you first wake up, avoid checking your phone.

Conclusion

Smartphone addiction and problematic use is increasing with each passing day, especially among young adults. Remember that these devices were created to make our lives simpler, and try to use them only when necessary.