In prior posts, we studied What Is Next for Smartphones. And Mobile Drives E-Commerce Globally. With both posts, we saw the boom in smartphone use. But what about the downside of smartphone overuse? So we ask, is smartphone addiction a problem?
A Serious Issue: Is Smartphone Addiction a Problem
Are YOU a smartphone addict? Should you disconnect from digital media, including smartphones? At least a little? Consider the following.
As Felix Richter writes for Statista:
“Ever since the first iPhone arrived in 2007, smartphones have gradually taken over our lives. We use them to listen to music, take photos, follow the news, and sometimes even to make phone calls. They have become a constant presence in both our professional and our personal lives. However, the endless stream of information and stimuli from our phones tends to wreak havoc on our ability to focus on one task at a time, which is why many people feel the need to limit their phone usage.”
“According to a survey conducted by Deloitte in 2017, 47 percent of U.S. smartphone owners have made an effort to limit their phone use in the past. The most popular ways of trying to do so are keeping the phone out of sight in a pocket and turning notifications off. The lure of Twitter, Instagram, and the like remains hard to resist however: only 30 percent of smartphone owners have succeeded in reducing their phone time.”
Look at the Statista chart. Pretty obsessive behavior, right?
I can definitely say I am one of those people that is addicted to my smart phone. I always feel the need to be connected to my friends and the world around me 24/7. I always make sure I acknowledge that I am addicted on a regular basis so that I can be conscious about when I am using my smart phone. For example, I never have my smart phone out when I am eating a meal with anyone else or I am in a conversation with someone or when I am at work which I feel many other people don’t do. I can’t imagine not being addicted and I understand why so many other people are because everything has been made easier for us with all different kinds of apps and the internet always at our disposal to do whatever we want or need. I think it is so important for young people in specific to at least acknowledge their addiction and be more aware of how smart phones can impact our social lives and how interact with others.
The Smartphone addiction has a huge impact on communication, both socially/personally and with businesses. Digital marketing opportunities have expanded because of how much time consumers are spending on their phones. This increases the opportunities for us to show ads on popular sites, gather data based on what apps and sites consumers are visiting, and tailor our efforts to meet their interests more accurately. This also opens up doors for Product Managers. The big question is, “how do we get our products to partner with consumer phones?” Does this mean that our products need a connecting app? The opportunities seem endless. There is also another side to this argument. Do we want our products/offerings to take people away form their phones? There is an opportunity to foster these bad habits, but there is also an opportunity to develop products that are so great that people are willing to put their phones down for a while.
Phone addiction is a problem, but I can easily say that I am one of those people that is addicted to their smart phone. It is very hard to be disconnected because I feel the need to talk to my friends and family and maybe see what everyone else is up to. Not only this, but the smart phone has made our lives so much easier. For example, I listen to music 24/7 which leads me to have my phone with me all the time. Furthermore, I play golf and that has helped me stay away from my phone a couple of hours since I am not allowed to use it on the course. This has shown me that it is honestly not the end of the world if you disconnect or reduce the use of your smart phone a few hours a day.
I think smartphone addiction is a problem, but ultimately inevitable. The future is dedicated to working all ideas and platforms to become mobile and easily accessible on a smartphone. With that being said, people are constantly on their phones, whether it has to do with something important or not. I know I am constantly on my phone, doing homework or checking important emails, or checking socials or online shopping.
I can definitely admit that I am addicted to my smartphone. I am constantly checking to see if I have any new notifications or if I have and new messages. I am also addicted to games on my phone. I constantly catch myself playing games instead of doing homework or chores around the house. Now, more than ever, people are always on their phones because everything they need is on their phone. I use my phone as an alarm clock, as a notebook, as a calculator, and so much more because of the advances in technology. But, this also causes me to miss so many things around me, because I never look up from the screen.
Smartphone addiction is real. I have many friends who are constantly on their phone and feel “naked” when it is not next to them. This is not only unhealthy, but is starting to create social barriers because people are getting more comfortable talking through the phone rather than in person, thus affecting their social skills. I try to limit my phone usage by keeping my phone out of sight, especially when I am with family or friends because I find it rude and pointless when you are trying to talk to someone but they are unresponsive. I also delete social media apps 2/3x a year just to cleanse myself because people need to remember that “likes” and “favorites” do not define their popularity.
Recently, more and more people care about the phone addiction problem. I have to admit that I am one of them. I watch Youtube videos while waiting for my class to start, I check my social media while I eat my meals, and I talk with my family and friends whenever I have time. The best way I limit my phone usage is by turning off the Internet, so that I don’t get any notifications. Smartphones inevitably bring convenience to our lives. It is important to reduce phone usage, yet it is also important to see why people spend so much time using their smartphones. If they use their phones to read the news and learn new material instead of just checking social media, maybe it will not be necessary to limit phone time usage so strictly.
I do believe that cell phone addiction is a huge problem in our country. People are constantly on their phones. I do like to be on my phone but I don’t think it controls my everyday life. I don’t need to have it on me at all times. I see people walking down the streets staring down at their phones wondering if they are gonna run into a pole. Its a problem in this country, but I don’t think their is a solution in sight.
As someone who tries to make a conscious effort to limit my use of my phone, I can say that in this day and age people are practically attached to their smartphones. Although there are some great advantages of having smartphones, I think overall having smartphones have caused people to become dependent on it. For example, when one wants to find the definition of a word, within a matter of seconds it can be done by using one’s smartphone. However, I feel as if the downside to this is that people are not taking the time to actually learn the definition, but rather they are just looking to get the answer to their question.
I think smartphone use is distancing people from socializing, dealing with people, and building relationships. So many people are addicted to their phones, and I don’t know if there is a solution since technology continues to develop. At times I realize I check my phone too much, so now it’s always on silent and I put it away when I’m doing work. It’s important to connect and start conversations with people you are not always comfortable with, and phones detach us. In a business setting, people that are addicted to their phones are going to feel uncomfortable and awkward since a phone is used to separate themselves. There are so many benefits to phones, but it comes with downsides that we must be aware of.
I agree that the continual use of smartphone can make us easily distracted and reduce our ability to focus on one task at a time, which is very important to accomplish works. I experienced that myself: whenever I have a smartphone nearby, I will be distracted from it every 5 minutes. I feel that this is unhealthy, because multitasking can be bad for our brain and may cause stress. Carrying the habit on, we will not be able to use our time productively; this addiction along other negative effects of social media on self-esteem might eventually lead to depression. For me, keeping my phone out of my sight, and turn off notifications work well in preventing distraction and addiction.
Phone addictions are a growing problem in our society. Many people especially in younger generations use their phones for everything, and often it can be so difficult for them to go without the resources their phones provide them with. I know for me it I made a New Years resolution last year to limit my own screen time, and I have not been successful. Although, I do plan on trying to implement some of these helpful tips into my routine in the future,
Smartphones have increasingly become a problem. Even babies at the age of 1 are able to know how a smartphone operates and go onto YouTube and watch their favorite videos. My smartphone is the first thing I gravitate towards in the morning and the last thing I put down before going to sleep. People have become increasingly dependent on their smartphones for every single thing. It is scary to see how the generations will be like moving forward and what will happen to our eyes because people spend so much time on their phone. I realize that I spend so much time on my smartphone and will incorporate some of those tips into my daily routine so I can limit my smartphone usage.