Are Smart Phones Fueling Addiction?

Smartphones are growing increasingly popular over the years., and they don’t look like they’re going away any time soon. Although this has been a blessing in many ways, it’s also caused some social issues that need to be addressed. One of those issues is the connection between smartphone usage and addiction. There are two things to look at: smartphones leading to increased substance abuse and addiction to smartphones themselves.

How Smartphones Are Connected to Substance Abuse

It’s been shown through studies from The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse and the National Institute on Drug Abuse that teens with increased access to social media are more likely to try drugs and alcohol. These studies highlight the risks of addiction that are getting worse for teens around the world.

With smartphones comes social media. Apps and websites like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter can directly impact the lives of teens by influencing what they are exposed to. Teens today see their friends and others using drugs or drinking, but they are much less likely to see the possible negative impact of these actions

It’s common to see posts from accounts or people who are pro-drug or pro-alcohol on social media. This may not be all they post about, but they mention these things frequently enough to give teens the impression that it is all okay to do and that there aren’t life-changing consequences. Rarely will you see social media accounts talking about the potentially negative impacts of using substances that may become addictive.

Addiction is not necessarily caused by having a smartphone. But, substance abuse can be linked to smartphone usage, because of the pressure that social media can put on teens and young people to use drugs and alcohol. You can find out more about the signs of substance abuse online. Great resources like therecoveryvillage.com exist to help you recognize and respond to these issues.

Smartphones as Addictive Devices

The other argument that is popping up in more circles today is that smartphones themselves are addictive. There is some evidence that suggests smartphones and technology itself can be addictive for many different people. Addiction to technology doesn’t just mean using your phone a lot throughout the day. It’s a more serious issue than it sounds, because it can lead to negative social consequences.

People of all ages find gratification in getting social acknowledgement through their phones. It can be seen more easily in younger people than older people, because teens, adolescents, and young adults are more likely to integrate technology into their lives.

Smartphone addiction is very real and can have serious implications. For young people, these addictions can slow down mental growth, cause anxiety or depression, and will increase stress. The stress comes from always being available to receive messages and updates from many different sources. This constant connection doesn’t allow enough time to unwind and remove yourself from the chaos.

Smartphone addiction also reduces the amount of human interaction you will experience in a normal day. Although interactions happen over the phone, it does not have the same mental effect as real human interaction, which is one of the factors that adds to the depression. In addition, the use of bright lights at night can cause severe sleep issues, adding to the mental stress caused by this addiction.

The mental effects of smartphone addiction not the only problems that can be faced. Studies have shown that people who use smartphones regularly, which means more than a few hours per day, are more likely to experience back, vision, hearing, and wrist problems at a young age.

Conclusion

Addiction is a difficult subject to talk about, but it’s necessary to make the connection between smartphones and addiction and to understand the potential impact that phones have on our lives.