Have you argued with your child about his cell phone use? Probably more than once, today many parents are faced with their children’s cell phone addiction. It is very common, and has physical and psychological effects that are harmful to our well-being. The cell phone allows us to be connected with the world, our friends, family… However, this dependence on the cell phone distances us from them, which has serious consequences. Today in Psychology-Online we show you some of the most important consequences of mobile addictionone of the modern addictions that most affects youth.
A person addicted to mobile You must have 4 of the following symptoms:
- Need to use mobile phones more and more
- Failed attempts to reduce cell phone use
- Concern about cell phone use
- Using the cell phone when we feel anxious or depressed
- Excessive use characterized by loss of sense of time
- Putting a relationship or job at risk due to excessive cell phone use
- Tolerance: needing the newest phone, more apps, or increasing usage
- When the person does not have a cell phone, depression, irritability, anger, restlessness, tension appear…
Furthermore, mobile phone use usually reaches cause significant alterations in their life. In this other Psychology-Online article we discover the .
1. Increased stress levels
People addicted to mobile phones They compulsively check their phones each minute. Your body and mind are constantly activated waiting for your phone to ring or checking every certain interval of time to see if a notification has arrived. Sometimes, your cell phone does not allow you to disconnect, for example, you are on vacation, and the first thing you do when you wake up is look at your cell phone to talk to your friends, keep up with work, etc. What makes you really not disconnect and your stress levels do not decrease.
Research has found that the need to read and respond immediately increases stress. In some cases, this stress causes the person to hear vibrations from their cell phone that are not real. A study from the University of Zurich shows that those participants who use their mobile phones constantly have a higher level of brain activity every time their fingers touch the mobile screen. This Increased brain activity leads to increased stress.
2. Insomnia
When we sleep our mind and body rest. However, allowing cell phone use to invade your sleep can lead to greater stress, less productivity, low energy levels, difficulty concentrating, and low brain activity.
Research has shown that the amount of caffeine in a double coffee has less effect than exposure to cell phone light at night. However, many people find it normal not to have a double coffee before going to sleep, but they see it as completely normal to bring their phones to bed.
The Exposure to cell phone light can delay sleep due to its ability to suppress melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep time, which can cause various sleep disorders, such as insomnia.
3. Anxiety and Depression
Spending a lot of time in front of the mobile screen can produce high levels of anxiety and even depression, since many people are constantly waiting for their friends to talk to them, and they worry if they don’t answer. Research suggests that the longer you spend on your cell phone, the more likely you are to suffer from depression.
4. Aggression
The addiction can be so serious that when these people take away their cell phone they can become very aggressive. A large number of teenagers do not let anyone touch their phones. When they lose them, they may show signs of aggression causing mood swings, feelings of unhappiness, irritability, etc.
5. Not doing healthy activities
The time spent using the cell phone prevents the person from being able to carry out healthy activities such as physical exercise, socializing, learning… The person finds the solution to their problems with the help of a click, and that is the reason why avoid the effort. They begin to communicate solely through technology. Instead of playing sports with other children, they may play on their cell phones, without actually doing physical exercise.
6. Difficulty relating to other people
Even if they are with friends and family, they need to constantly check their cell phone. Because of this, people around them feel disappointed, causing possible conflicts.
When we use our phones we disconnect from the real world, which generates problems in “face-to-face” social relationships. Even though phones allow us to stay connected to the world, people become completely isolated from the real world.