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Abstract
IT addiction is the dependency on technology that is currently extremely prevalent in the society. Smartphones are now a major part of our life and have a major role to play in the onslaught of IT addiction. With Smartphone enabled social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat, many young people find themselves, more on their smartphones. Smartphones have revolutionized how people interact and socialize and simultaneously has posed serious health and socio-cultural hazards. The use and dependency of Smartphone have gone to the level of addiction. The use of Smartphones has gone over fifty percent in most of the Western countries. Ninety percent of adolescents in Netherlands own a Smartphone. Despite the popularity and benefits, there are adverse effects of the use of the Smartphones. Results from studies indicate a habitual use of Smartphone leads to addictive Smartphone behaviour. Internet addiction and Smartphone addiction go hand-in-hand as both complement each other. This paper discusses implications of various researches on Smartphone usage, its impact on society and addiction. The paper also discusses causes, symptoms and outcomes of Smartphone addiction.
Abstract 2
Introduction 4
Literature Review 5
Discussion Overview 5
What is SmartPhone Addiction? 6
Smartphone Addiction Causes and Symptoms 7
Smartphone Addiction Outcomes 8
Discussion 11
Main Findings 11
Limitations 12
Conclusion 12
References 14
SmartPhones and Society: The Case of Addiction
Introduction
Addiction is like an excessive and compulsive dependency on anything. IT addiction is the dependency on technology that is currently extremely prevalent in the society. Most researches and studies have revealed serious issues and concerns for individuals and organizations due to IT addiction. Smartphones have a major role to play in the onslaught of IT addiction. Smartphones are now a significant part of our daily interaction and activities. With the social media platforms arrival like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat, many young people find themselves, more on their smartphones tracking posts from friends and family. Smartphones have revolutionized how people interact and socialize.
This research investigates the effects of Smartphones on the society. The research relies mostly on secondary data, with peer-reviewed journals, articles, and books. Although Smartphones is a recent phenomenon, there still exists a fusion of literature on technology and Smartphone addiction. The rise of the Internet age has seen the emergence of journals that publish research on technology and its effects on society. Smartphones have added fuel to this rise and taken the Internet technology and social media to masses. Not included in the data collection mechanism were news articles and other primary data. Many newspaper articles report on the effects of smartphones to enhance people’s ability to socialize. They also report on how dependency on gadgets is becoming the new 21st-century addiction. Most newspaper articles do not go through the systematic process that peer-reviewed journals go through, so they are not considered in this paper. The database used for most of the research articles was Science Direct. It hosts journals that are at the intersection between human behavior, technology, and society.
Literature Review
Discussion Overview
Whether smartphones harm or enable socialization is an ongoing debate. The use of Smartphones has gone over fifty percent in most of the Western countries. Ninety percent of adolescents in Netherlands own a Smartphone (Donovan, 2013). The use and dependency of Smartphone have gone to the level of addiction. Despite the popularity and benefits, there are some adverse effects of the use of the Smartphones. There have been efforts to ban their use in public places and during activities like driving (Van Deursen, Bolle, Hegner, & Kommers, 2015).
Salehan, & Negahban in their article (2013), prove that the use of Smartphone applications can create addiction in young adults. The authors note that the study confirms the warnings that there are adverse effects associated with excessive use of Smartphones and social media. The authors suggest that scholars, policymakers and society, in general, should be wary of these developments (Saleham, & Negahban, 2013).
Lee, Chang, Lin & Cheng (2014) focus less on the addiction and more on the potential of smartphones to cause stress to an individual. Lee, Chang and Cheng observes that there is a dark side to smartphone use. This dark side constitutes compulsive phone use and technostress. Compulsive use of smartphone leads to overdependence and high levels of stress. The research found out that when separated from their Smartphones most people get irritated, frustrated and impatient. This in turn leads to hampered relationships with friends and family (Lee, Chang, & Cheng, 2014).
