Husband 1 Kaden Husband Mrs. Kelleigh Knight-Whitten ENGL 1302 27 March 2022 Hidden Addiction Visualize someone’s at a restaurant with some of their friends, and they sit down to place an order, but it is on a computer. They’re consumed trying to figure out what they’re going to order the entire time. They realize fifteen minutes have passed, and there has been no social interaction since they sat down. Sadly, this doesn't seem too far off from the truth. People are integrating into a society that spends more time using technology than interacting with others. Nassim Nicholas Taleb, an essayist, states, “The difference between technology and slavery is that slaves are fully aware that they are not free.” Technology has trapped our minds into believing that it is the answer. Less human interaction corresponds with social anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Technology use is the main cause of mental illness in today's society, leading to a psychological dependence among avid users. Smartphone addiction is rapidly growing within society. The use of smartphones has increased dramatically since the 2000s. Now, in 2022, nearly half the population owns a smartphone or has access to one. People are finally in a time where they can learn about others’ lives, share news, and have access to unlimited knowledge, but what are the downsides? “The American College Health Association (ACHA) conducts a national survey every year to examine the health of college students,” (Cain 6862). They have found that there is a trend of negative mental health status among college students over the past years. However, many factors contribute to one’s mental health. “Eiser, a prominent generation researcher, correlates the rise in Husband 2 depression and anxiety with the rise in smartphone and social media use, citing a trend that shows without exception, the more time spent on-screen activities, the more likely one will be unhappy” (Cain 6862). Rising evidence supports the claim that students' mental health issues correlate with smartphones and social media use. The article “Is smartphone addiction really an addiction?” reviewed many studies on smartphone addiction and states, “we did not find sufficient support from the addiction perspective to confirm the existence of smartphone addiction at this time. The behaviors observed in the research could be better labeled as problematic or maladaptive smartphone use” (Panova et al.). Their argument is presented by difference between a smartphone and internet addiction. If there is a teenager addicted to watching explicit content, they have an addiction to the internet and not the smartphone. “Surrat (1999) has explained how the limited understanding of any new information and communication technologies is often taken advantage of by the media who capitalize on the suspicion that accompanies new technological development and publish sensationalist news stories about addictions and psychopathology,” (Panova et al.). This was from a study done in 1999 before the first-generation smartphones were released in 2007. Over the next 10 years, ”7.1 billion smartphones were produced” (Jardim). Although researchers have only a little over a decade to gather data, technology use is growing. It has given kids access to more information than they can bear and seek satisfaction from their phones. “In April 2015, the number of cell-phone lines exceeded 53.6 million in Spain, which was 1.4% higher than the previous year,” (De-Sola Gutiérrez et al.). It is now common for three-year-olds to have access to their parents’ phones and regularly play on them. Are we willing to let our kids suffer just for a few hours of entertainment? Imagine in the next 10 years, kids will no longer want to go play outside but be consumed staring at a screen and playing video games. We are losing touch with reality, and do Husband 3 we even care about the side effects? I conducted a “Smartphone Compulsion Test” for the junior class at Childress High school a size of 65 students, (Greenfield). A yes and no 15-question survey scales your result based on points for every yes is one point. 9 students scored in the range of 1-2 “your behavior is normal but that doesn’t mean you should live on your smartphone,” 23 students scored in 3-4“your behavior is leaning toward problematic or compulsive use,” 18 kids scored in 5-7 “it is likely that you may have a problematic or compulsive smartphone use pattern, and 15 kids scored in 8 or higher “you might consider seeing a psychologist, psychiatrist, or psychotherapist who specializes in behavioral addictions for a consultation,” (Greenfield). 