How well technology has developed; all our work has become easier, the speed of access to information has increased, the world of entertainment is one click away and being alone is no longer a problem. Really? Undoubtedly, humanity is having better days than ever thanks to technology, but some people are having worse days than ever due to technology addiction. Unfortunately, technology addiction is an invisible threat.
When someone is addicted to drugs or alcohol, we all want to get them out of this quagmire, but when we see someone playing games 20 hours a day or spending their life on social media, we don’t mind because we accept technology. This is why technology addiction is a much more dangerous situation. Let’s take a closer look at what technology addiction is, what its symptoms are, and how it is treated.
What is technology addiction?
According to the definition made by the Green Crescent Association, technology addiction is the situation in which a person uses technology uncontrollably and even the technology becomes user-friendly. If we look at this definition, spending a lot of time with technology products does not always mean technology addiction.
Technology addiction has been recognized as a serious public health threat by countries such as the United States, South Korea, and China. Technology addiction, which is also accepted as a problem by the World Health Organization, is seen by some experts as an extension of anxiety and depression. However, the general opinion is that technology addiction is a problem on its own.
What are the symptoms of technology addiction?
- Not being able to manage the use of technology
- Not being able to stay away from technology
- Living with the constant urge to use digital devices
- Neglecting work, school and social life due to technology
- Continuing to use digital devices despite adverse effects
- Using a digital device even while driving or walking
- Moving away from other activities enjoyed because of technology
- Experiencing depression, anxiety, stress and irritability due to technology use
- Enjoying digital devices only
- Lying to family and friends about time of use in embarrassment of prolonged use of technology
- Starting to use a digital device for a specific purpose and using the device for much longer than this purpose
In general, when we look at all these signs of technology addiction, we see a loss of control at the base. That’s the essence of addiction, loss of control. You can look at social media in your free time, but if you close it during work, it’s fine. You can spend the evenings playing games, but if you can turn off the game when you need to sleep, it’s fine.
When it comes to technology addiction, the first thing that comes to mind for many people is smartphones. True, the proliferation of smartphones is seen as one of the main causes of technology addiction, but it is not the only reason. Technology addiction is divided into some basic types. These genres aim to unravel the effect of technology that turns the person into an addict.
The most common types of technology addiction are:
- Game addiction
- Social media addiction
- Online gambling addiction
- Pornography addiction
- Online shopping addiction
- Work-related digital addiction
Game addiction:
The game world is experiencing its golden age; game consoles, computer games, mobile games are more common than ever before. No matter what device or game you play, your brain releases dopamine when you level up or win a session. You get pleasure as you release dopamine. This situation turns into an addiction over time and you start to think that the only source of enjoyment is games. When it comes to spending and making money, the situation can become inextricable.
Social media addiction:
Social media creates addiction in people through several different points. Getting interacted releases neurotransmitters in the brain, making a person feel good. Even in the digital world, one feels a sense of social participation. Because of the endless flow on the platform, the person thinks that they are missing something every moment. As a result, the person turns into an addict who cannot leave social media platforms for a moment.
Online gambling addiction:
While gambling is already considered an addiction on its own, online gambling doubles the negative effects of this addiction. Because both technology addiction and gambling addiction are experienced at the same time. Online gambling addiction directly affects the life of the person because as you progress in gambling games that start with game money, you start using real money and eventually you lose all your money and time in a game.
Pornography addiction:
We live in an era where pornographic content is most accessible. While it is considered normal for an adult to watch pornographic content with adult people at a certain rate, conditions such as excessive masturbation, hypersexual disorder and emotional addiction to porn are real problems. People addicted to pornography are moving away from real-life sex every day. Along with this addiction, it also brings feelings such as shame, guilt, loneliness, sadness and disappointment.
Online shopping addiction:
Online shopping addiction, also called compulsive buying disorder, creates addiction in two points; moment of purchase and pre-purchase browsing. In the current era of consumerism, people are incurring financial and moral losses by shopping more than ever before. It gives pleasure to follow the campaigns such as Weird Friday and the Great November and to watch the price change of a product you don’t need. As a result, the person experiences a great sense of regret by losing both money and time.
Work-related digital addiction:
Work-related digital addiction is quite common, especially in executive positions. These people seek refuge in work by escaping real-life problems. Even though they are seen as hard workers, they are actually addicts. If you frequently receive an email from your boss in the middle of the night or at odds, this indicates that the person has a work-related digital addiction.
What is the treatment for technology addiction?
The first step in the treatment of technology addiction, as in all other addictions, is to accept this situation and ask for a solution. As long as the addict does not accept this situation, help from family and friends will remain in the air. The person who wants to be treated can get help from a specialist or try some methods on his own.
The tech addict can delete some of his favorite apps, turn off device notifications, turn off his internet and limit usage time by setting an alarm. Since it is not possible to stay away from technology in today’s world, this addiction can be struggled with at least certain limitations.
Meditation, exercise and different activities intertwined with nature are recommended for people addicted to technology. If the person cannot fight on his own, he should consult a specialist. Experts aim to eliminate the underlying problem by revealing the cause of such addictions. But remember, in the end, it is the person who will remove this addiction.
Although we ignore it, we answered the most curious questions such as what is the biggest threat of today’s technology addiction, what are its symptoms, how is it treated, and we talked about what you need to know about this addiction. You can share your thoughts about technology addiction in the comments.
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