Are you or your teen A Smartphone Addict?

How long could you go without checking your Smartphone? How about your teen?

On any given day you will notice people so engrossed with their phones that they are missing the world around them. If you have teens, chances are you witness this phenomena on a daily basis. There might be times that leave you questioning if your teen is addicted to her Smartphone.

Alcoholism and drug addictions are often the first images to spring to mind when people think about addiction- not Smartphones. However, people are easily addicted to a variety of stimulants that go beyond illegal substances. Shedding light on teen Smartphone addictions will help address this serious issue facing our society.

What Is Smartphone Addiction?

Recently, there has been a lot of research regarding electronics and the impact they have on our brain activity. A lot of people view Smartphone addiction as something to joke about, but it is a problem that many people suffer from. Scientists also claim there may be a genetic variation that enables some people to be prone to these types of addictions.

Scientifically, Smartphone addiction is known as nomophobia. It essentially boils down to the fear of being without your phone. Smartphone addiction is often fueled by “Internet Use Disorder” or “IUD”. The American Psychiatric Association claim that a person suffering from “IUD will experience ‘preoccupation’ with the internet” and suffer from withdrawal if the Internet is removed. Smartphones allow continuous mobile access to the Internet, which leads to cementing Internet addiction in people.

People with IUD have measurable changes in their brains. The connections between the cells and regions that “control attention, executive control, and emotion processing” are impacted. These changes mirror what happens in the brain connections of people who are addicted to chemical substances like cocaine.

Other studies have measured changes in how “the brain’s dopamine system operates”. Dopamine is a product of our body that is responsible for “allowing us to experience pleasure and reward”. Researchers are starting to notice a correlation between people who suffer from Internet disorders. The addicts may have less dopamine receptors in parts of their brain or their dopamine functions might be compromised.

Adults and teens alike enjoy their cell phones, creating an epidemic of distracted friends and families. Teens rely on their devices for a majority of their communications and updates from friends. This generation has never known a world without a cell phone.

They embrace their phones to check weather forecasts, news, bank accounts, concert schedules, homework assignments, and more by using social media or Internet apps with their Smartphones. Your teen may spend countless hours texting or scrolling, but that doesn’t necessarily mean your teen is a Smartphone addict.

According to the Pew’s Internet Research Project over 90% of Americans own a cell phone with a whopping 58% owning Smartphones. If those numbers aren’t startling, consider that the Pew research shows:

• “67% of cell owners check their phone for messages, alerts, or calls — even when they don’t notice the phone ringing or vibrating.”  
• “44% of cell owners have slept with their phone next to their bed because they wanted to make sure they didn’t miss any calls, text messages, or other updates during the night.”
• “29% of cell owners describe their cell phone as ‘something they can’t imagine living without’.”

“Cell-phones have become inextricably woven into our daily lives — an almost invisible driver of modern life,” James Roberts, a professor at Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business, stated about his study of 164 college students and their cell phone relationships.

He went on to say, “It is incumbent upon researchers to identify the all-important ‘tipping point’ where cell-phone use crosses the line from a helpful tool to one that enslaves both users and society alike.”

Warning Signs Your Teen Has A Problem

“Computer technologies can be addictive, because they’re “psychoactive.” That is, they alter mood and often trigger enjoyable feelings,” noted David Greenfield, psychologist and author of Virtual Addiction: Help for Netheads, Cyber Freaks, and Those Who Love Them.

Smartphones offer the capabilities to fuel enjoyable feelings by rewarding us with constant updates anytime or anyplace. If a teen is truly suffering from Smartphone addiction, similar to other addictions, they will begin to build up tolerances to the fast paced texts and apps on their Smartphones.

Anxiety, restless nights, and focusing on getting the next “fix” are common symptoms of addiction. An addicted teen will crave more Smartphone interactions to achieve the same thrill or “high”. A few behaviors can often signal when a teen’s Smartphone fascination has bridged from recreational use to addicted status.

Listed below are warning signs to watch for if you suspect your teen is a Smartphone addict:

• uncomfortable withdrawal when they are not allowed to use their Smartphone
• weight loss
• insomnia
• anxiety
• feelings of “phantom vibrations”
• isolation from friends and family

In our digital age, it is almost impossible to avoid using the Internet or apps on a Smartphone. Many people compare Smartphone addiction to food addiction, because people need to eat food to survive and many people need technology to function in the modern world. Many classrooms, jobs, utility companies, and social groups rely on technology and Internet access. Technology surrounds us.

It is hard to break the cycle of addiction, when you need the stimulant to survive. If your teen exhibits atypical behaviors and warning signs that they are a Smartphone addict, you will need to explore solutions to help loosen technology’s grip on your teen.

Many recovering addicts and professionals will admit that the first step in dealing with a problem is to admit you are addicted. Now that a problem has been defined, you can seek ways to manage the addiction. Find techniques that can help reduce a teen’s vulnerability to the rapid onslaught for the hyper connectivity Smartphones offer.

