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Essay on Technology Addiction | Technology Addiction Essay for Students and Children in English

February 14, 2024 by Prasanna

Essay on Technology Addiction: Technology is something that is all around us in the digital era. Almost every device that is around us is an example of technology. Technology helps the person to work efficiently and effectively and also saves a lot of time. As technology makes work much easier and getting advanced, people are getting addicted to it. They have started trusting and relying on technologies for their professional and personal matters. In this essay, we will talk about how people are getting addicted to technology.

You can read more  Essay Writing  about articles, events, people, sports, technology many more.

Long and Short Essays on Technology Addiction for Students and Kids in English

A long essay of 450-500 words has been provided it is useful for students in classes 7, 8, 9, and 10. For the reference of students in Classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, a short essay of 100-150 words has been provided.

Long Essay on Technology addiction 500 Words in English

Long Essay on Essay on Technology is helpful to students of classes 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12.

Technology is everywhere and around us. The thing that you put in your pocket while travelling, your mobile phone is the most prime example of technology. GPS navigation, computer, internet, fan, A/C, and every other device we use in our daily lives are also prime examples of technology. Without technology, life would be dull and hard. Nowadays, countries that have more advanced technologies are developing day by day.

It is observed in a survey that people can’t live without technology even a single day as they survive on cell phones. People get so addicted to technological devices that they are not able to work without them. Many companies and industries are dependent on these technologies to operate their functions and manufacture goods.

People are so addicted that they prefer to use their mobile phones to communicate rather than communicating face to face. This affects their mental health and also their relationship with friends and family. People spend lots of money on buying new technology as they have advanced and better features.

The Internet is the prime cause of addiction to mobile phones and computers. It was introduced as a medium to help people for searching for information and data but people started misusing the internet which results in addiction. People started spending hours and hours on mobile phones surfing the internet and watching online videos. Nowadays even children have to wear glasses because of weak eyesight due to continuously using mobile phones and computers.

If you sit in front of a computer for hours and hours then it will lead to many problems like weak eyesight, weight gain which increases the chance of cardiovascular diseases. If you talk too much on cell phones then because of their radiation, your eardrums can be damaged and there are also chances of brain tumours. The radiations that are released from mobile towers are very harmful to the body as they can increase the chances of cancer and other deadly diseases.

People are so dependent on technology that sometimes it becomes the reason for illness or stress in relationships. Some people misuse technology and steal data or money from people through social networking sites and other platforms. Thus, it is advised to stay connected to nature and other outdoor activities to keep yourself away from the adverse effects caused due to overuse of technological devices.

It should be kept in mind that video games, social media sites and the web are designed in such a way that they promote dependency on the internet and technology causing negative side effects to the adults and the youth. However, technology addiction can be cured by replacing the time spent online with healthy stress management, productive activities, building healthy relationships, practising creative skills and learning more through books.

Technology addiction is equivalent to addiction to drugs and it is advised to seek professional help for curing the situation. Or else the addiction could lead to dullness of the brain, anti-social behaviour, stressful relationships, effect on career and behavioural changes.

Short Essay on Technology Addiction 150 words in English

Short Essay on Technology Addiction is helpful to students of classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

The technology was invented by human beings so that they can save time and money and also save energy for all the efforts they make but as time passed, it becomes an addiction for human beings, especially teenagers. Even small children can operate the phone and watch cartoons by themselves. Yes, it is rightly said that without technology, the world wouldn’t be developed but technology has a darker side too.

One of the most popular technological devices that is used by every person in the world is the mobile phones. People are so addicted to it that they won’t be able to spend even a single day without their mobile phones. With the introduction of applications like WhatsApp, Facebook, and other social networking and messaging apps, people started using mobiles quite frequently. People need to understand that addiction to technology is not good for their health and they should work on themselves or seek professional help.

10 Lines on Technology Addiction Essay in English

• People are getting dependent and addicted to technology.
• Technology plays an important role in the development of a country.
• Without technology, survival would be very difficult.
• One of the most common technologies used by everyone is mobile phones.
• The web allows people to interact, play video games and search for information.
• People spend most of the time watching movies and communicating via mobile phones.
• Overuse of mobile phones leads to many problems like damage to the eardrum, headache, and many more.
• People are now so addicted to these technological devices that they trust machines more than humans.
• It is very important to protect yourself and your loved ones from this addiction.
• Live a healthy life and use technology only for general purposes rather than overuse it.

FAQ’s on Technology Addiction Essay

Question 1. Why is technology important?

Answer: Technology is responsible for operating online effectively and efficiently. It saves time and money.

Question 2. What problems can occur because of technology addiction?

Answer: Technology addiction can lead to problems like weak eyesight, a decrease in mental capability, and many other problems.

Question 3. Why is the prevention of technology addiction important?

Answer: It is important to prevent this situation so that people can live a healthy life and socialize with others.

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December 19, 2021 / Reading Time: ~ 10 minutes

TECHNOLOGY ADDICTION IN THE MODERN ERA

In this essay I provide an argument that Technology is easily addictive and could have a negative impact on those who use it, if used irresponsibly. I cover topics from the negative feelings teens and young adults feel while using technology, to how much teens and young adults use technology, to the addicting factors that keep people logging on. I incorporate peer responses collected through google survey, personal experience, as well as secondary sources to further my argument.

Introduction

Throughout my entire life I have been surrounded by technology. There are professional pictures of me as a baby, at less than one year old, holding my mom’s cell phone because I would not stop crying unless she let me have it. My first real experience with technology, however, was at the young age of three, when my dad bought a playstation2 with video games such as Lego Star Wars and Jack 3. Two years later I was introduced to social media when my mother made me a Facebook page so I could stay connected with friends and family after we moved from California to Washington. The rest is history, I have been completely obsessed with technology ever since. As I grew older, I began relying on technology more for communication and entertainment, and with this I started spending more and more time on a screen. My obsession with the virtual world has had an enormous impact on my life, and I began to wonder if my use could be considered an addiction. Throughout this paper, I will use an autoethnographic approach to argue technology is highly addictive and can have a negative impact on the overall mental health of users.

Given the controversy around the word addiction, I found it beneficial to define addiction before continuing. Howard Shaffer, Ph.D. (1996) defines addiction as “an intemperate relationship with an activity that has adverse biological, social, or psychological consequences for the person engaging in these behaviors” (p.4). Personally, I define addiction as a mental or physical dependency on a substance or stimulus with the inability to quit using at a moment’s notice, or to use something without moderation. I find myself aimlessly using technology when I am bored or have nothing else to do, which for a while was all the time. I have found myself procrastinating schoolwork, actual work, and even just things I want to do with my day because I get so easily distracted by my technology. In the time spent procrastinating I am fully aware of what needs to be done, and it often absorbs my brain to the point it’s all I can think about other than the task at hand, yet still find myself putting it off for “1 more episode,” or “one more game.” I found myself questioning whether or not my obsession with technology was becoming an addiction, and since it is so intertwined with my life coming to a conclusive answer has been quite the challenge. Recently, my technology use has been mainly for schoolwork and some video games late at night when I’m finished. Using the definitions above to describe the term addiction I would claim that I was addicted to technology at a period in my life but as I’ve grown older and fixed my priorities, I find myself breaking that dependency day by day.

To gather information on technological usage and its impact on the feelings of users, I conducted a survey with my peers. My method of collecting peers’ information was through a google survey (fig. 1), through which I found many different perspectives of each individual’s own technological use. My goal with this survey was to collect information on the digital habits of teens and young adults, though all were invited to participate in the survey. Through this I found insights into people’s screen times, and their general feelings regarding technology and social media. I chose this autoethnographic approach because as author Maria Mendez (2013) stated in her article Autoethnography as a research method: Advantages, limitations, and criticisms , “Autoethnography is a useful qualitative research method used to analyze people’s lives” (p. 280). Through a google survey I was able to question people in a comfortable environment about topics that could be considered uncomfortable to talk about. Another way I collected information and data was by reflecting on my own personal experiences and reflections regarding technology usage, hoping to further analyze my own digital habits. I chose to use a Google survey for multiple reasons; it provided semi-anonymous feedback in which the participant could comfortably elaborate on a subject that may or may not be hard for them to talk about. As well as I was able to reach out to more people using a digital format in order to get enough data in a timely manner.

Throughout the survey process I saw many different perspectives about individual people’s own technology use. I found an abundance of negative feelings towards technology and social media use, usually by people who reported more time spent on technology per week. When asked “how does spending time on technology make you feel”, a 20-year-old woman from Washington named Kayla who reported she uses technology for 36 hours per week stated, “Depressed, anxious, self-comparison, a couch potato.” Reading this I felt a relation to my own feelings when I feel I’ve overused my technology. After spending hours of time spacing out into the digital void, I notice an overwhelming feeling of sadness or guilt for wasting my day. But the question this left me with was why do we feel this way? A response from a woman named Dena from Greece who uses technology for 35 hours per week, when asked how social media made her feel, stated “they were making me feel horrible about my body and my religion.” People’s experiences on technology are all very independent and vary due to which aspect you are utilizing. Using social media can be a very negative experience, as Dena stated she felt horrible about her religion. Being harassed for being who you are is a rather common thing on the internet (fig. 2) and could very well result in the feelings of depression and anxiety and self-comparison. Cyber bullying hasn’t been a very significant part of my technological experience as a whole, but I’ve had brushes with people who were hurtful through comment sections and direct messages. One would think constantly facing hurtful interactions would keep them from returning to social media, but disconnecting is easier said than done in most cases. One response I received noted a feeling of dependency based on communication, stating “Technology is how we communicate with everyone and it’s part of how some of our societies function.” Mobile phones have brought technology into our hands on a constant basis, with the ability to reach out to anyone anywhere, becoming a huge factor into how we communicate. If one were to just disconnect, they risk losing relationships they spent time building, which could be scarier than facing the constant harassment.

I use technology a lot and that goes for many others as well. Since around the age of 12 when I was introduced to online gaming, I have seen a screen every day of my life. Not all my time in the digital space is spent on video games, I also heavily rely on technology for school, and sometimes for work, and communication with friends who went to different colleges. Though I use technology for these useful things, I find myself spending a lot of hours doing rather unproductive things such as scrolling through Instagram or tiktok for hours or binge-watching television on a Tuesday. I find myself procrastinating on important work to this day because I get distracted by a funny video and keep scrolling to find more. During the survey process I asked the questions “How much time per week do you spend on technology?” and “Do you ever feel as though you spend too much time on technology?” to which a respondent by the name of Alice, who admitted to spending 50 hours a week on technology, said “Yes sometimes I feel like I spend too much time on technology, I just feel like I could be more productive.” Technology has become more of a distraction than a necessary tool for some people and draws them away from more important tasks in their life. I have experienced this firsthand, all my life I’ve been easily distracted, and trying to do work around my phone or near my Xbox is challenging due to how tempting it is to use each device. In her work It’s Complicated Author danah boyd (2014) wrote, “The overarching media narrative is that teens lack the capacity to maintain a healthy relationship with social media. It depicts passionate engagement with technology as an illness that society must address… adults use the concept of addiction to suggest that teens lack control” (pp. 78-89). Boyd (2014) goes on to explain how psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi gave another explanation as to why teens are obsessed called ‘flow,’ which is described as the sense that artists and athletes try to feel before performing. According to Mihaly this feeling keeps people engaged and causes them to be “in the zone” (p. 80). Thinking back to my research through surveys, I disagree with Mihaly’s claim. When asked “Do you ever feel as though you spend too much time on technology?” A respondent who wished to remain anonymous stated, “Yes. It Keeps me distracted from struggles that I should face, which is one of the main reasons I spend time on it. For example, my social life, which is something I should be working on, but my phone keeps my head distracted from those things which I find difficult to face.” Respondent is describing how they are completely aware of the outside world and the issues in their life, but still find themselves absorbed by their technology. As I stated previously, I often find myself procrastinating important things because I’ll find myself distracted by technology, but the entire time spent procrastinating is also spent thinking about the things I need to do. Technology is beneficial for many things, entertainment, communication, knowledge acquisition, but many people born in the age of technology were never taught how to responsibly use it, because no one knew the addicting factors behind them.