23 percent of the students are in the category of smartphone addiction. I also surveyed some teachers and out of the five teachers they all scaled in the 8 or higher range. They accepted that they had a problem with their smartphone and was honest about their usage. I know we cannot make assumptions for all students off self-evaluated surveys, but it is vital for research and to prove my thesis. With technology and smartphone use growing, society will have to learn to face this hidden addiction that deprives us of mental clarity and physical well-being. Researchers have noticed a rise in mental health issues and are seeking to find out why. Mental health is a topic that is broad and often misunderstood. There are many self-help books, websites, apps, access to counselors, and self-management strategies. Technology has allowed us to research these physiological illnesses and gave the confidence to people to seek up about their struggles with mental illnesses. What is the root of their illness? “Some researchers are now suggesting that the combined effects of smartphone and social media use may also negatively affect well-being,” (Cain 6862). Even though technology has given us a way to handle mental illness, does it also cause it? There was a large UK study that corresponded smartphone addiction Husband 4 with sleep. “Using a validated instrument, 39% of young adults reported smartphone addiction associated with poor sleep,” (Sohn et al.). It doesn’t just affect adults but minors as well. “These data imply that cell phones enable behavioral problems and disorders, particularly in adolescents,” (De-Sola Gutiérrez et al.). The effect on the younger generation will be detrimental to their mental and physical health. We are more comfortable having a virtual relationship with one another rather than a physical one. We are created to be together and have conversations in real life. Sending a text is fast and convenient, but it shouldn’t be our only form of communication with that person. “This study found a significant and fair positive correlation (r = 0.277) between smartphone addiction and depression,” (Lei et al.). There is recurring evidence that proves the less social you are, the more likely you will be depressed. We rely on our smartphones for our identity, and we lose the purpose of life. We are spending almost as much time as we sleep surfacing the internet. “They spent an average of 5 hours per day on the internet 6 hours of sleep per day,” (Wan Ismail et al. 952). We are placing time on our phones as valuable as sleep. “Internet and smartphone addictions can lead to psychological disturbance, including depression, anxiety, stress, and suicidality,’ (Wan Ismail et al. 952). Is technology the answer to our problems or is it causing the problem? We live in a society that constantly wants your attention and if you don’t give it to them then you’re missing out. In Jeff Cain’s research paper, he states “in their efforts to capture attention (and market share) of users, device and app developers may have unwittingly (or in some cases, intentionally) designed for addiction, by using psychological tricks to develop a craving for the instantaneous “highs” of texts, social media “likes,” comments, etc.” Now we must fight the urge to look at our phones while eating or to have a conversation with someone (p. 6862). Of course, this would cause mental illnesses when there is an internal battle going on to either stay off your phone or give in to the urge of Husband 5 missing out. “FOMO, fear of missing out, is the ‘pervasive apprehension that others might be having rewarding experiences from which one is absent,” (Cain 6862). People don’t accomplish anything from scrolling on social media, nor does it add any value to our lives. People must be open about the negative side effects technology has on their mental health. Physical health is being neglected among impulsive smartphone users. During adolescence, kids are supposed to be very active, but technology has provided entertainment where you can just sit on the couch and spend hours staring at a screen. We’re allowing our kids to spend more time inside than outside because they have access to technology. Video games allow you to experience winning, excitement, and adventure without accomplishing anything. Kids are losing the value of what it is like to play outside, climb a tree, and ride a bike. “Indeed, for several authors, a large number of behaviors are potentially addictive (16) if there is a concurrence of negative consequences and physical and psychological reinforcements in a specific context,” (De-Sola Gutiérrez et al,). Smartphones cause our physical health to suffer. If we are spending up to four hours on our phones and sleeping eight, how much time are we being outside and active? “Physical and psychological problems have reportedly resulted from cellphone abuse, including rigidity and muscle pain, ocular afflictions resulting from Computer Vision Syndrome reflected in fatigue, dryness, blurry