Overuse is often defined as a “dependence syndrome,” which is the term used by the World Health Organization (WHO Expert Committee, 1964) to replace addictionor habituation. This is categorized either as substance abuse, such as from psychoactive drugs, alcohol and tobacco, or a behavioral addiction, such as a mobile phone addiction.
Mobile phone overuse
Mobile phone overuse (or problem mobile phone use) is a dependence syndrome seen among certain mobile phone users. Some mobile phone users exhibit problematic behaviors related to substance use disorders. These behaviors can include preoccupation with mobile communication, excessive money or time spent on mobile phones, use of mobile phones in socially or physically inappropriate situations such as driving an automobile. Increased use can also lead to increased time on mobile communication, adverse effects on relationships, and anxiety if separated from a mobile phone or sufficient signal.
Impact social life
There is an enormous impact of the mobile phone on contemporary society from a social scientific perspective. Some people are replacing face-to-face conversations with cybernetic ones. Some people even pretend to talk on the phone or fiddle with apps to avoid eye contact or other interactions at a party.
Is it out of control?
I will now give a few numerical results from Berardi (2012) to emphasize that we overuse the mobile phone;
- 35% almost always use their mobile phone while in a social setting
- 58% use it usually during these settings
- 80% check their phones in the morning within just one hour of getting up
- 66% check their phones before going to bed
- 51% constantly check their phones during vacation
- 70% check their phone on their way ( to work/school/doctor etc.)
- 44% would feel very anxious and irritable if they did not interact with their phones within a week
Do not forget that these numbers come from 2012. Can you imagine how high these rates should be right now?!
A research from 2015 shows that we check our mobile phone on average 221 time a day! That’s more than 1500 time a week!! It seems that we cannot live without it.
Solution?
Apparently, we cannot keep our phone usage in control by ourselves. DistractaGone, a start-up at Kickstarter, came with a “solution”. They offers a simple solution for mobile phone distraction: a locker box. This is their message:
Hi,
Thank you for not looking at your phone for a minute to read more about the DistractaGone. This device locks up to four phones (smaller and plus size models) for a time that you decide. Once it’s locked it can’t be opened (without furiously forcing it). This offers you a period without constant distraction.
Step 1. Place Phones
Step 2. Set Time
Step 3. Lock the Box
Step 4. Enjoy
They simply want to create a device to combat smartphone addiction and to help us make the world a more social place.
In my opinion, this goes too far. Do we really need a device, which forces us not to look at our mobile phone? Where are the mobile phone free parties and dinners? Do we really get them back with this locker box? Why can we just not stay in control of our mobile use? We do not need them all the time, do we?
References
Belardi, B. (Ed.). (18 June 2012). Consumers Crave iPhone More Than Facebook, Sex. Retrieved 15 October 2013 from PR Newswire website:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/consumers-crave-iphone-more-than-facebook-sex-according-to-gazelle-159430685.html
WHO. “Management of substance abuse: Dependence Syndrome”.