The previous discussion covered how teens and young adults experience a variety of negative feelings while overusing technology, and how technology may inhibit one’s ability to get important tasks completed properly and on time. But what keeps people coming back online? In their article Technology Addiction, the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, a nonprofit provider of addiction treatment, stated, “FOMO, or ‘Fear of Missing Out,’ is a commonly described phenomenon for teens and young adults, in which youth increasingly feel the need to stay connected to the internet, so they aren’t the last to know of a news story or social happening” (p.6). As I’ve stated in a previous paragraph, completely disconnecting could mean losing relationships one spent time building, which could be scarier than simply being dependent on technology. While being surveyed, when asked “Do you feel as though you are dependent on technology for reasons other than school or work? If so, what for?” a respondent by the name of “Garfield”, who uses technology up to 60 hours per week, stated “Yes. Social interaction. I interact in real life with people at school but not many share the same interests as I do. I look towards the internet because there are endless amounts of people who are interested in the same bands and games and interests as I am.” When asked the question “Would you describe yourself as addicted to technology? Why or why not?” Garf responded, “yes. I like to tell myself that I use it to make my life more convenient with communication, music, and entertainment. But in reality, I use it as an escape, and a little escape every once in a while is healthy, but when it is every day and affects the people around you and you become dependent it is an addiction.” Communication is a major factor in technology, and one of the leading if not the main reason people become so obsessed with their screen. The modern day has brought out digital communication as the new norm, but according to Garfield it’s beginning to feel more like a dependency and addiction rather than a tool. Personally, I have found communication to be one of the most addicting factors of technology. I love interacting with and meeting new people, and the internet is a great place to do so, which is why people like Garfield, and I find it so easy to space out talking to people and lose track of time.

There is no denying that there are many aspects about technology that increase the odds of someone becoming unhealthily absorbed in the digital space, but what can be done to prevent technology addiction? During the survey process, when asked if one was addicted to either social media and/or technology in general, and responded yes to either question, they were then asked “What do you think should be done to prevent future technology users from becoming addicted?” to which a respondent by the name of Nomad Nat said, “Encourage and show young people that there is a wonderful beneficial lifestyle that goes beyond social media. Also be more acceptant, tolerant, and open to all types of people because a lot of young people use social media as a means to escape when not fitting in or feel accepted or loved.” To continue what Nat said about educating the youth about life outside digital media, I believe this also should incorporate teaching kids proper in person social interaction. Growing up we were taught to treat everyone how we want to be treated and to keep our hands to ourselves, but most of learning to communicate and interact was done through actually communicating. This leaves out a small portion of kids, including myself, who are more introverted and don’t speak as much to be outcasted and only have the internet to resort to. Educating people from a young age about healthy internet usage, and proper in person social interaction would be extremely beneficial in terms of curbing technology addiction. One of the more serious treatment methods for technology addiction is done in Singapore, David McNamee (2015), author of Technology Addiction – How should it be treated, wrote “Standard treatment program at one of the dedicated technology addiction clinics in Singapore is based around cognitive behavioral therapy” (p.18). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is used to retrain negative patterns of thoughts and behavior. CBT has been proven to work in curbing many other mental illnesses (fig. 3), therefore could be beneficial in terms of dealing with a technology addiction. Making Technology Addiction CBT more available to teens and young adults could give people a potential outlet and provide them a chance to break their dependency.

Technology is a major part of today’s society and has played a huge role in my life and the life of millions of teens and young adults. Though technology is an amazing feat of mankind, it has its underlying issues that need to be addressed. Technology, the same as anything else, when overused leads to an unhealthy addiction that could severely impact the life of the user. Through the process of surveying young adults throughout the world through google surveys, I have learned that many factors lead into technology addiction, that being school, social needs, or it being just a general escape. I learned that young adults have many feelings towards technology, and that most have had some sort of negative experience on the internet, whether it be cyberbullying or feelings of inadequacy. Steps need to be taken in order to ensure technology addiction does not become a major epidemic, such as making therapy for people who feel dependent on technology more available and widespread, while continuing to reinforce proper in person social interaction in the youth. I believe it’s rather easy to become addicted to a screen, but it’s not as fulfilling as spending time in the real world.

Boyd, D. M. (2014). It’s complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens . Yale University Press.

McNamee, D. (2015, September 1). Technology addiction – how should it be treated? Medical News Today. Retrieved November 17, 2021, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/278530#Technology-addiction-epidemic-in-Asia-Pacific-and-the-treatment-response.

Méndez, Mariza. (2013). Autoethnography as a research method: Advantages, limitations, and criticisms. Colombian Applied Linguistics Journal , 15 (2), 279-287. Retrieved November 17, 2021, from http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0123-46412013000200010&lng=en&tlng=en .

Shaffer, H. J. (2015). What is addiction? A perspective. The division on addiction – what is addiction? A perspective. Retrieved November 17, 2021, from https://www.divisiononaddiction.org/html/whatisaddiction.htm.

Technology addiction . Hazelden Betty Ford. (2017, March 16). Retrieved November 17, 2021, from https://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/articles/prevention/teen-technology-addiction.

And So It Was Written

Author: Ethan

Published: December 19, 2021

Word Count: 2828

Reading time: ~ 10 minutes

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• Signs of Addiction

Technology Addiction

Creating a healthy balance.

Extreme use of technology can disrupt normal patterns of mood and socialization in teens

Technology is everywhere, and it is not going away. Teenagers stare down at their iPhones, or keep their eyes glued to a tablet or laptop, instead of observing the world around them. It's not unusual to see two adolescents seated together on a bus, texting furiously on their mobiles rather than talking to one another. The fact that teens are so dependent on technology makes sense in our world, but it may also lead to negative consequences.

What is technology addiction?

Technology addiction can be defined as frequent and obsessive technology-related behavior increasingly practiced despite negative consequences to the user of the technology. An over-dependence on tech can significantly impact students' lives. While we need technology to survive in a modern social world, a severe overreliance on technology—or an addiction to certain facets of its use—can also be socially devastating. Tech dependence can lead to teen consequences that span from mild annoyance when away from technology to feelings of isolation, extreme anxiety, and depression.

What makes technology addictive?

Technology fulfills our natural human need for stimulation, interaction, and changes in environment with great efficiency. When teenagers experience stress, be it romantic rejection or a poor grade on an exam, technology can become a quick and easy way to fill basic needs, and as such, can become addictive.

Technology impacts the pleasure systems of the brain in ways similar to substances. It provides some of the same reward that alcohol and other drugs might: it can be a boredom buster, a social lubricant, and an escape from reality.

Video and computer games, smart phones and tablets, social media and the Internet provide a variety of access points that can promote dependence on technology and negative consequences for youth:

The Internet.  The Web can be addictive as a multifunctional tool that brings us exceptionally close to an enormous amount of information at unprecedented speeds. User-friendly by design, we now have access to the Internet on our computers, through apps on our tablets, phones and watches. "FOMO," or "Fear of Missing Out," is a commonly described phenomenon for teens and young adults, in which youth increasingly feel the need to stay connected to the Internet, so they aren't the last to know of a news story or social happening.

Related to FOMO, some Facebook users, for instance, report that they use the Internet-based social media platform as a chosen method to alleviate their anxiety or depression.1 With so much accessibility to its use, the Internet is just as hard to stay away from at any given point in a day as it is easy and rewarding to use.

Video and computer games.  One hallmark of human psychology is that we want to feel competent, autonomous, and related to other people. Challenging video games allow players to feel that they are good at something. Games offer a great variety of choice to players, promoting a sense of autonomy for teens who might feel otherwise out of control.

The same goals that drive people to pursue success in the real world are often present in video games. As one amasses virtual wealth or prestige by spending time on games and advancing through levels, virtual wealth can translate into some version of actual recognition—through monetary purchasing power within an online game or a positive reputation within an online community.

Gamers find themselves linked to others who share their hobby through YouTube channels or subreddits dedicated to discussion of their game of choice with other enthusiasts. Like the Internet itself, games make themselves increasingly accessible to teens via apps on smart phones, never leaving kids' palms or pockets.

While there is room for social connection in the gaming universe, this space also provides a potential escape from reality into a digital world where players get to assume new identities more appealing or more novel than those they hold in the real life.

Smart phones, tablets, and lifestyle technologies.  These highly-mobile, flexible machines have the power to constantly connect. Smart phones and tablets, and the emergence of other smart devices from the Apple Watch to the Amazon Echo, promote addiction by removing the time lapse from tasks and activities that previously required logging into a deskbound, or at least a backpack-bound, computer source.

Social media.  Social media presents individually-relevant information in the easiest ways—centralized, personalized portals, like a Facebook newsfeed, YouTube subscription, or Snapchat followership.

Whether it's a Skype conversation with our grandmother in Alaska or a Twitter reply to the President, social media feeds our need for human connection by allowing us to share feedback with those who are far from us in time, geography, or social status. As social animals, we need human contact for emotional and psychological health. The appeal of social media is that it helps us to fill social needs without the efforts or restraints of in-person contact.

What are the risks of teen technology use?

While technology is certainly not all bad, its overuse can pose certain key risks, especially to teens.

Technology can give students a false sense of relational security as they communicate with unseen individuals around the world. The speed with which technology moves makes everything a teen might be looking for available within seconds, which encourages an unhealthy desire for instant gratification. A slow internet connection or “unplugging” can promote irritability and anxiety for a teen otherwise used to constant connection through technology.

Sleep disorders can develop as teens stay up all night to play with technology, and as a result, academic, athletic, and social performance can suffer. Weight gain and other complications of a poor diet and sedentary lifestyle, such as cardiovascular disease, may result. In-person social skills may deteriorate.

Even as healthy teens are challenged by increasing life responsibilities, hormonal changes, and the stress of new social and academic worlds like dating and applying to college, these life transitions become even harder for those wholly absorbed in technology.

Within a technology-addicted individual, the mind becomes increasingly unable to distinguish between the lived and the alternate realities that produce instant stimulation, pleasure, and reward. As such, the extreme use of technology can disrupt normal patterns of mood and socialization in teens. Dependency upon social media, gaming, or other platforms to function can become the new and unhealthy "normal."

Technology addiction and teen substance use.  Researchers have found evidence that people who overuse technology may develop similar brain chemistry and neural patterning to those who are addicted to substances. 2

Another concern is that those who are addicted to technology are actually more likely to also use substances than their peers with healthier relationships to tech, providing the insight that technology addiction may be a risk factor for alcohol and other drug addiction.

One preliminary study found that a group of teens who "hyper-texted" were 40% more likely to have used cigarettes and twice as likely to have used alcohol than students who were less frequent users of technology. This same research noted that those who spent more hours per school day than peers on social networking sites were at higher risk for depression and suicide. 3

It stands to reason then, that if we can prevent technology addiction, we may also be able to prevent other risky behavior and dangerous consequences to teens.

Technology and the brain.  Studies have shown that brain scans of young people with internet addiction disorder (IAD) are similar to those of people with substance addictions to alcohol, cocaine, and cannabis. 4

Damage to brain systems connecting emotional processing, attention, and decision-making are affected in both substance addicts and technology addicts. This discovery shows that being hooked on a tech behavior can, in some ways, be as physically damaging as an addiction to alcohol and other drug use.

When is technology a protective factor?

