Is Your Phone Hurting You? The Effects of Too Much Screen Time

Smartphone Addiction Affects Your Brain in the same way as Drug Addiction, Study Finds

Researchers have examined the MRI scans of smartphone users and found that smartphone use has changed the shape of the brain. German researchers found that the part of the brain affected the most was the grey matter. The grey matter is associated with muscle control, speech, sight and hearing, and also mental health. Mental health includes emotions, memory, decision-making, and self-control. Abusing drugs like cocaine had an effect on the grey matter of the brain similar to smartphone use.

Smartphone use releases dopamine and stimulates the brain’s central nervous system.

In smartphone dependency, the brain searches for the reward system. Repeatedly checking one’s phone for likes or messages releases dopamine.

Here are a few questions you might ask yourself to determine if you have a smart phone Addiction.

1. 1. 1. Are you having difficulties resisting the urge to use your smartphone?
      2. Are you anxious, irritable, or uneasy when not using your smartphone?
      3. Do you find yourself using your smartphone for longer than you intended?
      4. Have you had unsuccessful attempts at trying to reduce your smartphone usage?
      5. Have you been focused on using or quitting your smartphone use?
      6. Have you continued to use your smartphone despite physical or mental health consequences?
      7. Has your smartphone use resulted in physical or mental health problems?
      8. Have you used your smartphone in dangerous situations like when you are driving or crossing the street?
      9. Has your smartphone use negatively affected your relationships or performance at school?
      10. Do you find yourself spending hours on your smartphone?

 

Smartphone addiction is also known as, “nomophobia” (fear of being without a mobile phone). But it’s not just phones. This also includes gaming apps and online worlds.

It affects your relationships because online relationships take over. You become more interested in virtual people than the people in your real life. Families in restaurants ignore each other and engage in their cell phones.

Information overload

The habitual scanning of news feeds, indulging in gaming, streaming videos, and aimless web browsing can result in a significant loss of time. What feels like mere minutes could unexpectedly consume several hours of your day.

Self-help tips

There are apps available which help with setting time limits on your phone use. They can also keep track of how many hours you spend on your phone and gaming devices.

The Effects of Too Much Screen Time

Poor Vision: Excessive phone use can cause dry eyes and blurred vision. The eyesight gets worse and causes difficulty reading. Using phones day and night ruins eyesight and can have lifetime repercussions.

Lack of focus: Phones can be very distracting. Some students spend so many hours on their phones that they neglect their studies and sports endeavours.

Anxiety: Some students suffer from headaches and migraines due to too much phone usage, which can cause anxiety and depression.

Isolation: Many students do not spend time with peers because they lose themselves in their mobile phones.

Poor academic performance: Smartphone use can affect students’ ability to pay attention while studying. Their memory suffers, and their minds suffer from dullness and lethargy.

Sleep loss: The radiation emitted from smartphones disturbs natural sleep patterns and causes sleeplessness. The blue light exposure keeps the brain awake and alert all night.

Accidents: Accidents due to smartphone usage happen mainly because students ignore what is happening around them due to constantly looking at their phones.

Bad posture: Staring at the screen of a smartphone all day with head bent and shoulders drooped often leads to bad posture, neck ache, back ache and tendonitis.

Negative aspects of the Internet: There is so much content on the Internet. Students may struggle to differentiate between fact and fiction. The pull of the virtual world is so strong.

Cyberbullying: Excessive engagement with social media and texting can lead to cyberbullying. Because they are not face-to-face with the people they are interacting with, students can fall into abusive behaviour much more easily. Students may suffer from anxiety and depression, as well as low self-esteem due to psychological bullying.

Sources:

https://socalmentalhealth.com/smartphone-addiction-self-test/

https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjdzx5/smartphone-addiction-affects-your-brain-in-the-same-way-as-drug-addiction-study-finds

https://bangalore.globalindianschool.org/blog-details/harmful-effects-of-mobile-phones-on-students