The Truth About Smartphone Addiction

A representative sample of 404 undergraduate students from a public university in the Southeast was surveyed about their smartphone dependency. One in five rated themselves as totally dependent on their phone; about half agreed that they are overly dependent. More females than males reported feeling safer with their phone than without it. More than half of the freshmen reported that they use their phone as a way of escaping from problems or relieving a bad mood. Students over-whelmingly disagreed that they have a hard time concentrating due to their phone use. The truth about smartphone addiction is that people are not addicted to their smartphone, they are addicted to the information, entertainment, and personal connections it delivers. People will continue to go to great lengths to connect with others. Smartphones provide a portable, instant way to stay informed, entertained, and connected. The meaning of smartphone addiction is explored, and some effects of smartphones–self-alienation and impatience–are discussed.