Of course, the advent of smarter, faster, more mobile technologies can be used positively with teens too. The following list reflects the many ways that technology, used in a healthy way, can encourage teens to explore their world and express themselves:

Learning.  In Ramsey Musallam's AP Chemistry class at Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory in San Francisco, California, cell phones are a natural extension of the way the teacher otherwise communicates with his students. As soon as kids walk into his classroom, Musallam sends out a text blast through Remind101, asking students a challenge question related to the day's lesson. 5

Some teachers use Facebook as a communication hub, creating a public page or smaller, closed groups for classes. Using technology like this, teachers can keep parents informed, distribute homework or permission slips, and share photos and videos from classroom activities and field trips.

Others in education and civic development have found that by piquing students' interest in social justice or commentary videos posted on YouTube, student engagement with world issues is enhanced.

Creativity and expression.  Technology can promote student creativity by prompting expression through user-friendly tools. Some studies have shown that blogging, or web journaling, enhances students' creative thinking. 6

Metacognition—the ability to be aware of, attend to, and use information about one's own cognitive processes—allows students to strengthen critical thinking across academic and artistic disciplines. Utilizing Internet-based technologies that ask students to reflect on and reiterate their learning processes provides a framework for the development of teen metacognition skills.

Now common technologies like tablets and smart phones are often much less bulky than notebooks and textbooks, allowing students to flex their imaginations, read fiction, write poetry, doodle, or take pictures through the ease of software applications found on highly-mobile devices.

Socialization.  When monitored properly by a parent or guardian, the use of social media can create safe and healthy friendship networks for teens with like interests online, through already established mutual friendships or within shared interest hubs, like a blogging community or Facebook group.

Preventing other teen risks.  Since the expansion of the Internet and mobile technologies, call-in hotlines have expanded to include Internet help sites and texting lines for teens run by knowledgeable and mature adults. These options provide a place teens can go for accurate information and timely support when they are not comfortable discussing their personal problems with an adult at home or school.

At her social advocacy organization, Nancy Lublin started receiving so many texts from students with questions about bullying that she set up a text-only crisis line.7 While online harassment is a concern, online support movements like the It Gets Better Project have sprung up to powerfully protect teens too.

Preventing Technology Addiction in Teens

Technology will only grow in its use in teens' worlds. Preventing teen addiction to technology means finding a balance within students' lives, so that teenagers do not misuse their technology as an escape from real world challenges, emotions, socialization, or identity. Adults can help children and teens have healthy relationships to technology when they:

Provide plenty of healthy highs, some of them offline.  How teenagers use technology really matters. Are teens playing video games among other recreational activities, and are they as excited about a dinner with friends as they are about "leveling up"? Or, are they turning on the Xbox so they don't have to face a life that they're not enjoying?

Balance activity and productivity with healthy stress management.  Everything in life requires energy, and often teens feel like they have too little energy to spend on too many demands. If they're are not guided by adults to discover healthy ways to replenish their stores of energy, they may default by overusing easy fixes for entertainment or stress relief that promote technology addiction.

Nurture pro-social identity development in the real world.  Adults must be proactive, creative, and excited as they help kids to discover who they really are! Once teenagers find something they are good at and want to do, they will naturally gravitate toward it. It is easier to create an Internet façade, but far more rewarding for teens to cultivate true purposes and genuine identities within their families, schools, and communities.

Consider treatment when there's a problem.  Inpatient treatment for technology addiction starts by removing a teenager from both the Internet and the surroundings that allowed a technology addiction to occur in the first place. It is a form of intensive therapy. Other treatments can include ways to help technology addicts see the offline world as more pleasurable, without fully removing the online element from their lives.

Creating a Healthy Balance

It is true that technology can fulfill many human needs, but its overuse comes with risk. Being addicted to technology is in some ways akin to an addiction to alcohol and other drugs, with many of the same effects on the developing brain.

We must do all we can to prevent any sort of addiction from occurring in our children's lives. Technology can be a protective factor if used properly, and healthy adults can play a role in student technology addiction prevention by showing young people the benefits to be gained from a healthy, balanced approach to technology use.

1. Conrad, Brent. "Why Is Facebook Addictive? Twenty-One Reasons For Facebook Addiction - TechAddiction." Video Game Addiction Treatment & Computer Addiction Help - TechAddiction. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Feb. 2017. http://www.techaddiction.ca/why-is-facebook-addictive.html.

2. Goldstein, Rita Z., and Nora D. Volkow. (2011). "Dysfunction of the prefrontal cortex in addiction: neuroimaging findings and clinical implications: Abstract: Nature Reviews Neuroscience." Nature Publishing Group: science journals, jobs, and information. Nature Publishing Group, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited, n.d. Web. 8 Feb. 2017. http://www.nature.com/nrn/journal/v12/n11/abs/nrn3119.html.

3. NHS. "Extreme levels of texting 'unhealthy'." NHS Choices. 10 November 2010. N.p. Web. 2 8 Feb. 2017. http://www.nhs.uk/news/2010/11November/Pages/Texting-and-teen-behaviour.aspx.

4. Lin, Fuchun, Zhou, Yan, Du, Yasong, Qin, Lindi, Zhao, Zhimin, Xu, Jianrong and Hao Lei. (2012). "Abnormal White Matter Integrity in Adolescents with Internet Addiction Disorder: A Tract-Based Spatial Statistics Study." Plos One. Web. 8 Feb. 2017. http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0030253.

5. Barseghian, Tina. "How Teachers Make Cell Phones Work in the Classroom | MindShift." KQED Public Media for Northern CA.KQED, 10 May 2012. Web. 8 Feb. 2017. https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2012/05/10/how-teachers-make-cell-phones-work-in-the-classroom/.

6. Hargrove, R. "The Role of Technology in Developing Students Creative Thinking Abilities - IATED Digital Library." IATED Digital Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Apr. 2013. http://library.iated.org/view/HARGROVE2009THE.

7. Lublin, Nancy. "Nancy Lublin: Texting that saves lives | Video on TED.com." TED: Ideas worth spreading. TED Conferences, LLC, n.d. Web. 2 Apr. 2013. http://www.ted.com/talks/nancy_lublin_texting_that_saves_lives.html.

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How we’re becoming slaves to technology, explained by an MIT sociologist

“We’re always on, always plugged in, always stimulated, always in a constant state of self-presentation.”

by Sean Illing

Are we becoming slaves to our technology? Is it making us less happy, less free, less connected?

Sherry Turkle, a sociologist and clinical psychologist at MIT, has explored these questions for more than two decades. The author of several books, including Life on the Screen: Identity in the Age of the Internet and Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age , Turkle isn’t anti-technology. But she is concerned that we’re failing to appreciate how it’s altering human life.

Her most recent book, Reclaiming Conversation, is a warning about the consequences of living in a world where face-to-face interaction is less and less frequent. We live on and through our screens, and we’re always plugged in, always distracted. She believes this has changed how we think, feel, and interact with one another. For Turkle, at least, it’s transforming what it means to be human.

I spoke with Turkle via Skype about why her views on technology have changed and why she thinks we have to reexamine the role that smartphones and social media are playing in our daily lives.

A lightly edited transcript of our conversation follows.

Sean Illing

Your book Life on the Screen was published in 1995 and it was noticeably optimistic about this new digital world. By the time you wrote Alone Together , in 2011, that optimism was gone. What changed?

Sherry Turkle

In a word, mobile technology. Mobile technology means we’re always on, always plugged in, always stimulated, always in a constant state of self-presentation. Psychologically, that’s a game changer. For nearly all of human history, people were able to find silence and solitude pretty easily — that was just part of the human condition.

I watched all this happen and decided to go out into the field and spend time with families with small children. I watched kids grow up, spent time in classrooms, and saw how these changes were impacting their development. I started thinking a lot about the self and identity and how this mobile world was transforming it in ways we needed to understand.

This is why I became so interested in the themes I’m exploring now — the flight from conversation, the flight from solitude, the flight from silence, the flight from boredom, all of these things that are so important to our development and to our ability to be with other people.

“Just because we invented a powerful technology doesn’t mean we have to become its slaves”

You’ve called face-to-face conversations “the most human thing we do.” What are the consequences of living in a world where we do this less and less?

Well, I’m not so sure we’re going to continue doing it less and less. We grew up with the internet, so we think the internet is grown up, but it’s not. The internet is very young, and our ways of using it are very young. I think we’re starting to see a backlash. Yes, there are many things about the internet that are amazing, like the fact that we’re having this conversation right now.

But there are certain kinds of communication that can’t be done via texting or video messages or whatever, and I think people are starting to see that. If you want to be a true friend or partner or lover or colleague and you want to really connect, then you have to look at the person you’re engaged with; you have to actually be with them. That’s how progress is made. I think enough people are beginning to understand this.

You’ve written a lot about empathy and how these technologies are making it harder for us to be empathic. I wonder if you think they’re encouraging us to treat other people as objects or as actors in our own personal drama. As you say, we’re always living through our screens, always performing, always projecting our image and our story.

That’s an interesting way to put it — that we become actors in our own personal drama. I think, over time, the so-called “internet of things” emerges and then we sort of become things on the internet. We talk a lot about authenticity, but actually what we’re doing is curating the self, and that’s what I worry about in terms of empathy.

Empathy requires that I get into your mental space, into your head, into your experience, and give you the comfort of knowing that I made that effort to listen and care, and that I’m taking responsibility for what I hear. It’s a commitment that we make to other people that involves us getting out of our own heads, and the constant self-curation online, the constant self-gratification of smartphones and social media, makes it harder for us to do this.

The thing about something like Facebook is that it’s not really authentic. People are curating what they share on Facebook; they’re always putting on their happy face. They’re posting about their fancy dinner or their fancy vacation or their fancy outfit. It’s not real, or at least it’s not the whole picture of our complicated lives . But empathy is about diving into other people’s sadness, and there’s just not much space for that on social media.

You’ve interviewed a lot of people who have embraced new technologies because they thought it would make them happier, more empowered, and more connected. Has it?

I don’t think there’s a yes or no answer to those questions. I mean, the students in Parkland, Florida , are using technology in ways that are making them more empowered as they wage this battle for gun control. The fact that they’re fluent with social media, that they know to leverage it into more coverage on TV and in print, is a great thing. They grew up with this technology, and they’re empowered by it.

So I’m not anti-technology — that’s too simplistic. I’m pro-relationships and pro-conversations and pro-communities and pro-politics. I want people to be media-savvy and to use it to their best advantage. These new technologies can be empowering and they can help us connect with other people, but they can also divide us and make us more lonely and isolated.

“We grew up with the internet, so we think the internet is grown up, but it’s not”

I want to ask you about a distinction you make between “technological values” and “human values.” I’d argue that this is no longer a meaningful distinction, that technological values have essentially become human values and that our society is now guided almost exclusively by technology, for better or worse.

To the degree that you’re right — and I don’t want to say that you’re wrong — it’s time to start backpedaling because that’s not going to get us where we need to go. Our technological values are values that make technology work better, but they don’t necessarily have any social value.

Our technologies aren’t necessarily helping us live a good and meaningful life. They’re not necessarily making us better citizens or friends or colleagues. What you’re describing is a dystopia that I don’t want to live in and I don’t want my daughter to live in. Technology that shapes human life without any human input is of no interest to me.

I agree, and I guess that’s my point. We’re not really asking questions about what the good life looks like or what it means to be engaged citizens. We’re simply creating new technologies and then organizing our lives around them after they’ve already overwhelmed us.

It’s time to make a change, and as consumers, we have to demand that change. If you object to what a piece of technology is doing to you, don’t buy it. If you notice that your iPhone is making you less present or more self-involved, don’t buy it — or at least demand that it be designed differently. I’m starting to see this already in the world of smartphones. People are saying, “This is making me crazy; my phone is leading me around. I need a device that’s more respectful of my time.”

