In this article, I discussed How smartphone addiction ruins the mental and physical health of human beings and some tips for escaping from that habit.
Excess is never useful. Something designed for enjoyment usage can only become addictive if you start utilizing it relentlessly!
That is when it took place. According to studies, two out of every three smartphone users suffer from addiction.
Researchers warn that this habit is harmful to their physical and mental health and the situation is very serious.
Experts want to reduce the use of gadgets like phones and tablets as much as possible.
On the other hand, enthusiasts have started digital detox tours.
One can live for a minute without breathing air, but no one can live without a phone.
Moreover, you should have your phone in your hand while eating rice, studying, and sleeping.
On the other hand, the phone should work whether you are walking on the road or driving a car.
Some people think that he is doing both things at the same time, but do not realize the destruction that occurs.
In fact, many types of gadgets have become available to us before and after the phone.
However, more research has been done on a cell phones than on any other technology.
Everyone knows the advantages of smartphones.
But what is the damage, what is its impact on human behavior, and what kind of stress does the human brain experience due to prolonged phone use and its challenging devices?
The result of all those studies ultimately says the same thing. It is good to take a break from your phone now and ever!
Effects of Cell Phone Addiction
No matter their age, the average Indian smartphone user checks their phone 70 times every day.
That is three times an hour. Even if you watch for three minutes each time, that’s three and a half hours a day.
A survey called ‘Life Behind the Screens of Parents, Tweens and Teens‘ conducted by software company McAfee revealed a lot. That till now we don’t know how deeply we are addicted to our phones.
Indian children are 11 percent more likely than the global average to report having private conversations with strangers online.
While the global average of smartphone usage among children under the age of fifteen is 76 percent, in our country it is 83 percent.
The average global parent’s concern about cyberbullying and abuse is 57 percent, while the Indian average is 47 percent.
The children don’t know what are causes? Ignoring such serious problems can lead to consequences.
According to a study by Norton Life Lock, online addiction is increasing day by day.
The developments of Covid further increased it.
Two out of every three people claim to be addicted to the internet and worry about missing out if they are away from it for an extended period of time.
84 percent of those surveyed said they spend an average of four and a half hours online a day.
More than half of internet users access these services via phone.
That’s why they feel like the phone is attached to their hand and has become a part of their body.
If not, They assume physical disability.
Adults are more vulnerable
When the baby cries, the mother at work puts the pipe in her mouth.
If it is removed, they beat their feet and hands and cry loudly.
Researchers say that adults now have a smartphone and go crazy without them, They are unable to focus on anything.
Some watch TV for hours. Also, internet addicts spent hours on the computer.
But since we keep them in a certain place, no need to worry about them. The phone is not like that, we carry it wherever we go
Moreover, modern technology like social media platforms makes it more attractive with time.
That is why it cannot be abandoned. Even if nothing is happening, if you are a little angry, if you are lonely, it is becoming a habit to hang your head on the phone.
Many people think that spending too much time on the phone is not an addiction like alcohol or drugs. But studies say more.
Social Media Role in Mobile Phone Addiction
Social media is used by almost half of the world’s population. As well, ninety percent of young children are under that zone.
You can imagine how engaged they are on that platform. For example, Instagram alone has more than 50 crore stories uploaded.
Research is now turning the phone into a gift box.
Researchers from Harvard University found that using social media had a detrimental impact on the mind.
Because of this, relationships, self-confidence, studies, and overall feelings are negatively affected.
Social media influencers tend to underestimate themselves.
Moreover, this research has shown that there is a direct link between excessive use of social media and depression and anxiety.
Dopamine is a hormone that should be released systemically throughout the day but is instead released excessively throughout the day when looking at anything on the phone and going through a range of emotions.
This not only increases anxiety and depression but also leads to suicide.
Another study found that those who use social media a lot are three times more likely to develop depression than those who rarely use it.
It is known that changes occur in the brain of children who use their phones a lot and their memory is reduced.
Researchers say that people who are active on social media and monitor the reactions they receive are more dangerous than those who do not post.
They say that jealousy and resentment of not being able to be like others build up in the mind and lead to self-deprecation and anxiety.
Researchers warn that all these symptoms indirectly drain health.
Causes of using a cell phone while sleeping
After work, the computer is switched on, and after watching it, the TV is turned on.
When we get ready for bed, we turn off the lights. But the phone is operational 365 days a year.
When a mobile is not in their hand, The fear of missing it makes people addicted to it.
They get the illusion that the phone is ringing and receiving notifications even in their sleep.
That’s why they suddenly got up and looked at the phone.
Studies show that ten percent of teenagers look at their phones at least ten times a night, and 40 percent of adults wake up at least twice.
Those who look at social media before going to bed at night do not get a good night’s sleep.
It causes headaches, migraines, and vision problems.
The survey revealed that adults’ productivity in professional jobs drops by 13 percent if they don’t get enough rest or if their children fall behind in their studies because of their phones.
A study conducted by AIIMS researchers in August last year found that exercise significantly decreased as screen time increased.
The Digital Detox tour is a great treatment
Many people skip food and fast on special occasions like Ekadashi or a day of the week.
