Smart phone obsession is harmful to the mind

Quick! Where’s your smartphone? Chances are, it’s either already in your hand or within easy reach. In a world where we can access just about anything on our electronic devices, it’s no surprise that we’re attached. But what happens when that attachment turns into an obsession or, worse, a true addiction?

Larry Rosen, Ph.D., professor emeritus of psychology at California State University, Dominguez Hills, is an expert in the field of technology addiction, an area that’s only gaining more attention these days. For the past 30 years, he has studied the impact of technology on more than 50,000 children, teens and adults worldwide. Perhaps the most eye-catching statistic he has come across is this:

The average person checks his or her phone about 60 times a day for a total of 220 minutes — nearly four hours. Dr. Rosen explains that, in general, technology addiction is the same as any other type of addiction; it becomes a serious problem when you need more of the addictive “substance” – in this instance, it could be social media, surfing, apps, gaming or all of the above – in order to feel the same happiness and satisfaction.

And, as with any addiction, time away from the activity or substance leads to depression, anxiety or stress, otherwise known as the usual symptoms of withdrawal. “Do you find that when you are not doing the addictive activity you are restless and keep thinking about doing it?” Rosen asks. If so, this is a common sign of addiction.To get in the habit of healthy technology use, he suggests creating a schedule and allotting a certain amount of time for certain devices. We asked Rosen about what technology addiction really means, the state of the research, and how parents can help protect their kids from a problematic relationship with their devices.