Just because we invented a powerful technology doesn’t mean we have to become its slaves. I think we fell in love with this incredible technology we invented. We were like young lovers who didn’t want to talk because they thought it would ruin the romance. But now it’s time to talk. It’s time to talk about this technology we fell in love with. We’re not young lovers anymore. It’s time to say, “Hey, let’s make this technology suit our purposes, and our purposes are human purposes.”

Watch: It’s not you. Phones are designed to be addicting.

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Smartphone Addiction and Associated Health Outcomes in Adult Populations: A Systematic Review

Zubair ahmed ratan.

1 School of Health and Society, Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, Northfields Ave., Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; ua.ude.liamwou@142raz (Z.A.R.); ua.ude.liamwou@890am (M.S.A.)

2 Department of Biomedical Engineering, Khulna University of Engineering and Technology, Khulna 9203, Bangladesh

Anne-Maree Parrish

Sojib bin zaman.

3 Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia; [email protected]

Mohammad Saud Alotaibi

4 Department of Social Work, College of Social Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca 24382, Saudi Arabia

Hassan Hosseinzadeh

Associated data.

Not applicable.

Background: Smartphones play a critical role in increasing human–machine interactions, with many advantages. However, the growing popularity of smartphone use has led to smartphone overuse and addiction. This review aims to systematically investigate the impact of smartphone addiction on health outcomes. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to carry out the systematic review. Five electronic databases including Medline, Web of Science, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Scopus were searched to identify eligible studies. Eligible studies were screened against predetermined inclusion criteria and data were extracted according to the review questions. This review is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020181404). The quality of the articles was assessed using the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies. Results: A total of 27 of 2550 articles met the inclusion criteria. All of the studies were cross-sectional and focused on physical, mental, and neurological health outcomes. The majority of the studies focused on mental health outcomes and consistent associations were observed between smartphone addiction and several mental health outcomes. Anxiety and depression were commonly found to mediate mental health problems. A wide range of physical health sequelae was also associated with smartphone addiction. Furthermore, there was an association between smartphone addiction and neurological disorders. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that there are consistent associations between smartphone addiction and physical and mental health, especially mental health. Social awareness campaigns about smartphone addiction and its impact on physical and mental health are needed. Further studies, especially randomized controlled trials, are warranted to validate the impacts of smartphone addiction.

1. Introduction

The 21st century is known as the age of information technology. Wireless communication and the internet are remarkable entities resulting in revolutionary changes in the field of communication [ 1 ]. In 2007, computer-based phones (smartphones) were introduced [ 2 ]. Since then, smartphones have become an indispensable part of daily life in all communities and countries. As such, smartphones have become one of the fastest-growing sectors in the technology industry [ 3 ]. Over the past decade, smartphone ownership and use have been exponentially increased globally. For instance, there were about 2.1 billion smartphone users in 2017 and the number was projected to exceed 2.8 billion by 2020 worldwide [ 4 ].

A number of novel problematic behaviors have emerged in the information technology era, such as gambling, internet gaming, and sexual behaviors, which may lead to compulsive engagement [ 5 ]. Extreme instances may lead to individuals feeling unable to control these behaviors without external influence, and these behaviors may be considered non-substance or behavioral addictions [ 6 ]. Internet addiction is one of the earliest examined forms of information technology addiction [ 7 ]. The relatively newer concept of “smartphone addiction” (SA) has also been studied based on previous internet addiction research [ 8 ]. Smartphones distinguish their use from traditional Internet use on computers or laptops because smartphones allow users to access the internet continuously regardless of time and space. Smartphone addiction is fueled by an Internet overuse problem or Internet addiction disorder [ 9 ]. The increased use of smartphones has resulted in most in people communicating daily online, as a result of interactive texts and social media, instead of face-to-face human contact. Smartphones fetch a limitless range of cognitive activities for users; smartphones forge opportunities for individuals to engage in a range of online activities such as participating in social network sites, playing video games, and “surfing the web” [ 10 ]. However, the smartphone poses a negative impact on our ability to think, remember, pay attention, and regulate emotion [ 11 ]. The increase in popularity and frequency of smartphone use has led to the emergence of clinical cases of people presenting with abuse symptoms [ 12 ].

The concept of addiction is not easy to define, and the usage of the term addiction has been considered controversial; however, central to its definition is the dependence on a substance or activity [ 13 ].

Smartphone addiction (SA) is generally conceptualized as a behavioral addiction including mood tolerance, salience, withdrawal, modification, conflict, and relapse [ 14 ]. Literature suggests that there are associations between SA and mental health [ 15 ], physical health [ 16 ], and neurological problems [ 17 ]. Furthermore, tolerance, salience, withdrawal, and cravings [ 8 , 18 ] have been associated with excessive smartphone use. However, the evidence is not conclusive [ 19 ]. Still, there is debate in the literature about the positive or negative relationship between the amount of screen time or smartphone use and health outcomes. Existing studies have provided useful data; however, it is difficult to draw consensus without a systematic review.

This systematic review is an attempt to collate empirical evidence about the health impacts of smartphone addiction among the adult population. This study aims to provide evidence to inform policy or recommendations to control and prevent smartphone addiction.

The protocol of this systematic review is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020181404). It was carried out using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines ( Figure 1 ). Literature searches were conducted in the five databases including Scopus, Medline, PubMed, Web of Science, and psycINFO databases. The search strategy for this review was initially developed by a series of consultations with the investigators and some preliminary searches (Z.A.R., A.M.P., S.B.Z., M.S.A., and H.H.). Expert librarians from the University of Wollongong were also consulted to refine and finalize the search strategy. All studies including controlled trials, case-control, cross-sectional, and cohort studies were included. Eligibility criteria included studies which explored smartphone exposure focusing on the adult population (aged over 18), published in the English language. This review excluded case reports, ideas, editorials, meta-analysis, review articles and opinions. Search terms included “smartphone”, “addiction”, “overuse”, “problematic use”, “excessive use”, and “adults”. Details of search strategies are provided in Supplementary Table S1 . Since the smartphone gained popularity in 2011 (after the debut of the smartphone), the literature was searched from January 2011 until July 2021. The reference lists of the selected papers were also searched for any eligible papers however no papers were found.

Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic Review (template taken from PRISMA flow diagram).

Three authors (Z.A.R., S.B.Z., and M.S.A.) independently reviewed all the retrieved abstracts and selected eligible papers. Any disagreements were resolved by discussion with senior researchers (A.M.P. and H.H.). The quality of each included study was assessed by using the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies and were given a rating of either “good”, “fair” or “poor” and the results of the quality assessment are presented in Supplementary Table S2 . The NIH quality assessment is a valid and reliable tool for the assessment of the methodological quality of cross-sectional studies [ 20 ].

3.1. Overall Search Findings

A total of 2550 potential studies were identified. After screening and removing duplicates, twenty-seven (27) studies were eligible for this review. A detailed study selection process based on the PRISMA flow chart is presented in Figure 1 . Sample sizes ranged from 30 to 5372 adults ( Table 1 ). Seven were conducted in South Korea [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ], three in Saudi Arabia [ 28 , 29 , 30 ], four in China [ 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ], four in Turkey [ 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 ], one in India [ 39 ] one in Taiwan [ 40 ], one in Switzerland [ 41 ], one in the USA [ 42 ], one in Italy [ 43 ], one in Thailand [ 44 ], and three were international studies [ 45 , 46 , 47 ] ( Figure 2 ). Smartphone addiction was measured in the study sample using different scales, however, the Smartphone Addiction Scale, Short Version (SAS-SV; n = 8) was the most common measure ( Table 1 ). Among the selected studies, nine studies were considered to be “good”, seventeen articles were considered to be “fair”, and the remaining one was considered “poor” ( Table 2 ).

Global map indicating country of selected articles.

Smartphone addiction and associated health outcomes.

Summary of outcomes.

3.2. Main Findings

3.2.1. mental health.

As outlined in Table 2 , mental health was associated with SA in fourteen studies [ 22 , 25 , 27 , 28 , 30 , 31 , 33 , 36 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 45 , 46 , 47 ]. Depression and anxiety were the most common mental health conditions associated with SA [ 22 , 25 , 28 , 30 , 31 , 33 , 36 , 41 , 45 , 47 ]. Several depression measures were used; however, the Beck Depression Inventory was the most common measure used [ 28 , 30 , 36 , 40 ]. Alhassan et al. (2018) revealed that less-educated people and young adult users of the smartphone were at high risk of depression. Another study [ 28 ] found that the groups who were classified as smartphone-addicted had an increased risk of depression (relative risk 1.337; p < 0.001) and anxiety (relative risk 1.402; p < 0.001) [ 28 ]. Miles Richardson et al. (2018) found that problematic smartphone use (PSU) was positively related to anxiety [ 46 ].

Social anxiety was also associated with SA [ 41 ]. For instance, a study conducted in China during COVID-19 reported that COVID-19 anxiety was associated with the severity of problematic smartphone use [ 33 ].

Interestingly, female participants were more susceptible to SA [ 36 ] and showed significantly higher dependence on smartphones than men [ 25 ]. Further, a study conducted among university students in Thailand demonstrated that not only were female students more likely to be smartphone addicted, but smartphone addiction among female participants was likely to be negatively associated with psychological well-being [ 44 ].

3.2.2. Physical Health

Musculoskeletal problems.

The effect of SA on the musculoskeletal system was identified in four studies [ 24 , 26 , 34 , 43 ] ( Table 2 ). Among those studies, two studies reported cervical problems [ 24 , 34 ], one study demonstrated nerve thickness [ 26 ], and one study showed psoriatic arthritis [ 43 ]. Lee et al. (2014) compared cervical spine repositioning errors in different smartphone addiction groups and revealed that there were significant differences between non-addicted, moderately addicted, and severely addicted groups; the severe smartphone addict group showed the largest changes in posture, the cervical repositioning errors of flexion (3.2 ± 0.8), extension (4.9 ± 1.1), right lateral flexion (3.9 ± 1.0), and left lateral flexion (4.1 ± 0.7). [ 24 ]. A study conducted among 2438 young patients suffering from chronic neck pain found that cervical disc degeneration was more likely to be associated with SA [ 34 ]. Another study conducted among university students revealed that excess smartphone use can cause nerve injury [ 26 ]. Megna et al. (2018) found that SA was linked to higher signs of inflammation in the musculoskeletal structures of hand joints.

Sleep Quality and Sedentary Lifestyle

Five studies showed an association between smartphone addiction and sleep quality [ 29 , 35 , 38 , 39 , 40 ]. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used in all five studies ( Table 1 ). A study conducted by Fahad et al. (2016) among 2367 university students reported 43% of the participants had decreased their sleeping hours due to SA, and 30% of the participants had an unhealthy lifestyle including weight gain, reduced exercise, and the consumption of more fast food when diagnosed with SA [ 29 ]. Another study conducted among migraine patients reported that SA can increase headache duration and decrease sleep quality [ 35 ].

One study conducted by Hye-Jin Kim et al. (2017) revealed that SA is associated with different types of accidents, such as traffic accidents; falls/slips; bumps/collisions; being trapped in the subway, impalement, cuts, and exit wounds; and burns or electric shocks [ 21 ]. The study found that self-reported experience of accidents was significantly associated with SA [ 21 ].

Neurological Problems

Two studies reported the neurological effect of SA [ 23 , 32 ]; one study found alterations in white matter integrity [ 32 ] and another study reported smaller grey matter volume [ 23 ]. Hu et al. (2017) used a high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging technique to identify white matter integrity in young adults with SA and found that smartphone-addicted participants had significantly lower white matter integrity [ 32 ]. Lee et al. (2019) found that smartphone-addicted participants had significantly smaller grey matter volume (GMV) in the right lateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) [ 23 ].