Lepp, Barkley and Karpinski (2014), explored the influence of texting and Phone usage on anxiety and student satisfaction. Compulsive use of Phones negatively affected the academic performance. Anxiety levels increase with more texting and Smartphone usage (Lepp, Barkley & Karpinski, 2014). Functionality wise, cell phones can perform almost all the same tasks as a computer connected to the Internet and much more. Modern cell phones or Smartphones allow to call, text, video conference, microblog, email, interact on social networks, play an online game and watch and play games. All these services are on-demand and available anywhere (Lepp, Barkley & Karpinski, 2014).
The ability of smartphones to provide what looks like a full online experience makes it easier for individuals to depend on them for their everyday communication and research. This trust and faith in the smartphone leads habitual use and addictive behavior (Van Deursen, Bolle, Hegner & Kommers, 2015). Crook argues that technology is not going away and saying that we can do away with it might not be the best way to deal with the problem of technological addiction (Crook, 2015).
What is SmartPhone Addiction?
Smartphone addiction has many similar traits as that of the Internet addiction. Dr. Ivan Goldberg defined the term Internet addiction disorder (IAD) for a compulsive and pathological use of the Internet. Symptoms of Internet addiction include family discord, social isolation, divorce, job loss, academic failure and debt. Internet addiction after the launch of Smartphones has become a serious issue (Kim, 2013). A study by Lapointe and co-researchers revealed addictive behaviors of smartphone users. Ninety percent of the respondent in that study admitted to using Smartphones in classrooms or meetings and during socializing or eating. One of the respondents in the study shared: “The only time I don’t use my smartphone is in the shower.” Many respondents said that they never leave home without their Smartphones while some sleep with their Smartphones in hand (Lapointe, Boudreau-Pinsonneault & Vaghefi, 2013).
Smartphone Addiction Causes and Symptoms
Earlier studies and research have offered three factors for Internet addiction, which are personal psychological, emotional and socio-environmental characteristics. In general, people with emotional and psychological characteristics of loneliness, depression, impulsion, and social anxiety are more prone to Internet or Smartphone addictions. Other causes include ease of Internet access, the degree of usage and peer relationships. In case of Smartphones, the degree of usage and ease of access are more applicable. Smartphone addiction is a behavioral addiction where the behaviour itself is the reward. In case of Smartphone, the use of Smartphones and social media is the reward (Van Deursen, Bolle, Hegner, & Kommers, 2015; Kim, 2013).
Van Deursen, Bolle, Hegner, & Kommers conducted an online survey (2015), the results of the survey revealed that a habitual use of Smartphone is an important contributor towards addiction. People using Smartphones extensively for social purpose develop Smartphone habits and eventually addictive behavior. Personal traits were found to be a major factor in the development of Smartphone addiction. Individuals with low EQ (Emotion Intelligence) are more likely to develop Smartphone addictions. Internet and Smartphone addicts are mostly unable to decode emotions and facial expressions of other people (Van Deursen, Bolle, Hegner, & Kommers, 2015).
The Smartphone and Internet addiction aggravates physical symptoms like wrists, neck, back and shoulder injuries, migraine, headaches, pain and numbness in thumb and fingers, dry eyes and carpal tunnel syndrome. The addicts feel uncomfortable without their Smartphones. Many addicts feel that Smartphones are their lifeline, every time they see a text message they have an urge to respond immediately. Most addicts are deeply involved in using their phones and are preoccupied most of the time. Researchers in the last two decades have looked at characteristics of technology addiction to understand an addict’s behavior. The four main attributes of Smartphone and Internet addiction are Craving, Tolerance, Withdrawl and Negative life consequences, additionally Salience and mood change (Lapointe, Boudreau-Pinsonneault & Vaghefi, 2013). Some authors used these characteristics to define addiction while others attributed these characteristics because of Smartphone addiction.
