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J. Indian Assoc. Child Adolesc. Ment. Health 2015; 11(3):170-174

Editorial

Technology addiction in adolescents

Vivek Agarwal MD, Sujit Kumar Kar MD
Address for correspondence: Dr. Vivek Agarwal, Editor JIACAM & Professor,
Department of Psychiatry, King Georges Medical University, Lucknow. Email:
drvivekagarwal06@gmail.com
Currently, technologies like - mobile, tablets, internets are frequently used by people to

meet day to day needs. Technologies have made our living easier and now, one cannot

imagine life without technologies. Mobile phones and internet help in facilitating

communication among people. Social networking through mobile phones and internet are

common in todays world, young population being the most commonly affected ones [1].

Adolescents use different types of gadgets like cell phone, tablets, laptops, I-pads etc.

Some use it for just mere communication. Some use it for entertainment (watching

movies, listening music, playing online games), shopping, browsing educational

materials etc., other than communication. Use of technology is essential to make the

tasks of life easier; however its abnormal, excessive, unnecessary use leads to addiction

and makes life more difficult. Though there is no standard definition for Technology

addiction, the attempt of Shaw & Black (2008) to define Internet addiction as an

excessive or poorly controlled pre-occupations, urges or behaviors related to use of

internet and computers, that is significantly impairing and distressing also valid for any

other technologies like mobile or pager etc [2]. Another way of defining technology
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addiction is a habitual and compulsive way of indulgence with technology deviating

from meeting the lifes different issues [3, 4].

In a survey among adolescents, it was found that - among school going adolescents, the

incidence of technology addiction (internet and mobile addiction) was moderate and

females were at lower risk to develop technology addictions like internet addiction [5].

Mobile phones are more fashionable, resourceful, handy and easily accessible devices, its

use varies among different socio-economic groups of populations, which might be

responsible for wide range of prevalence of mobile phone addiction (0% to 38%) [6]. In a

public opinion poll in U.S., it was found that 13 to 17 years old age group (73%) were

commonly affected by internet addiction [7]. More than 60% of Americans said, being

addicted to internet as found in a survey in 2010 [7, 8], which shows the seriousness of

the problem. Fargues et al [9] in their study found that males had more addictive behavior

towards internet, whereas females had it for mobile phones [9]. These issues seem more

problematic during adolescence and stabilize with increasing age [9].

Companies making mobile phones, made them compatible for other technologies like

games, videos, internet browsing and many other applications which facilitate their wide

circulation and making them more addicting objects. Presence of certain risk factors,

increase the risk of abuse of technology [1, 6]. Some important ones are psychological

vulnerability (temperamental issues like extraversion and low self-esteem), presence of

stressors and poor family and social support.

Technology addiction is labeled, when the use is beyond the control and causing harm or

impairment [1]. There may be certain warning signs of technology addiction, like
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abnormally excessive use of technology (internet or mobile) [1]. Individuals addicted to

technology are very much preoccupied with their gadgets and cant stay without them

[10]. Regularly checking the mobile or internet for email, SMS, sending SMS

unnecessarily, playing games or chatting through some important activity like meeting,

teaching or social conversation, such behaviors were commonly seen in individuals

addicted to technology [10]. Often these people are unable to separate from these gadgets

and feel worried, irritable and desperate, when they forget to take them along. They may

experience like - the cell phone is ringing or beeping or vibrating. Adolescents with poor

coping skills, often find it difficult to deal with day to day minor issues and engage with

mobile or internet to distract themselves from the stressful situations [3]. Frequent use of

this maladaptive avoidance behavior is a potential risk factor of technology addiction.

Adolescents addicted to technology, often get socially isolated [2].

However, in todays world children are increasingly using technologies in task related to

studies. Focus is more on use of technologies to provide knowledge and it is possible in

near future that education will become paperless. But children and adolescents are not

mature enough to understand adverse effects associated with excessive use of these things

and they are easily likely to be hooked to modern technologies. Parents are also

promoting use of technologies without thinking about the ill-effects of it. However,

researches are required, keeping in mind the realities of todays world. The question is

how much use is normal. Whether socialization through media is the new norm or face to

face interaction is more important? Is it okay to be in the company of electronic gadgets

most of the time or it is an addiction? Boundaries are needed to be drawn keeping in

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mind the new realties before diagnosing it to be a disorder. At the same time one should

not ignore it, when it is causing impairment in personal, interpersonal as well as socio-

occupational level.

References

1. Echebura E, de Corral P. Addiction to new technologies and to online

social networking in young people: A new challenge. Adicciones. 2010;22(2):91-

5.

2. Shaw M, Black DW. Internet addiction: definition, assessment, epidemiology and

clinical management. CNS Drugs. 2008; 22 (5):353-65.

3. Technology addiction in teens. http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/technology-

addiction-teens-11134.html [Last accessed on 12-06-2015].

4. Internet Addiction: A Handbook and Guide to Evaluation and Treatment. Young

KS, de Abreu CN (editors). John Wiley & Sons. 2010.

5. Ruiz-Olivares R, Lucena V, Pino MJ, Herruzo J. Analysis of behavior

related to use of the Internet, mobile telephones, compulsive shopping and

gambling among university students. Adicciones. 2010;22(4):301-9.

6. Pedrero Prez EJ, Rodrguez Monje MT, Ruiz Snchez De Len JM.

Mobile phone abuse or addiction. A review of the literature. Adicciones.

2012;24(2):139-52.

7. Public Opinion Suggests Internet Addiction Is a Problem.

http://www.sodahead.com/living/public-opinion-suggests-internet-addiction-is-a-

problem/question-2464081/ [Last accessed on - 06-06-2015].

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8. Hirschhorn JS. Technology Addiction in the Electronic Age: Worldwide

Progress or Servitude? http://www.globalresearch.ca/technology-addiction-in-the-

electronic-age-worldwide-progress-or-servitude/5317843 [Last accessed on - 06-

06-2015].

9. Beranuy Fargues M, Chamarro Lusar A, Graner Jordania C, Carbonell

Snchez X. Validation of two brief scales for Internet addiction and mobile phone

problem use. Psicothema. 2009 Aug;21(3):480-5.

10. Addicted to technology. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sura-flow/technology-

addiction_b_1740068.html?ir=India&adsSiteOverride=in [Last accessed on 12-

06-2015].

Vivek Agarwal, Editor JIACAM & Professor; Sujit Kumar Kar, Lecturer; Department of

Psychiatry, King Georges Medical University, Lucknow.

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