4. Discussion

In recent years, several articles have examined the role of smartphone addiction and associated health outcomes among the adult population, however, substantial gaps still remain. To the best of our knowledge, no previous systematic review has been conducted to summarize these findings among this cohort. Our review is the first systematic review that utilizes empirical evidence from the last decades that demonstrates the relationship between smartphone addiction and health outcomes among adults. Interestingly, studies conducted in different parts of the world showed similar effects on health outcomes as a result of smartphone addiction. Hence, the consistency across the studies strengthens the study findings, emphasizing the association between SA and health outcomes.

Our findings suggest that depression and anxiety are significantly linked with smartphone addiction. One national USA survey found that 46% of smartphone owners believed they could not live without their phones [ 48 ]. Overuse patterns of smartphones involves a tendency to check notifications all the time, and such behavior patterns can induce “reassurance seeking” which broadly includes symptoms such as depression and anxiety [ 49 ]. This “reassurance seeking” pathway corresponds to those individuals whose smartphone use is driven by the necessity to maintain relationships and obtain reassurance from others. Bilieux and colleagues explained this reassurance-seeking behavior with the theoretical model of “problematic mobile phone use” [ 50 ]. In addition, this checking behavior is related to the next pathway, the “fear of missing out” (FOMO). One study found that FOMO mediated relations between both depression and anxiety severity with SA [ 51 ].

From our results, it is evident that musculoskeletal pain and insomnia are the two most common physical problems related to SA. Fingers, cervical, back, and shoulder problems are most commonly linked to excessive smartphone usage. Prolonged use of smartphones can cause defective postures such as forwarding head posture, which can produce injuries to the cervical spine and cause cervical pain [ 52 ]. Numerous studies found De Quervain tenosynovitis (characterized by pain in the wrist over the radio styloid process—the thumb side of wrist) was associated with different electronic devices like gaming controllers, tablets, and smartphones [ 53 , 54 ]. Texting and chatting through smartphones have been considered a risk factor for De Quervain tenosynovitis [ 55 ].

Poor sleep quality and difficulty in falling asleep or maintaining sleep has been identified as one of the negative consequences of SA, which is similar to our results [ 56 , 57 ]. Moreover, in line with our finding, another systematic review revealed that SA is related to poorer sleep quality [ 58 ]. One study found that 75% of the young adults (age < 30 years) take their phones to bed, which may increase the likelihood of poor sleep quality [ 59 ]. Smartphone addicts are unsuccessful at controlling their smartphone use, even in bed. Again, fear of missing out could be the reason of taking phones in the beds as they do not want to miss any notification [ 60 , 61 ]. In addition, blue light emitted by smartphones can have a negative effect on circadian rhythms, leading to negative sleep consequences, such as going to sleep later than intended and thus reducing overall sleep time [ 62 ].

The neurological effect of SA is not clear yet from this review. However, currently neuroimaging studies play an important role in understanding the complexity of addictive behavior [ 63 ], as they can assess any pathological change in the brain. Two studies in this review reported the negative changes in grey matter and white matter integrity in the brain with the assistance of neuroimaging ( Table 2 ), which is similar to the neuropathy caused by substance abuse [ 64 , 65 ] and Internet addiction [ 66 , 67 ]. However, the modest sample size and the lack of a clinical evaluation are the potential limitations of these studies [ 23 , 32 ].

This review indicates that smartphone addiction shares similar features with substance abuse. A consistent relationship has been demonstrated between SA and physical and mental health symptoms, including depression, anxiety, musculoskeletal problems, and poor sleep. However, smartphones have become a part of daily life, facilitating work, education, or entertainment. Therefore, it is important not only to utilize the advantages of the smartphone but also to reduce the negative consequences. To address SA in a proper way, a validated definition and consistent diagnostic criteria of SA is required. The findings from this research suggest that healthcare providers and policymakers should recognize the problem and take necessary steps in raising community awareness about SA and its physical and mental impact.

5. Limitations

This systematic review has several limitations. First, all of the selected studies were cross-sectional ( Table 1 ), therefore drawing conclusions about causal directions of associations is not possible. Secondly, all the papers were excluded if not in the English language; however, SA has received attention in Asian and European countries, and findings may have been published in other languages. This may lead to exclusion of studies conducted in diverse cultures and may bias the results of the review. Thirdly, most of the studies that were qualified to be included in this review were performed in developed countries, which may question the generalizability our findings to developing countries. Finally, most of the outcomes were reported over less than one year of follow-up. No standard scale and cut-off scores were used for the determination of smartphone addiction.

6. Conclusions

The current review describes the effect of smartphones on health outcomes in the adult population. Although the diagnostic criteria and effect of smartphone addiction are yet to be fully established, this review provides invaluable findings about the health impact of smartphone addiction and has significant implications for policy and decision makers. There is a need for more longitudinal studies to validate and strengthen this review’s findings.

Supplementary Materials

The following are available online at https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/ijerph182212257/s1 , Table S1. Electronic search strategy.

Author Contributions

Z.A.R. conceptualized and designed the study, conducted initial searches, assessed the eligibility of the retrieved papers in the titles/abstracts and full text. S.B.Z. and M.S.A. independently reviewed all the retrieved abstracts and selected eligible papers. Z.A.R., A.-M.P., S.B.Z., M.S.A. and H.H. critically assessed the eligible studies and extracted data. Z.A.R. analyzed and interpreted the data and drafted the manuscript. All authors critically reviewed the manuscript. A.-M.P. and H.H. reviewed and approved the final manuscript. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

This research received no funding.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Informed consent statement, data availability statement, conflicts of interest.

Authors declared no conflict of interest.

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Could You Be Addicted to Technology?

Signs and symptoms that a problem exists..

Posted February 12, 2018 | Reviewed by Ekua Hagan

Maybe I’m overusing technology…

Maybe you are. How exactly would you know? The digital police aren’t going to flag you when you’ve met your technology threshold.

On the other hand, constant use has become normalized. The toddler tinkering with a tablet, the teen locked away in their room tied to their computer, and to the adult buried in their phone at a social engagement are just a few examples of ordinary use.

In our present day, the increase in popularity and integration of technology in our daily lives prompts one to ponder the potential of developing an addiction to technology. At what point are we at risk for crossing the fine line from general use to problematic use?

Addiction has historically been associated with substance dependence, however, since the 1980s the concern of potentially excessive and problematic behaviors such as gambling grew in recognition, and caused experts to contemplate reclassification.

Scholars have suggested addictions specific as Facebook addiction, nevertheless, for this article please consider Griffith’s assertion of technology addiction, a behavioral addiction in which problems arise from excessive human-machine interaction. Hence the general use of the TV for binge-watching your favorite series, the use of your computer for writing reports and checking emails, and the use of your cellphone for scrolling social applications (e.g., Instagram , Twitter, Snapchat, LinkedIn could all pave the path to a potential problem.

Although absent from the present diagnostic guidelines such as the International Classification of Diseases ( ICD ) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ( DSM ), scholars have recognized that while fine, there may be a line between general technology use and unhealthy use related to physical, social, and psychological problems.

Examples of problems associated with excessive technology use

• Sedentary lifestyle 1 : The more time spent on a screen is associated with less time for physical fitness. Similarly, remaining in a fixed posture could cause musculoskeletal symptoms.
• Vision 1 : The lengthy use of devices could cause visual symptoms (e.g., discomfort, eyestrain, blurred vision, headache)
• Injuries 1 : Devices are often used while carrying out other tasks (i.e, walking, driving) and may cause the user to be more susceptible to accidents.
• Infections 1,2 : Simply put, devices may have more germs than a toilet seat.
• Social development 1 : More time spent on online engagement over face-to-face interaction may hinder social skill development or cause social withdrawal.
• Sleep deprivation 1,3 : Devices may cut into one’s sleep cycle . Further, depending on the use, an individual may be wired, alert, and unable to rest.
• Psychological concerns 1,4-10 : Excessive use of technology has been associated with several mental health concerns such as poor psychological well-being, poor self‐ confidence anxiety , depression , lower emotional stability , and lower life satisfaction.

Researchers have created assessments to gauge the different domains within technology addiction. Such efforts include, but are not limited to, the Compulsive Internet Use Scale , the Mobile Phone Problematic Use Scale , the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale , and the Multidimensional Facebook Intensity Scale .

Further, scholars remain focused on exploring the potentially problematic use of technology. Some have asserted that technology addiction is not an independent concern, but a flag for a potential underlying psychological problem 1 . Regardless of the semantics surrounding addiction, research has consistently shown that there may be problematic associations with excessive technology use.

Based on the present literature, here are some prompts to ponder if you are concerned about your technology use:

• Have you noticed an increase in how often you use your device?
• Have you felt guilty about how often you use your device?
• Do you experience an urge to use your device?
• When you are using your device, do you experience lift in your mood?
• When you are using your device, do you experience a thrill?
• When unable to use your device do you experience discomfort?
• Have you noticed times in which it seems as though time was lost while you were in the zone using your device?
• Do you use your device to brighten your mood?
• Have you tried to reduce the amount of time that you use your device?
• If so, were you successful in reducing your amount?
• Have your loved ones complained about your use?
• If yes, have you continued your usage rate regardless of their complaints?

Please keep in mind that these questions are to help you flag a potential concern. It does not substitute for a psychometrically-sound assessment or guidance from a trained mental health professional. Nevertheless, if you respond affirmatively to several of these questions, and particularly if you exhibit some of the concerns noted above, it may be helpful to consider help for your underlying concerns.

World Health Organization. (2014).Public Health Implications of Excessive Use of the Internet, Computers, Smartphones and Similar Electronic Devices Meeting report. Retrieved from http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/184264/1/9789241509367_eng.pdf…

Matthews, S. E. (2012). Why your cellphone has more germs than a toilet. Retrieved from https://todayhealth.today.com/_news/2012/08/30/13569391-why-your-cellph…

Aswathy, D., Manoj Kumar, S., P, T., & P, M. (2017). Technology addiction among treatment seekers for psychological problems: implication for screening in mental health setting. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine , 39 (1),21-27 doi:10.4103/0253-7176.198939

Satici, S. A. (2018). Facebook addiction and subjective well-being: A study of the mediating role of shyness and loneliness. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction , 1-15. doi:10.1007/s11469-017-9862-8

Leung, L. (2007). Leisure Boredom, Sensation Seeking, Self-Esteem, Addiction Symptoms, and Patterns of Mobile Phone Use. Conference Papers -- International Communication Association, 1.

Brailovskaia, J., & Margraf, J. (2017). Facebook Addiction Disorder (FAD) among German students—A longitudinal approach. Plos ONE, 12(12), 1-15. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0189719

Kruger, D. J., & Djerf, J. M. (2017). Bad vibrations? Cell phone dependency predicts phantom communication experiences. Computers in Human Behavior, 70, 360-364. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2017.01.017

Blachnio, A., Przepiorka, A., Senol-Durak, E., Durak, M., & Sherstyuk, L. (2017). The role of personality traits in Facebook and Internet addictions: A study on Polish, Turkish, and Ukrainian samples. Computers in Human Behavior , doi:10.1016/j.chb.2016.11.037

Wartberg, L., Petersen, K., Kammerl, R., Rosenkranz, M., & Thomasius, R. (2014). Psychometric Validation of a German Version of the Compulsive Internet Use Scale. Cyberpsychology, Behavior & Social Networking, 17 (2), 99-103. doi:10.1089/cyber.2012.0689

Błachnio, A., Przepiorka, A., & Pantic, I. (2016). Association between facebook addiction, self-esteem and life satisfaction: A cross-sectional study. Computers in Human Behavior, 55 , 701-705. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2015.10.026

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Technology Addiction - Free Essay Examples and Topic Ideas

Technology addiction is a condition describing overuse, dependency or obsessive behavior towards various technological devices and digital platforms. It can involve excessive use of smartphones, social media platforms, video games, the internet, or other digital devices, leading to debilitating consequences such as reduced face-to-face communication, mental health problems, social withdrawal, reduced productivity, and physical health issues. The effects of technology addiction can vary from person to person and can negatively impact one’s life. It is a growing concern in contemporary society that affects people of all ages and backgrounds.