Experts want to do the same on smartphones. Here are some of their tips.
- ‘Log Off’ author Blake Snow’s family leaves all the gadgets at home and goes on vacation once a week.
Blake says it produces excellent results. Blake called it a ‘digital detox tour’ because we can learn a lot about ourselves, our children, and the nature around us.
Now many people are doing such tours. An international organization called ‘Digital Detox‘ organizes such tours and attracts people.
The whole family members must observe a ‘no device’ time of one hour daily.
At that time everyone should put away their phones and spend time chatting.
- Children and adults should follow the rule of not taking the phone near the dining table or in the bedroom.
- Those who want to lose time by engaging in social media can take the help of this app.
There are many apps available to help you get rid of phone addiction.
- Put the phone away. If on the opposite side, the screen will light up whenever the message comes, so the hand will automatically go to that side.
I tried to open something and looked at the wasted time.
- Choosing a package with fewer data and using it only for essentials and limiting social media accounts to one can help.
We are happy if someone appreciates our photo or words.
Moreover, we want to hear it again and again. That is a human weakness.
Based on that, we designed Facebook to capture users’ time and attention for as long as possible.’
This is the secret revealed by Facebook founder president Sean Parker while speaking at a meeting.
That is the purpose of all social media.
The phone bought with our money should be useful for us and not for those businessmen!
If you remember that don’t get addicted to phone usage!
The challenges behind cellphone addition
Each one should undertake the ‘Digital Detox Challenge’ themselves.
It is not a difficult task. First, calculate how much time you spend on your phone in a day.
The challenge before you is to bring any number within an hour. What to do with it?
Timing: Set aside a specific time in the morning or evening to check things like social media on your phone.
Be careful not to exceed that time. The phone should only be used for chatting the rest of the time.
Place: Move the phone away from certain places.
Do not take the phone to the dining table, office desk, kitchen, meeting hall, etc.
Then staying away from it for a few hours will automatically become a habit.
Alternative: Cut down on phone usage and pick up a hobby in your spare time.
You can read books. Also, Children in need can receive tuition.
The joy of that work will definitely make you forget the phone.
What Indian researchers saying about cellphone addiction
Four and a half hours a day.
The number of internet users in our country increased by more than 4.5 crores last year and the number of social media users increased by 8 crores.
Studies show that Indians spend an average of 282 minutes a day – more than four-and-a-half hours – on their phones, of which 7 minutes out of every ten minutes is occupied by social media.
A team of doctors at the National Health Program says that youth between the ages of 14-25 are more addicted to phones and social media.
The team, which started a de-addiction center in Allahabad and analyzed cases of behavioral disorders, found that some children spend 12 hours at a time on the phone and commit violent acts if adults force them to pick up the phone.
In addition, Bangalore opened the nation’s first smartphone addiction treatment facility eight years ago.
Later they started working in many cities like Delhi, Pune, and Amritsar.
Smartphone addiction statistics worldwide
First Philippines and Best Japan!
Last year, Filipinos ranked first in their nation, spending an average of 248 minutes a day on social media.
The next place is Brazil.
In the top ten countries like Nigeria, Colombia, and South Africa, people spend an average of three and a half to four hours on social media.
In contrast, Japanese people use social media for only 50 minutes a day.
South Korea is just behind with 73 minutes.
Countries such as the Netherlands, Austria, and Switzerland also spend less time on these media than the world average of 146 minutes.
Tips for stopping smartphone addiction
Experts have written several books on the use of smartphones to bring changes in people who are immersed in the virtual world and distanced from the real world.
Blake Snow discusses some important points in his book ‘Log Off: How to Get After a Breakup’.
Four, there are four things that every person should prioritize in life- family, health, work, and friends.
Nothing else should interfere with these relations. When phone use becomes addictive, these preferences are undermined.
Just Put aside your phone when spending time with family, running errands, or hanging out with friends.
No notifications or message alerts should be heard other than ringing when a call is received.
Busy, not great: Blake says explaining everything away with ‘sorry I’m so busy isn’t really helpful.
That condition arises because one does not know which work to prioritize and which to delay.
Meeting friends, taking the kids to the park, and helping the wife at home are things that some people don’t like.
They need commitment. Do it with one hundred percent heartfully.
It’s easy to avoid those tasks by getting on the phone and saying ‘I need to’.
But it must be realized that what human life needs and brings happiness is the real world and not the virtual one.
That’s courage: when to pick up the phone – if you want to call someone and talk if you want to know something.
But most of the time we open our phones to distract ourselves from the situations around us and avoid people.
No matter how close we are, we read and like their posts online from anywhere in America without talking to them.
Besides, it takes a lot of courage to keep a phone in a pocket or bag, Blake said.
Nowadays, living with people is a habit of not picking up the phone when there are four.
Don’t stress: break the day into three parts.
After eight hours of work and sleep, the remaining eight hours are spent on family responsibilities.
Apart from that, time should be devoted to personal goals and hobbies.
When all these activities get enough time, the mind becomes free from stress.
Able to think calmly. But in these three parts, the work is not done on time because the phone is cut off.
That situation increases stress on the mind.
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