vision, irritation, or ocular redness (41), auditory and tactile illusions,” (De-Sola Gutiérrez et al.). We were not created to be inside all day staring at a screen. There are physical consequences for children and adults that are struggling with smartphone addiction. Plato, a Greek philosopher, said “lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save and preserve it.” We are supposed to take care of our bodies and we even feel better when we do, but technology has allowed us to live comfortably. We no longer want to seek anything Husband 6 physically challenging we would rather sit on the couch and watch a movie. Our physical wellbeing is more important than scrolling on the internet. “There are no more physical consequences than mild tendinitis (Fernandez-Guerrero, 2014) and anecdotal reports of suffering from lightheadedness or blurred vision, pain in the wrists, or at the back of the neck, and urban incidents from people talking/texting while walking,” (Panova et al.). Even if you consider this mild pain, you can still prevent any pain by taking breaks and exercising regularly. This was only seven years after the first smartphones were released, what will be the physical damage in 20 to 30 years? No matter the age physical activity is important for everyone and cannot be neglected for the longevity of your overall health. Technology will continue to progress society at the cost of our own mental and physical well-being. If we give up our self-control to a computer screen what else will we give to have a “comfortable” life? Students suffer from the effects of smartphone usage as (Tanil et al.) states, “in conclusion, the presence of smartphone and frequent thoughts of their smartphone significantly affect memory recall accuracy, demonstrating that they contributed to an increase in cognitive load ‘bandwidth effect’ interrupting participants’ memory processes.” Looking for pleasure and comfort from technology will continue to cause a psychological dependence on our devices that will never be fulfilling. “Thus, there is a need to create and implement programs to promote healthy smartphone usage to minimize the impact of smartphone addiction on psychological health,” (Lei et al.). Seeking proper self-control will lead to a more confident and responsible society with smartphone usage. Husband 7 Works Cited Cain, Jeff. “It’s Time to Confront Student Mental Health Issues Associated with Smartphones and Social Media.” American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, vol. 82, no. 7, 27 Oct. 2017, p. 6862., https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe6862. De-Sola Gutiérrez, José, et al. “Cell-Phone Addiction: A Review.” Frontiers in Psychiatry, Frontiers Media S.A., 24 Oct. 2016, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5076301/. Accessed 24 March 2022. Greenfield, David. “Smartphone Compulsion Test.” The Center for Internet and Technology Addiction, 16 July 2018, https://www.anselm.edu/sites/default/files/Documents/Academics/Department/Nursing%2 0Cont%20Education/Handouts/SMARTPHONE%20COMPULSION%20TEST.pdf. Accessed 24 Mar. 2022. Jardim, Elizabeth. “What 10 Years of Smartphone Use Means for the Planet.” Greenpeace USA, Green Peace, 3 Mar. 2017, https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/10-years-smartphone-usemeans-planet/. Accessed 24 Mar. 2022. Kwon, Min, et al. “The Smartphone Addiction Scale: Development and Validation of a Short Version for Adolescents.” PLoS ONE, vol. 8, no. 12, 31 Dec. 2013, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0083558. Lei, Leonard Yik-Chuan, et al. “The Relationship of Smartphone Addiction with Psychological Distress and Neuroticism among University Medical Students.” BMC Psychology, vol. 8, no. 1, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-020-00466-6. Husband 8 Panova, Tayana, and Xavier Carbonell. “Is Smartphone Addiction Really an Addiction?” Journal of Behavioral Addictions, Akadémiai Kiadó, 1 June 2018, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6174603/#S8title. Accessed 24 Mar. 2022. Sohn, Sei Yon, et al. “The Association between Smartphone Addiction and Sleep: A UK CrossSectional Study of Young Adults.” Frontiers in Psychiatry, vol. 12, 2021, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.629407. Tanil, Clarissa Theodora, and Min Hooi Yong. “Mobile Phones: The Effect of Its Presence on Learning and Memory.” PLOS ONE, vol. 15, no. 8, 13 Aug. 2020, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0219233. Wan Ismail, Wan Salwina, et al. “The Relations of Internet and Smartphone Addictions to Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and Suicidality among Public University Students in Klang Valley, Malaysia.” Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, vol. 56, no. 4, 2020, pp. 949–955., https://doi.org/10.1111/ppc.12517.