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Home — Essay Samples — Nursing & Health — Drug Addiction — Technology Addiction among Youth and Its Impact

Technology Addiction Among Youth and Its Impact

• Categories: Drug Addiction

About this sample

Words: 1677 |

Published: Jul 17, 2018

Words: 1677 | Pages: 4 | 9 min read

Table of contents

Technology addiction essay outline, technology addiction essay example, introduction.

• Overview of the positive and negative impacts of tech-gadgets and services
• Mention of the impact on youth's technical skills and real-life practical skills

Negative Impacts on Youth

• The shift towards an imaginary world
• Decreased outdoor activities and social interaction

Psychological Effects

• Addiction to social media and its consequences
• Internet gaming and shopping leading to depressive symptoms

Mental Health Impact

• Relationship between Internet addiction and psychiatric disorders
• Damage to brain systems and physical consequences of technology addiction

Causes of Technology Addiction

Preventing and addressing technology addiction.

• Balancing technology use with stress management
• Encouraging real-world socialization and identity development
• Treatment options for technology addiction, including inpatient treatment

Works Cited

• Walsh, S. (2012). The Impact of Technology on Youth in the Digital Age. In K. Hermann-Wilmarth & L. Ryan (Eds.), Teaching the iGeneration: Five Easy Ways to Introduce Essential Skills With Web 2.0 Tools (pp. 1-14). National Council of Teachers of English.
• Erickson, E. (2012). The Negative Impacts of Technology on Youth. Journal of Adolescent Research, 27(2), 155-169.
• Cabral, J. (2011). The Psychological Effects of Social Media Addiction on Youth. International Journal of Cyber Behavior, Psychology and Learning, 1(4), 31-39.
• Cotton, S. (2001). Internet Addiction and Its Association with Depressive Symptoms among College Students. Journal of Adolescent Health, 28(4), 225-229.
• Young, K. S. (1998). Internet Addiction: The Emergence of a New Clinical Disorder. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 1(3), 237-244.
• Griffiths, M. D. (2000). Internet Addiction—Time to be Taken Seriously? Addiction Research, 8(5), 413-418.
• Boyd, D. M., & Ellison, N. B. (2007). Social Network Sites: Definition, History, and Scholarship. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 13(1), 210-230.
• Block, J. J. (2008). Issues for DSM-V: Internet Addiction. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 165(3), 306-307.
• Weinstein, A., & Lejoyeux, M. (2010). Internet Addiction or Excessive Internet Use. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 36(5), 277-283.
• Cheng, C., Li, A. Y., & Wu, Y. S. (2018). Internet Addiction Prevalence and Quality of (Real) Life: A Meta-Analysis of 31 Nations across Seven World Regions. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 21(9), 540-550.

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Essay on Advantages and Disadvantages of Modern Technology

Students are often asked to write an essay on Advantages and Disadvantages of Modern Technology in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Advantages and Disadvantages of Modern Technology

Introduction.

Modern technology is a crucial part of our lives. It has its advantages and disadvantages which we will explore.

Firstly, technology makes our life easier. For example, we can communicate with others instantly. Secondly, it provides endless entertainment options. Lastly, it’s a great tool for education.

Disadvantages

However, there are downsides. Over-reliance on technology can lead to less physical activity. Additionally, it can cause social isolation. Lastly, it can be a distraction from studies.

In conclusion, while technology has its benefits, it’s important to use it wisely to avoid its pitfalls.

250 Words Essay on Advantages and Disadvantages of Modern Technology

Advantages of modern technology.

Modern technology enhances efficiency and productivity. Tools like computers, software, and artificial intelligence can automate repetitive tasks, freeing humans to focus on complex, creative pursuits. Moreover, technology enables instant communication and fosters global connectivity. Platforms such as social media, email, and video conferencing have bridged geographical distances, fostering a global culture of collaboration and shared knowledge.

Disadvantages of Modern Technology

However, the reliance on technology can lead to issues such as privacy invasion and data theft. With the increasing amount of personal information shared online, individuals become vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Furthermore, the extensive use of technology can lead to physical and mental health problems. The sedentary lifestyle promoted by screen-based activities can contribute to obesity, while constant connectivity can lead to stress and anxiety.

In conclusion, while modern technology has significantly improved our lives, it has also introduced new challenges. It’s crucial to strike a balance, leveraging the benefits of technology while being aware of its potential pitfalls. As we continue to innovate, we must also develop strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of technology.

500 Words Essay on Advantages and Disadvantages of Modern Technology

Modern technology has become an integral part of our daily lives, influencing every aspect from communication to business, from education to healthcare. The advancements in technology have brought numerous benefits, but they also come with their own set of drawbacks. This essay aims to delve into the advantages and disadvantages of modern technology.

One of the most significant benefits of modern technology is the enhancement of communication. With the advent of smartphones, social media, and instant messaging apps, people can now connect with each other from any corner of the world in real-time, fostering global collaboration and cultural exchange.

In the field of education, technology has transformed the learning experience. Online education platforms, digital textbooks, and virtual classrooms have made learning more accessible, personalized, and flexible.

Despite its advantages, modern technology also has its downsides. One of the main disadvantages is the issue of privacy and security. With the increasing amount of data being shared online, there is a growing concern about data breaches, identity theft, and cybercrime.

Moreover, the rapid pace of technological change can lead to job displacement. Automation and artificial intelligence threaten to replace human labor in certain sectors, leading to job loss and increased social inequality.

In conclusion, while modern technology offers numerous benefits such as improved communication, advancements in healthcare, and transformation in education, it also poses significant challenges, including privacy and security concerns, mental health issues, and job displacement. Therefore, it is essential to strike a balance between leveraging the benefits of modern technology and mitigating its potential drawbacks. As we continue to innovate and advance, we must also ensure that we are addressing these challenges and shaping a future where technology serves as a tool for societal improvement rather than a source of disruption.

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Essay on Technology Addiction

Table of Contents

Essay on Technology Addiction in English : Albert Einstein once said, “I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots.” Unfortunately the fear of this great soul has become a reality in today’s times. The use of technology has become a priority for majority of people. They have become addicted to it. Their relationships, work and health have taken a back seat.

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Long and Short Essay on Technology Addiction in English

Here are long and short essay on Technology Addiction to help you with the topic in your exam.

These Technology Addiction essay are written in simple English to make it easily memorable and presentable when needed.

After going through these essays you will understand what technology addiction is, what its harmful consequences are, its impacts on health and relationships, types of technology addictions and how to overcome them, etc.

Technology addiction, also known as digital addiction, internet addiction, or internet use disorder, describes when someone becomes excessively attached to technology. This can involve activities like playing games, using social media, shopping online, watching videos, or anything related to technology

Hurry up, read all the essays given below and choose the best one for you:

Short Essay on Technology Addiction 200 Words

Technology addiction is an umbrella term for different kinds of addictions including internet addiction, mobile addiction, social media addiction, TV addiction, computer addiction, gaming addiction and web series addiction to name a few. This is the newest kind of addiction that has gripped people around the world.

Just like drug and alcohol addiction, technology addiction also changes the brain activity. It provides momentary pleasure and releases stress temporarily. However, the impact it has on the human brain in the long run is irreparable. Continuous use of mobile, internet, television or any other technology creates new neuropath ways in our brain. These neuropath ways replace the healthier ones and also bar the development of healthy neuropath ways.

Technology addiction stimulates all the senses and it is thus hard to get over. It gives addicts a high just like drugs. Addicts return to technology again and again to experience this feeling. They feel sad and depressed when they are away from technology. This is the reason why they remain hooked to it for most part of the day. They start ignoring their work and other important tasks. They also start neglecting their loved ones. Associate happiness with their addiction. They only feel happy when they indulge in their addiction and display aggressive behaviour when advised to leave it.

Technology addiction impacts a person’s health, ruins his relationships and hampers work. One must make effort to overcome it in order to lead a healthier life.

Essay on Harmful Consequences of Technology Addiction in English –300 Words

Technology addiction is often taken lightly but research reveals that it is as bad as drug addiction. Many of the harmful effects caused by this new age addiction are as adverse as drug addiction. It impacts a person’s personal, professional and social life. Here is a brief look at its harmful consequences.

Impact of Technology on Health

Technology addiction of any kind has a negative impact on a person’s health. People addicted to technology such as mobile, computer, internet and the likes have a high risk of incurring many health issues. Dry and itchy eyes, backache, frequent headache and excessive weight gain are among the common health problems faced by technology addicts. Many of them go on to develop serious illnesses such as heart problem, hypertension and depression.

Impact of Technology on Work/ Studies

Technology addiction has a huge impact on a person’s brain. A person addicted to technology is unable to focus on work. He feels dizzy and lethargic most of the time and this hinders his work. He is unable to think creatively and rationally. Besides, he is so addicted to technology that he is unable to leave it. He often neglects his work and misses deadlines and meetings. This hampers his professional growth.

Students addicted to technology also face similar issues. Their academic performance dips as they are hooked to technology for most part of the day. Besides, they are least interested in sports and extra-curricular activities that are essential for their all round development.

Impact of Technology on Relationships

Technology addicts prefer technology over everything. Even as they sit with their family and friends, they are often engrossed in their mobile phones. They are either updating their social media accounts or playing video games or chatting with friends online. Therefore they do not like interacting with people in real life. They avoid going out with friends and ignore their loved ones. This creates problems in relationships.

Technology addiction is ruining the life of people. Technology must be put to good use. One must limit its usage to avoid getting addicted to it. If we don’t stand against technology addiction, the day isn’t far when it will prove lethal to our existence.

Essay on Technology Addiction 400 words in English: A Curse for the Society

Technology addiction is a curse for the modern society. Several people these days turn to technology to kill boredom or to distract themselves from their routine problems. Many among them start using it excessively and soon become addicted to it. It is important to identify the warning signs of technology addiction and get over it to take control of your life.

Signs of Technology Addiction

People addicted to technology often feel guilty for using technology excessively and ignoring their work and loved ones because of their addiction. Even as they want to work and spend time with their family members and friends, they aren’t able to do so as they feel drawn towards internet, mobile, video games and other technology-driven things. They are unable to leave these things.

Many of them lie and defend their act and express anger when someone guides them otherwise. Technology addicts experience a feeling of euphoria while using technology. They lose sense of time. Therefore they are unable to maintain a good schedule. They become socially isolated and experience problems such as anxiety and depression. Avoid actual tasks such as office work, homework assignments and household chores. They do not pay heed to their health and it often begins to deteriorate.

Ways to Overcome Technology Addiction

In order to overcome technology addiction it is important to distract your mind and channelize your energy in the right direction. It is thus a good idea to join a course that adds value to your profession. You may also try something that interests you such as pottery, dance, painting or some sports. Indulging in something you love will keep your spirits high and take your mind off technology.

It is also important to build a social circle as you try to get over technology addiction. Real life interactions are much more refreshing and fulfilling compared to meeting and chatting with people online. Getting back with your old friends and making new friends in school, office or in your neighbourhood is a good way to cut ties with the technology addiction. Seeking support from family members will also help in this direction.

You can take professional help to get rid of technology addiction if nothing else seems to work.

