Mobile phone Addiction

Introduction

The technological innovating brings forth new and essential kinds of Information and

Communication Technology (ICT) in our life. Mobile or cell phones is also one of example of

ICT that has become widely popular and essential in modern life. The mobile phone addiction is

common nowadays.Addiction referred to "a relationship of dependence and a limitation on

personal freedom". According to Peele (1985), ’any compulsive or overused activity should be

considered as addiction”. The main factors behind mobile phone addiction include that it offers

new vistas of technological tools, which provide entertainment to young individuals. The

emergence of social media tools has resulted in establishment of interpersonal relationships and

has also become a matter of prestige among peers. For young individuals, it is a source of

personal independence because of its accessible nature.

Addiction and its consequences

A study carried out by Wikle (2001) points out “obsession” of American people to carry their

mobile phone everywhere. This obsession shows signs of heavy dependence on the use of mobile

phones (Licoppe and Heurtin, 2001). Addiction can result in negative consequences not only for

individuals but also for society in general because addicted people cannot work with

concentration owing to their "physical and psychological dependence". This dependence can

impede their efficient and effective functionality within society.

Although mobile phones serve numerous personal and social functions but excessive use can

result in various problems and behavioral disorders. Apart from behavioral issues, it also effects

the personal health and wellbeing especially the use of mobile phones at night.The main
symptoms of addiction include increased use of mobile phones, interference of mobile activity in

other daily life or school activities, a sense of emotional deprivation when unable to use it and

family issues arising out of excessive use of mobile phones. Besides this some of the researches

brings about the negative impact of mobile phone for individual safety as well for instance use of

mobile phones whiledriving .In addition to this, the radiation emitted by mobile phone itself has

dangerous effects for human health.

Measures to Counteract Addiction

Keeping in view the negative impacts of mobile phone addiction, the focus should be on

changing the behavior. In this regard, Cognitive-behavioral approach can be used in transforming

thoughts and adapting behavior. According to research by Kwon (2013), the cognitive behavioral

approach can help in overcoming cognitive, social, and behavioral problems. This intervention

approach help in solving the issues in compulsivity which results in adolescent mobile phone

addiction (Kwon et al., 2013).

According to Adam (2001), a person can develop addiction when there is some underlying

unfulfilled psychological reason that keeps you hooked to mobile phone as an escape. It doesn't

actually matter how one can pacify that addiction. It can be playing a game that takes one into a

distracted state .Thus behavior and mobile or any substance addictions is similar.The counselors

or social health workers can employ cognitive-behavioral counseling towards reducing the

mobile phone addiction.

Apart from psychological counselling to mend addictive behavior, the most essential thing is to

inform the individuals of pros and cons of mobile usage. Through counselling sessions, it should

be inculcated among young adolescents that how they can use day to day practical steps to

overcome their addiction.

It all depends upon individual determination and will to change the addictive behavior. Self-

control should be bolstered in order to keep the addiction in control. One can assign or fix

particular times within a day for mobile usage as it can limit the usage. Besides this, addictive

apps can be replaced with some good apps. Although it's difficult to break the old habits but one

can do is to replace them with some healthy alternative habits.

References

Alter, A. (2017). Irresistible: The rise of addictive technology and the business of keeping us

hooked. Penguin Press.

Kwon, M., Kim, D.-J., Cho, H., & Yang, S. (2013). The Smartphone Addiction Scale:

Development and Validation of a Short Version for Adolescents. PLoS ONE, 8(12), e83558.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0083558

Peele, S. (1985) The Meaning of Addiction. Lexington Books, Lexington, MA

Montag, C., Wegmann, E., Sariyska, R., Demetrovics, Z., & Brand, M. (2021). How to

overcome taxonomical problems in the study of Internet use disorders and what to do with

“smartphone addiction”?, Journal of Behavioral Addictions JBA, 9(4), 908-914. Retrieved Mar

31, 2021, from https://akjournals.com/view/journals/2006/9/4/article-p908.xml

Rivière, C.A. and Licoppe, C. (2003) From voice to text: continuity and change in the use of

mobile phones in France and Japan. Presented at the International Sunbelt Social Network

Conference, Cancun, Mexico, February

Wikle, T.A. (2001) America’s cellular telephone obsession: new geographies of personal

communication. Journal of American and Comparative Cultures, 24(12), 123–128.