(Lapointe, Boudreau-Pinsonneault & Vaghefi, 2013)
Smartphone Addiction Outcomes
Research indicates three main impacts of Smartphone addiction that are Impact on Productivity, Impact on Social Life and Impact on personal well-being. The studies also suggest that users in the moderate category of usage were more aware of the negative outcomes of Smartphone addictions that the addicts. The addicts are mostly unaware or less conscious of the negative impacts of Smartphone addiction.
Impact on Productivity
In the study done by Lapointe and co-researchers, they found that roughly fifty percent of their respondents considered Smartphone usage is conflicting with their routine tasks and activities. Most of the respondents reported a negative impact on their productivity. It was observed that the Smartphone addicts reported higher negative impacts than the non-addicts did. Although negative impacts are high, some users shared positive impact like the ease of collaboration (Lapointe, Boudreau-Pinsonneault & Vaghefi, 2013).
Impact on Social Life
In the same study done by Lapointe and co-researchers, users reported higher positive impact on their social life as Smartphones allow them to connect to their peers more often and collaborate easily. Smartphones seem to improve the friendships and relationships. A common negative impact in this area of life is that there are no boundaries, and it creates a barrier when persons are physically present. Users reported that they received comments that they gave more attention to their phones than to their friends. Another impact on social life is conflict. Smartphone addicts reported more conflicts as they gave more attention to their phones. Most moderate users and non-addicts find the use of the phone during a conversation as impolite (Lapointe, Boudreau-Pinsonneault & Vaghefi, 2013).
Social interaction anxiety is an extreme fear of social interactions and a fear of being evaluated by other people particularly strangers in public places. Acute socially anxious people drift towards social isolation and withdrawal. Social anxiety leads people to interact online or through chat and to message thereby spending much time on Smartphones or social media. Smartphone users with high, social anxiety show compulsive usage of Smartphones (Lee, Chang, Lin & Cheng, 2014; Lee, Ahn, Choi & Choi, 2014).
Impact on Personal Well-Being
Most analyses reveal a negative impact on physical and psychological well-being of an individual addicted to Smartphone. Users with Smartphone addiction report frustration, stress and guilt when they are unable to access or use their phone. Excessive use of Smartphones has a physical impact like lack of sleep, exhaustion and fatigue. The evidence is in the study conducted by Lapointe and co-workers, one of the respondents confessed to Smartphone addiction and quoted: “Sometimes I'm on it so much my brain starts to hurt.” Another user commented that Smartphone kept him awake due to games (Lapointe, Boudreau-Pinsonneault & Vaghefi, 2013). Compulsive behaviour is an uncontrollable drive or desire to do a particular activity, and engaging in that activity repetitively eventually harms the individual or others. Some major examples are compulsive eating, gambling, shopping and substance misuse. The extreme level of compulsive disorder is Obsessive-compulsive disorder inducing distress. High compulsive use of Smartphones leads to higher technostress (Lee, Chang, Lin & Cheng, 2014).
Impact on Student’s Academic Performance, and Anxiety
Wang & co-researchers performed a study (2014), the data from which shows that students start a new term with high positivity, low stress, healthy sleep and conversations. As the term progresses, there is a drop in activity, conversation and rise in stress (Wang, et. al., 2014). Another study by Lepp, Barkley & Karpinski (2014), found that compulsive use of Smartphone is negatively related to physical fitness amongst students. In other words, high phone users were less fit than those using cell phone moderately or at a minimum level. Data suggests that high cell phone use causes the user to less physically active and sedentary. A high phone usage may also affect the academic achievements of students and contribute to anxiety. In the same study by Lepp and team, one of the participants indicated ‘‘I usually go on my phone if I am bored sitting there in class. Or during homework I will take little Twitter breaks.’’ Many respondents observed that high cell phone use induced anxiety in them. Research suggests a negative relationship exists between using a variety of electronic media like Smartphones and academic performance. Studies also find that using Facebook while studying or doing homework is a common behaviour and negatively affects the school or college grades. Multi-tasking with multiple digital technologies (Messaging, Facebook, Twitter, Mobile games) has a negative impact on learning and academic performance (Lepp, Barkley & Karpinski, 2014).