Technology addiction is hampering people’s overall growth and development. It is a curse to the society. There should be special sessions in schools and colleges to guide students to stay away from this addiction. Those addicted to it must be counselled to overcome it.

Long Essay on Technology Addiction 500 words in English

It is rightly said, “Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master”. This is to say that technology can be a wonderful thing if you put it to good use. However, it can be dangerous if you allow it to overpower you. Addiction of technology is destroying the life of numerous people around the world.

Technology Addiction Promotes Drug Abuse

Addiction of any kind be it mobile addiction, internet addiction, social media addiction or gaming addiction is as bad as drug abuse. Drug addicts become vulnerable and delusional. All they want in life is a dose of their favourite drug. It gives them a high and releases all their tensions temporarily. They crave for this momentary pleasure and get addicted to drugs.

Technology renders the same soothing effect and quite similar to drugs its impact is also temporary. Technology serves as an escape from our daily problems. It relaxes our mind for some time and releases stress. However, it is as damaging for our mind, body and soul as drug addiction.

Researchers have observed a connection between these addictions. It has been seen that those addicted to technology are more likely to develop drug addiction. Most people turn to technology to release stress and they are able to achieve the desired result initially.

However, as they grow addicted to it they begin to feel stressed and depressed. In order to cope up with the situation, technology addicts look for something that can render a stronger affect and help them achieve that euphoric state. They often turn towards alcohol and drugs and become addicted to them.

Technology Addiction: Damaging Young Minds

While technology addiction is seen among people of all age groups, it is more common among the youngsters living in different parts of the world. The young generation is full of energy and new ideas. Their energy and ideas must be channelized in the right direction in order to help them grow better and achieve more in life.

However, this does not happen in most of the cases. Children and youngsters gain access to different kinds of technological devices these days and spend most of their time and energy on them. Many of them have grown addicted to technology and this is damaging their mind. All they think about is getting back to the internet, computer, social media or whichever technology they are hooked to. They lose interest in other activities.

Sometimes they are unable to focus on work as they feel a constant urge to get back to the technology they are addicted to. They feel guilty about using technology excessively and giving priority to it over their relationships and work. However, they still can’t get over it. This causes a lot of stress. Many of them face anxiety issues and even get into depression.

Technology addicts are unable to think rationally. They lose sense of time, become defensive when asked to restrict the use of technology and even start lying about its use. Their performance dips and they often develop behavioural issues.

Technology addiction should be taken seriously. People must keep a check on the use of technology. If they see any signs of technology addiction, they must take measures to overcome the same.

Long Essay on Technology Addiction in English: Types of Technology Addiction – 600 words

Drug and alcohol addiction have affected the lives of millions of people around the world. However, these are not the only kinds of addictions that grip people in today’s times. The advancement in technology and its growing use have given rise to a new type of addiction termed as technology addiction. There are different types of technology addictions. Here is a look at these:

• Mobile Addiction

Mobile addiction is one of the most common types of technology addictions in today’s times. Our mobile phones are a powerhouse of entertainment. They have so much to offer. Engrossing games, informative content, interesting videos, easy means to content with our loved ones and make new friends and what not – a mobile phone with a high speed internet connection has so much to offer. It is hard not to get hooked to it.

Numerous mobile users are addicted to their phones. They do not care if they are sitting in a social gathering, at the dinner table or in an important business meeting. However they are always on their mobile. They find it more interesting than anything happening around them.

• Computer Addiction

Computer addicts are always seen on their computer systems. They are involved in useless activities on their computer. They keep wasting their time and ignore all the important tasks at hand. Therefore they mostly confine themselves to their chair and incur various physical ailments as a result. They also become socially isolated as they skip outdoor activities and social events. This hampers their mental as well as physical growth.

• Internet Addiction

Internet has so much to offer to us. We need to see to it that it impacts our life in a positive manner and makes it better. Limited and correct use of internet can enhance our life. It can be used to learn something new that adds value to our personal and professional life. However, if we get addicted to the internet, we are on our way to ruin our life.

• Gaming Addiction

Gaming is a great way to de-stress and rejuvenate. However, most of the video games are highly addictive. They are designed to keep a person hooked for hours. Gamers crave to make new high scores and crack the next level. They get addicted to different games.

All they think about is beating their friends and build better score. They spend several hours of the day playing video games. The time that can be used to do something productive is wasted in gaming. Gaming addiction also messes with the mind and leads to aggressive and anxious behaviour.

• Social Media Addiction

Social media has become a craze among people of different age groups. It helps them connect with their near and dear ones living in different parts of the world. Healthy use of social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram is good. However, it becomes a problem when people become obsessed with it.

Many people around the world have become social media addicts. They update their social media status frequently, upload pictures of everything they encounter, check for new notifications every few seconds and keep thinking about different ways to enhance their social media profile. They disconnect with people in the real world and prefer connecting with them over social media platforms.

Technology addiction is growing with the increasing use of new technology devices. This is affecting proper growth and development of people. They are glued to technology and as a result are ignoring various important aspects of their life. It needs to be understood that technology has been designed to enhance our life and not to degrade it. We must use it wisely and not grow addicted to it.

Essay on Technology Addiction FAQs

What is a short paragraph about technology addiction.

Technology addiction refers to the excessive use of digital devices like smartphones and computers, leading to negative impacts on one's life, including physical and mental health problems.

What is technology addiction?

Technology addiction is when people become overly reliant on gadgets and the internet, often to the detriment of their well-being and daily responsibilities.

What are the effects of technology addiction among youth?

Technology addiction in youth can result in social isolation, poor academic performance, disrupted sleep patterns, and diminished physical activity, affecting their overall development.

What is the concept of technology addiction?

The concept of technology addiction revolves around the idea that excessive screen time and online engagement can lead to addictive behaviors, similar to substance abuse.

What is the introduction of addiction?

Addiction, in general, is a condition where someone becomes dependent on a substance or behavior, often to the point where it has harmful consequences in their life. Technology addiction specifically involves dependency on digital devices and online activities.

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• Technology Essay

Essay on Technology

The word "technology" and its uses have immensely changed since the 20th century, and with time, it has continued to evolve ever since. We are living in a world driven by technology. The advancement of technology has played an important role in the development of human civilization, along with cultural changes. Technology provides innovative ways of doing work through various smart and innovative means. 

Electronic appliances, gadgets, faster modes of communication, and transport have added to the comfort factor in our lives. It has helped in improving the productivity of individuals and different business enterprises. Technology has brought a revolution in many operational fields. It has undoubtedly made a very important contribution to the progress that mankind has made over the years.

The Advancement of Technology:

Technology has reduced the effort and time and increased the efficiency of the production requirements in every field. It has made our lives easy, comfortable, healthy, and enjoyable. It has brought a revolution in transport and communication. The advancement of technology, along with science, has helped us to become self-reliant in all spheres of life. With the innovation of a particular technology, it becomes part of society and integral to human lives after a point in time.

Technology is Our Part of Life:

Technology has changed our day-to-day lives. Technology has brought the world closer and better connected. Those days have passed when only the rich could afford such luxuries. Because of the rise of globalisation and liberalisation, all luxuries are now within the reach of the average person. Today, an average middle-class family can afford a mobile phone, a television, a washing machine, a refrigerator, a computer, the Internet, etc. At the touch of a switch, a man can witness any event that is happening in far-off places.  

Benefits of Technology in All Fields: 

We cannot escape technology; it has improved the quality of life and brought about revolutions in various fields of modern-day society, be it communication, transportation, education, healthcare, and many more. Let us learn about it.

Technology in Communication:

With the advent of technology in communication, which includes telephones, fax machines, cellular phones, the Internet, multimedia, and email, communication has become much faster and easier. It has transformed and influenced relationships in many ways. We no longer need to rely on sending physical letters and waiting for several days for a response. Technology has made communication so simple that you can connect with anyone from anywhere by calling them via mobile phone or messaging them using different messaging apps that are easy to download.

Innovation in communication technology has had an immense influence on social life. Human socialising has become easier by using social networking sites, dating, and even matrimonial services available on mobile applications and websites.

Today, the Internet is used for shopping, paying utility bills, credit card bills, admission fees, e-commerce, and online banking. In the world of marketing, many companies are marketing and selling their products and creating brands over the internet. 

In the field of travel, cities, towns, states, and countries are using the web to post detailed tourist and event information. Travellers across the globe can easily find information on tourism, sightseeing, places to stay, weather, maps, timings for events, transportation schedules, and buy tickets to various tourist spots and destinations.

Technology in the Office or Workplace:

Technology has increased efficiency and flexibility in the workspace. Technology has made it easy to work remotely, which has increased the productivity of the employees. External and internal communication has become faster through emails and apps. Automation has saved time, and there is also a reduction in redundancy in tasks. Robots are now being used to manufacture products that consistently deliver the same product without defect until the robot itself fails. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technology are innovations that are being deployed across industries to reap benefits.

Technology has wiped out the manual way of storing files. Now files are stored in the cloud, which can be accessed at any time and from anywhere. With technology, companies can make quick decisions, act faster towards solutions, and remain adaptable. Technology has optimised the usage of resources and connected businesses worldwide. For example, if the customer is based in America, he can have the services delivered from India. They can communicate with each other in an instant. Every company uses business technology like virtual meeting tools, corporate social networks, tablets, and smart customer relationship management applications that accelerate the fast movement of data and information.

Technology in Education:

Technology is making the education industry improve over time. With technology, students and parents have a variety of learning tools at their fingertips. Teachers can coordinate with classrooms across the world and share their ideas and resources online. Students can get immediate access to an abundance of good information on the Internet. Teachers and students can access plenty of resources available on the web and utilise them for their project work, research, etc. Online learning has changed our perception of education. 

The COVID-19 pandemic brought a paradigm shift using technology where school-going kids continued their studies from home and schools facilitated imparting education by their teachers online from home. Students have learned and used 21st-century skills and tools, like virtual classrooms, AR (Augmented Reality), robots, etc. All these have increased communication and collaboration significantly. 

Technology in Banking:

Technology and banking are now inseparable. Technology has boosted digital transformation in how the banking industry works and has vastly improved banking services for their customers across the globe.

Technology has made banking operations very sophisticated and has reduced errors to almost nil, which were somewhat prevalent with manual human activities. Banks are adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI) to increase their efficiency and profits. With the emergence of Internet banking, self-service tools have replaced the traditional methods of banking. 

You can now access your money, handle transactions like paying bills, money transfers, and online purchases from merchants, and monitor your bank statements anytime and from anywhere in the world. Technology has made banking more secure and safe. You do not need to carry cash in your pocket or wallet; the payments can be made digitally using e-wallets. Mobile banking, banking apps, and cybersecurity are changing the face of the banking industry.

Manufacturing and Production Industry Automation:

At present, manufacturing industries are using all the latest technologies, ranging from big data analytics to artificial intelligence. Big data, ARVR (Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality), and IoT (Internet of Things) are the biggest manufacturing industry players. Automation has increased the level of productivity in various fields. It has reduced labour costs, increased efficiency, and reduced the cost of production.

For example, 3D printing is used to design and develop prototypes in the automobile industry. Repetitive work is being done easily with the help of robots without any waste of time. This has also reduced the cost of the products. 

Technology in the Healthcare Industry:

Technological advancements in the healthcare industry have not only improved our personal quality of life and longevity; they have also improved the lives of many medical professionals and students who are training to become medical experts. It has allowed much faster access to the medical records of each patient. 

The Internet has drastically transformed patients' and doctors’ relationships. Everyone can stay up to date on the latest medical discoveries, share treatment information, and offer one another support when dealing with medical issues. Modern technology has allowed us to contact doctors from the comfort of our homes. There are many sites and apps through which we can contact doctors and get medical help. 

