Get help in today's digital world

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It's Not You, It's Me

The main problem is in the way we are using our devices. As you can see people are using them in an addictive manner. Scrolling hours on end before going to sleep, which then interrupts sleep quality, only to wake up in the morning and grab their phone to scroll again. It’s the same vicious cycle and it’s hard to break. When you don't get quality sleep, it affects the way you store and process information from your day. For example, if you’re learning a language and studying hard everyday, your memory is not going to perform at its peak ability if you don’t get enough sleep.

How else does this excessive amount of screen time affect our brains? This article explains that increased use can even contribute to the risk of neural degeneration. It also reports on findings from a study that discovered cellular overuse can lead to thinning of the cerebral cortex whose function is for processing memory and other cognitive functions. The author explains that the human brain is constantly building neural connections, especially when it’s still growing. Phone use on a developing brain gives poor stimulation to the brain.

here is a great video to watch to broaden your perspective on cell phone addiction:

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The Social Aspect

Let’s go through some of the effects of cell phone addiction. One that is most concerning to me is interpersonal communication and relationships. How is it impacting us and the way we interact with people? Firstly, we see that the quality of conversation is significantly worse when phones are present.

Why do we reach for phones if they hurt our interactions?

It’s because it gives us options like:

we will never have to be alone 

we will never be bored 

that we can put our attention wherever we want it to be 

that we can multitask

Our phones give us the ability to choose what we pay attention to, and if there is a moment where we experience boredom in the conversation, we can quickly turn to our device to provide the stimulation we need. This need for constant stimulation is unhealthy and is not good for your brain in the way that your brain actually needs time to refresh, and by being bored, you help it do exactly that.  People are allocating most of their time to use the internet, consequently decreasing socialization time in the presence of other people. In this study, it explains that a dependence on technology can hinder personal interactions, impacting your ability to communicate as a regular human being.

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Are You Attached to Your Phone?

Something to be conscious of is your dependency on your phone, which most would call, addiction. We see this addiction with the apps we use and how they are specifically designed to keep people engaged. From the layout to the algorithm, it is all meticulously designed to keep you scrolling and increase your interest. What can be classified as addiction? Anything that acts as a stimulant. In terms of smartphone addiction, it is not any different; when a device is used, the brain is constantly being stimulated. Just like any other addiction, it provides “frequent and small dopamine hits”. 

What does smartphone addiction look like? It can look something like:

when a person uses his/her cell phone most of the time, unable to cut back on cell phone usage 

using cell phones as a solution to boredom

feeling anxiety or depression when your phone is out of your range

losing your relationships

Technological addiction has both physical and psychological effects. These effects consist of: sleep deficit, anxiety, stress, & depression which have a clear association with constant internet use and relation to phone use as well. If you relate to some of these, it might be a good idea to reflect on your phone habits and consider setting healthy boundaries.

do you struggle with a smartphone addiction?

Yes

No

Voting ended onNov 9, 2025

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It’s Not All Bad

Tech helps. It connects us. It makes life easier. It cannot be denied that it has been immensely beneficial to individuals and advancing society. 

This includes: 

increased connectivity 

virtual communities 

access to information

and improved communication

Through the years, technology has given people the ability to live more efficiently and comfortably. Due to the rise of new technology people’s lives have changed drastically. It is reported that over 4.88 billion people around the world use smartphones, that being 60.42% of the population. This enables us to maintain connections and stay up to date on everything. Although this rise in technology is accompanied by many benefits, there’s a line. Too much does damage.

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How much time are you dedicating to your phone?

Have you ever thought about how much of your life you spend staring at your phone? Twelve years. That’s not a typo. Yes you heard that correctly. In today’s age, the introduction of phones has traversed its way into almost every aspect of daily life becoming a tool many are reliant on. With the increased use of phones, which every member of modern society is encouraged to have, there have been setbacks associated with its use. To avoid the negative effects and social isolation as a result of phone use, we should be limiting our time spent on technological devices considering that the overuse of technology can affect social skills, mental health, and productivity. 

more on phone addiction here ↓