Discussion
Main Findings
Results from studies indicate a habitual use of Smartphone leads to addictive Smartphone behaviour. In an addiction stage, Smartphone users have an urge to check notifications or respond to messages immediately. Social type of usage and process related usage augments Smartphone addictive behaviours. Smartphones offer pleasurable experiences that act as a reward in itself and pushes a process-oriented user towards habitual use. Smartphone addicts spend more time using their Smartphones and feel uncomfortable without their phone. Most addicts are not aware of their behaviours and its negative impact. Several researchers have noted the significance of personality traits on the influence towards technology addiction. Individuals with a high level of self-consciousness and boredom proneness are at risk of technology addiction. Technology addiction is also found in people with low self-esteem, fear of rejection, poor motivation and the need for approval. Individuals with depression are susceptible towards Smartphone addiction. Other personality traits include shyness, discomfort in others presence that leads towards technology addiction including Smartphones. It is also found that Smartphone usage at high levels has an impact on the Academic performance of students and raises anxiety. Compulsive phone use is negatively related to overall college grades and school performance. The reasons for Smartphone addiction are a habitual usage of Smartphone and reduces self-control. Research shows that compulsive behaviour with Smartphones shares similarity with other forms of compulsive disorders. Smartphone addiction has an impact on personality, personal well-being of an individual, the academic performance of students and anxiety levels, affecting the overall social life and productivity.
Limitations
The studies reviewed in this paper have certain limitations that must be discussed here to understand the scope of the work done. The work by Lapointe, Boudreau-Pinsonneault & Vaghefi (2013), chose only undergraduate students for their study, and the findings are limited to that user group. A study by Van Deursen, et al. (2015) is focussed on addictive Smartphone behaviour with a user group where only a small part of that group can be characterised as actual Smartphone addicts. Also, many of the addicts in the researches considered by Van Deursen were not actual addicts. In the study by Lepp, and co-researchers (2014), it is not clear if the relationship between compulsive phone use and anxiety exists independently of the personality traits and behaviours of the individuals. Likewise the study by Lee, Chang, & Cheng (2014) depends upon self-reports of the participants, and the results are vulnerable to common method variance. The influence of these factors discussed in various studies depends upon individuals, technology affordance and accessibility.
Conclusion
The paper discusses practical implications of various researches on Smartphone usage, its impact on society and addiction of the technology use. The research has important implications and message for higher education administrators, health professionals, students, and teachers. Policies need to be formed based on this knowledge and research, regarding the use of Smartphones along with educational settings. The evidence of negative impact on the Academic performance of college students due to Smartphone addiction is of concern. The impact is not limited to academic performance but also on the mental and physical health of individuals. The factors leading to Smartphone addiction are of two types, personalized individual character and external environmental factors. The factors related to Smartphone addiction vary according to the degree of a user’s addiction. Personality traits of individuals have an impact on the possibility of technology addiction. Individuals with the traits of depression have a higher degree of susceptibility towards technology addiction. Technological features of Smartphones, the convenience of use and exhaustive features and engagement, added with the behavioral traits and usage trends of individuals, are major contributing factors towards Smartphone addiction. Smartphone and Internet addiction have similar characteristics. However, the influence of all factors leading to Smartphone addiction depends upon the individuals. Conscious efforts by users addicted to Smartphones supplemented with some external help or awareness can reduce or eliminate the addiction and enable a healthy lifestyle with a proper use of technology.
Smartphones are no doubt useful devices with meaningful use and features. Extreme use of Smartphones can lead an individual to a disturbed life both in personal and professional terms. Studies have shown that addiction to technology can lead to severe marital issues and social isolation for an individual. The existing research and material is not sufficient to understand the negative impacts of Smartphones on individuals. Additional research is required to identify the full negative consequences of Smartphone addiction and propose correctives measures for remedy of the addiction.
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