Breakthrough innovations in surgery, artificial organs, brain implants, and networked sensors are examples of transformative developments in the healthcare industry. Hospitals use different tools and applications to perform their administrative tasks, using digital marketing to promote their services.

Technology in Agriculture:

Today, farmers work very differently than they would have decades ago. Data analytics and robotics have built a productive food system. Digital innovations are being used for plant breeding and harvesting equipment. Software and mobile devices are helping farmers harvest better. With various data and information available to farmers, they can make better-informed decisions, for example, tracking the amount of carbon stored in soil and helping with climate change.

Disadvantages of Technology:

People have become dependent on various gadgets and machines, resulting in a lack of physical activity and tempting people to lead an increasingly sedentary lifestyle. Even though technology has increased the productivity of individuals, organisations, and the nation, it has not increased the efficiency of machines. Machines cannot plan and think beyond the instructions that are fed into their system. Technology alone is not enough for progress and prosperity. Management is required, and management is a human act. Technology is largely dependent on human intervention. 

Computers and smartphones have led to an increase in social isolation. Young children are spending more time surfing the internet, playing games, and ignoring their real lives. Usage of technology is also resulting in job losses and distracting students from learning. Technology has been a reason for the production of weapons of destruction.

Dependency on technology is also increasing privacy concerns and cyber crimes, giving way to hackers.

FAQs on Technology Essay

1. What is technology?

Technology refers to innovative ways of doing work through various smart means. The advancement of technology has played an important role in the development of human civilization. It has helped in improving the productivity of individuals and businesses.

2. How has technology changed the face of banking?

Technology has made banking operations very sophisticated. With the emergence of Internet banking, self-service tools have replaced the traditional methods of banking. You can now access your money, handle transactions, and monitor your bank statements anytime and from anywhere in the world. Technology has made banking more secure and safe.

3. How has technology brought a revolution in the medical field?

Patients and doctors keep each other up to date on the most recent medical discoveries, share treatment information, and offer each other support when dealing with medical issues. It has allowed much faster access to the medical records of each patient. Modern technology has allowed us to contact doctors from the comfort of our homes. There are many websites and mobile apps through which we can contact doctors and get medical help.

4. Are we dependent on technology?

Yes, today, we are becoming increasingly dependent on technology. Computers, smartphones, and modern technology have helped humanity achieve success and progress. However, in hindsight, people need to continuously build a healthy lifestyle, sorting out personal problems that arise due to technological advancements in different aspects of human life.

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J.D. Vance Used to Be an Atheist. What He Believes Now Is Telling.

He’s not an evangelical christian. he’s a catholic—of a very specific type..

In 2021, when J.D. Vance was asked at a conference why he had converted to Catholicism just two years earlier, he had a fairly simple answer.

“I really liked that the Catholic Church was just really old,” he said .

This anti-modern worldview is key to understanding Vance. In a party long dominated by anti-intellectual evangelical Christians with a hearty distrust of institutions, Vance stands out among its leaders for having embraced a church with a complex social doctrine built off the work of ancient philosophers. His enthusiasm for a particular and relatively obscure kind of contemporary Catholic political thought shows up in his politics—his longing for Americans to build robust nuclear families, his comments about banning porn , his scorn for childless cat ladies. It’s tempting to see these stances as old ones from the Christian right, familiar to anyone who has followed the evolution of the GOP in the past couple of decades, but Vance’s past comments indicate that they’re motivated by something newer, and more radical, than that.

Vance wasn’t always so unusual among his fellow Republicans: He grew up loosely evangelical Christian; he writes in Hillbilly Elegy that his commitment to his father’s church was strong but short-lived. As a young man, he identified for a while as an atheist. Then, as he recounted in a 2020 essay about his conversion for the Catholic magazine the Lamp, he reconnected with Christianity when he was searching for greater meaning in his life during law school. He began to feel drawn to Catholicism in particular after reading up on Catholic moral philosophers and discussing theology with conservative Dominican friars he knew.

After he officially converted in 2019, Vance explained in an interview with his friend Rod Dreher— a conservative writer and Catholic convert who later went on to convert, again, to Orthodox Christianity—that he had come to Catholicism in part because of the writings of Saint Augustine. “Augustine gave me a way to understand Christian faith in a strongly intellectual way,” Vance said . “As someone who spent a lot of his life buying into the lie that you had to be stupid to be a Christian, Augustine really demonstrated in a moving way that that’s not true.”

This approach generally made sense for Vance, a man who, despite his boasts of blue-collar roots, clearly considers himself a serious intellectual.

But as Vance would explain at that 2021 conference (held by the Napa Institute, a conservative Catholic organization), he was also drawn to Catholicism for its rules and relative stability over centuries. “I felt like the modern world was constantly in flux,” Vance said. “The things you believed 10 years ago were no longer acceptable to believe 10 years later.”

In the past few weeks, Vance has come under fire for resurfaced comments attacking “childless cat ladies” as “miserable” and bad for society; claiming that childless people tend to be “deranged” and “psychotic”; and proposing giving extra voting power to parents with young children.

“We have, I believe, a civilizational crisis in this country,” Vance said at the 2021 Napa Institute event. “Even among healthy, intact families, they’re not having enough kids such that we’re going to have a long-term future in this country.” For his Senate campaign, also in 2021, Vance praised Hungarian strongman Viktor Orbán for policies that incentivized marriage and children. Orbán’s government had offered loans to married couples that were forgiven if the couple stayed together and had three children . (Orbán is not himself Catholic but has privileged Christianity in a country dominated by Catholicism.) “Why can’t we do that here?” Vance asked . “Why can’t we actually promote family formation?”

These anti-modern comments fit with a certain kind of worldview that prizes a traditional and family-oriented society above individual liberties—and even democracy. It’s a guiding philosophy of a new faction of the conservative movement that pulls from elements of both the left and far right, that champions populist economics and radically conservative social policies, and that promises a revolution in the entire political order: the postliberal right.

In recent years, a sect of the Republican Party has boomeranged away from libertarianism and toward Big Government. A set of young legislators, including Vance, Marco Rubio, Tom Cotton, and Josh Hawley, is snubbing the party’s policies favoring tech companies and big business, instead infusing the GOP with populist energy—and, in some cases, disdain for the liberal political order. ( Liberalism here refers to the dominant political order of the modern world, with its emphasis on equality, personal liberty, and individual rights.) Those legislators who identify with the postliberal right advocate for state authority in order to build the kind of society they want to live in. They aim to control women’s reproductive choices and individual freedoms concerning gender, sexuality, and identity; they prefer isolationist economic policies; they support unions and labor protections and oppose immigration; and they seek to elevate religious organizations’ place in their schools and civic institutions.

A significant number of these legislators are influenced by Christian nationalism or philosophies that mirror the aims of Christian nationalism: to reclaim society and reorder it according to Christian values. The idea is to use soft power to gain control of the major secular institutions to align them with Christian aims, without too much concern for democratic processes.

At a practical level, we’ve seen this in the efforts in state legislatures to have schools display the Ten Commandments; in certain policy groups coming out to oppose no-fault divorce ; in Florida’s restrictions on health care for transgender adults ; in Project 2025’s plan to criminalize porn (or other materials deemed indecent that can be categorized as porn); in legal challenges to get prayer in public schools; and in Hawley’s proudly pronouncing himself to be “ calling America a Christian nation .”

There’s a term for intellectual Catholics with a similar worldview: integralists. There’s no universally accepted platform uniting integralists; it’s more of an intellectual framework built around the idea that Catholic moral theology should govern society. Mat Schmalz, a religious studies professor at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, defined it simply as the idea of “integrating spiritual and worldly, or integrating church and state.” In other words: church before state.

Vance gave the keynote address at a 2022 conference organized by Sohrab Ahmari, another Catholic convert and conservative intellectual, at Franciscan University of Steubenville, in Ohio. The conference gathered integralist and so-called postliberal Catholic thinkers to discuss policies and tactics to bring the country in harmony with their understanding of Christian values. (Extreme proposals, such as a ban on commerce on Sundays, were floated alongside ideas often associated with the left, such as paid parental leave and antitrust action.) Ahmari has written two books laying out the case for his postliberal ideas. His particular vision of society would place a check on the destructive nature of modern capitalism and build a strong social safety net with financial support for struggling parents and people with disabilities and mental health struggles—but also banish abortion, porn, same-sex marriage, divorce, and drugs. Autonomy and individual liberty would be de-emphasized, meaning that people with addiction and mentally ill unhoused people would be given institutional care even if they didn’t want it.

That wasn’t an isolated incident for Vance: At a 2023 speech at the Catholic University of America by the postliberal scholar Patrick Deneen, Vance “strode into the room, made a bee-line for Deneen and wrapped him in an enthusiastic hug,” according to Politico . Deneen and Ahmari are two of the leading voices in a small group of Catholic scholars who frequently discuss and co-write treatises on integralist and postliberal ideas. Another, Harvard Law professor Adrian Vermeule (another Catholic convert), spoke at Ahmari’s 2022 conference that Vance attended.

Vance does not claim to be an integralist. We don’t know if he wants to put church over state or enmesh the two. But Schmalz thinks that Vance’s views, particularly around policing gender expression, indicate that he is at least “pulling from a Catholic integralist strain.”

At the Catholic University of America event, Politico reported , Vance identified as “a member of the ‘postliberal right.’ ” More recently, in the foreword he wrote for a book by Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts, another Catholic, recently republished by the New Republic , Vance praised Roberts for “articulating a fundamentally Christian view of culture and economics” that recognizes “that virtue and material progress go hand in hand.”

“Roberts sees a conservatism that is focused on the family,” Vance wrote about the architect of Project 2025. “In this, he borrows from the old American Right that recognized—correctly, in my view—that cultural norms and attitudes matter.”

Setting aside political debates among Catholic intellectuals, the Catholic Church itself is technically aligned with Vance’s stances. The church under Pope Francis certainly encourages a less individualistic outlook. And it shares Vance’s ideas about gender and family, as seen in its official ban on birth control—in practice ignored by the vast majority of Catholics—and in Francis’ declaration that it is “ selfish ” to have pets instead of children. (These men often, however, express dismay at Francis’ leadership, given the ways he has curtailed certain traditional worship practices and emphasized tolerance and compassion over policing sexual morality.)

The idea of forcing those values onto all of American society, through governmental policy, is what sets integralists apart from other traditionalist Catholics.

“It’s an idealization of the Middle Ages,” said Steven Millies, a professor of public theology at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. As Millies sees it, the efforts among conservatives to push “classical education” in schools and the efforts by traditionalist Catholics to worship with Latin masses, in the style of 16 th -century Catholics , come from the same impulse. “All these things are selective rereading of the past.”

This longing for an imagined simple past, Millies said, is something that has drawn cultural reactionaries to the faith for decades. “You gaze at stained-glass windows and Gothic architecture and you look at the orderliness of a 2,000-year-old tradition, and it looks like a rock to cling to in the torrents of modern life,” he said. “The present is disturbing to people. They feel unprepared for it, overwhelmed by it.”

In Millies’ view, though, it doesn’t matter if Vance has a coherent articulation of some kind of postliberal political theology. Vance, he argues, isn’t so much buying into a niche Catholic ideology as advocating for collapsing the walls between church and state—perhaps in an effort to cope with the discomfort of the modern world—with some vaguely Christian reasoning built around that impulse. What matters more, Millies says, is that Vance is expressing a vision for taking us back in time to an imagined past. “It reflects a desire to regain control,” Millies said.

Vance, it seems, is optimistic the country is headed that way. As he said at the Napa conference: “I believe, I really do, that the next 30 years in this country is going to be really exciting, really prosperous, and really good for Christian virtue and the values that we care about.”