Here are a few suggestions to help your teen Smartphone addict:

• Create “no phone” zones. Deposit phones by the door or charging station to limit phone use while in the home. You may consider allowing phones in common areas, but forbid phones in bedrooms, bathrooms, or other private areas.
• Reclaim family dinners. Encourage everyone to silence their phones during meal times. Talk with each other and enjoy the family camaraderie over dinner. Small breaks from cell phones can help curb addictions.
• Designate certain periods of the day to access social media or text. If your teen is a Smartphone addict, he may struggle limiting his usage. Enforce a house rule that allows access during certain times. An example is allowing your teen to use his Smartphone during the hours of 4-7 or shutting down at 9 every night.
• Ban phones while driving or walking. Safety first.
• Monitor a teen’s cell phone activity.  Be upfront and tell your teen that you will bemonitoring his usage and holding him accountable for his time online.
• Seek out Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Addictions are hard to beat, especially when the stimulant surrounds a person on a daily basis. Professional counselors and therapists can support addicts overcome temptations without creating a family tension.

Addictions Are No Laughing Matter

The next time a ringtone alerts you to an incoming message, consider the amount of time you spend on your phone everyday. You are modeling behavior that your teen will duplicate or notice. Smartphone addictions may appear trivial and superficial, but a teen Smartphone addict can suffer serious consequences if the addiction is not addressed.

When Should I Buy My Child A Smartphone?

February 23, 2015 by Amy Williams Leave a Comment

The majority of children born today will have access to mobile smart devices early on in their lives. Parents are constantly questioning how young is too young? When should I buy my child a smartphone or tablet? With digital devices being a relatively new introduction into our day-to-day lives, it’s hard to tell how they will affect our children’s development in the long-term. But studies are already underway, and experts have drawn some conclusions to help parents make these tough decisions.

Though each child will experience technology in a different way, this infographic “When Should I Buy My Child A Smartphone (Or Tablet)?” compiles these general guidelines to help parents get a better sense of when when their child is most likely to succeed and most likely to be hindered by exposure to different types of media and devices.

When do you think you’ll buy your child their first device? How soon is too soon to teach your child responsible smartphone behavior? Read more to find out!

Smart Phone Addiction a growing problem for teens

Guest Blog By: Amy Williams

Many people envision the stereotypical substance abuse, gambling, or obsessive compulsive disorders. People tend to pigeonhole dependencies into extreme categories and often overlook the very real addiction that can be caused by Smartphones. 

Addictions can be debilitating and wreak havoc on a person’s family and professional life. Something as simple as texting or checking a game can quickly become a real problem if it interferes with how a person functions in their daily activities. The stark reality is that people can become addicted to a Smartphone.

The Signs of Smartphone Addiction

In this day and age, it is hard not to rely on technology and all the conveniences it offers. Smartphones have simplified our lives, but they have nurtured our dependency on vibrations, soft glows, and instant messages. There is even a name describing this phenomena, nomophobia.

This raises the question, “Is it possible to be addicted to a Smartphone?”

The answer is yes. Smartphone addictions fall under the category of behavioral addictions. You can find gambling, eating, shopping, and many more compulsive addictions in this category. The American Society of Addiction Medicine notes that behavioral addictions can produce similar feelings to drug addictions. These emotions can take on the role of producing highs, tolerance, and withdrawal.

If you feel that you know someone or that you might be suffering from a Smartphone addiction, here are a few questions to answer:

- Do they find it hard to go a few minutes without looking at their phone?
Have they have perfected hiding their phone under tables and in their pockets to sneak in a text?

- Do they seem anxious or overwhelmed with worry when they aren’t near their Smartphone?

- Will they grab for their phone the minute they wake up and it’s the last thing they see before falling asleep?

Smartphone addiction affects many people from all across the globe. Over 1.8 billion people own Smartphones and one study found the average owner checks their screen 150 times a day. Considering those numbers, it shouldn’t come as a surprise when 44% of people admit feeling anxious when they can’t access their phone.

Hanging Up: Smartphone Interventions

Thankfully, we aren’t left to our own devises as we jones for one more peek at Social Media, just a little more data, or a frantic search to hijack a wi-fi signal. Scientists have been compiling data and formulating some suggestions to help modern families avoid the pitfalls of Smartphone addiction.

Listed below are a few techniques to help lessen the lure of a phone:

Set aside time once a day that they can just use their Smartphone. Browse Social Media, message friends, or snap a few photos. Limiting interactions to this special hour allows addicts to reclaim the rest of her day for other activities.
Create “no phone zones”. Designate certain areas of the house (bedrooms, bathrooms, and the dinner table) off limits to technology and phones.
Avoid using phones before bed or storing your phone by the bed. The light interrupts the natural rhythms of sleep and ringtones can interfere with a good night’s rest.

Dialing Back Control

A lot of people might make an offhand comment about someone, usually teens or young adults, being addicted to their Smartphones. These phrases and remarks might be laughed at or stated for a sense of amusement. However, addiction can be a very scary term and is not something to be joked about.

Our phones reward us with information at the tap of a finger and allow us to communicate on a grand scale. However, by dialing back on Smartphone usage, people can reclaim valuable freedom and personal interactions. By acknowledging the real threat of addiction, it is possible to avoid the consequences of overusing your phone.

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and Finally Remember:

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."
- Matthew 7:7-8