What is excessive use of phone called?

In today’s technology-driven world, the use of smartphones has become ubiquitous. For many people, being constantly connected via their smartphone is simply a normal part of daily life. However, for some individuals, excessive smartphone use can negatively impact their productivity, mental health, relationships, and overall wellbeing. This type of problematic overuse of phones has been termed “phone addiction,” “compulsive phone use,” or “smartphone dependence.”

Definition

There is no universally agreed upon definition of phone addiction or smartphone dependence. Some key characteristics of this excessive phone use include:

Compulsively checking and using the phone throughout the day

Strong urges to constantly use the phone
Feelings of anxiety or restlessness when unable to use the phone
Loss of control over phone usage habits

Spending excessive amounts of time using the phone in ways that are not necessary or productive
Continued overuse of the phone despite negative impacts on daily life and relationships

Essentially, phone addiction involves a behavioral pattern of excessive smartphone use that interferes with normal functioning. Some experts conceptualize it as a type of technological or digital addiction, likening it to internet addiction disorder. The habitual, uncontrolled phone use takes priority at the expense of other aspects of life.

Prevalence

Studies looking at the prevalence of problematic phone use have found varying rates depending on the age group and how phone addiction is defined and measured:

Among U.S. college students, anywhere from 10% to 26% may exhibit signs of phone dependence.
In Chinese adolescents, the estimated rate of smartphone addiction ranges from around 10% to 26%.

A large study of over 42,000 adolescents in Europe found that 13.5% had a problematic mobile phone dependency.
Estimates for the prevalence in the general population range from less than 5% to over 20% in some countries.

While the exact numbers differ between studies, it is clear that excessive smartphone use is a growing issue affecting a subset of individuals across various countries and age groups.

Signs and Symptoms

How can you tell if someone is struggling with excessive smartphone use? Some common signs and symptoms of phone addiction include:

Preoccupation with the phone – Constantly checking the phone, thinking about the phone when not using it, and craving the next opportunity to use it.
Loss of control – Unsuccessful attempts to cut back on phone use; usage patterns continue to escalate.

Withdrawal – Feelings of anxiety, irritability, depression, or restlessness when unable to use the phone.
Tolerance – Needing to increase phone use to obtain the same effect or level of satisfaction.
Negative impacts – Excessive phone use interferes with work, school, relationships, hobbies, or health.

Deception – Lying to conceal the amount of time spent on the phone.

Those with phone addiction may spend inordinate amounts of time gaming, texting, scrolling social media, watching videos, or surfing the web on their device. Even when the phone use serves no clear purpose, they still feel compelled to keep using it.

Causes and Risk Factors

Research points to a number of factors that can raise someone’s risk of developing problematic phone use habits:

Mental health conditions – Depression, anxiety, ADHD, and other mental health disorders are linked to increased vulnerability to phone addiction.
Personality traits – Impulsivity, introversion, neuroticism, and loneliness are associated with smartphone dependence.
Early exposure – Getting a smartphone at an early age may increase susceptibility, especially during childhood and adolescence when self-regulation skills are still developing.

Social anxiety – Relying on smartphones for social interaction may heighten the risk of compulsive use and addiction.
Internet addiction – Excessive internet use and computer gaming addiction are correlated with, and can contribute to, phone dependence.

Smartphone design features like infinite scrolling, notifications, rewards (likes), and instant access to entertainment content can also make people vulnerable to developing behavioral addictions like phone overuse.

Effects of Excessive Phone Use

For those struggling with smartphone dependence, the compulsive overuse has been linked to a wide array of detrimental effects on mental and physical health, daily functioning, and work and relationships:

Distraction and reduced productivity – Constant phone interruptions make it hard to stay focused or complete tasks.
Sleep disorders – Screen time before bed impairs sleep quality; checking devices at night leads to loss of sleep.

Digital eye strain – Overuse of phones can contribute to eyestrain, headaches, and dry eyes.
Neck and back pain – Slouching over phones for extended periods can lead to poor posture and pain.
Anxiety and depression – Excessive phone use is linked to increased anxiety, loneliness, and depression.

Nomophobia – Fear of being without one’s phone and disconnected from the digital world.
Relationships problems – Phone overuse can negatively impact relationships with family and friends.

Younger users who have grown up with smartphones may be especially vulnerable to the impacts of excessive phone use on attention, cognition, social skills, emotional development, and school performance.

Treatment

For those exhibiting signs of phone addiction, certain treatment strategies and interventions may help regain control and reduce harmful phone overuse:

Seeking therapy and counseling, especially cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques tailored to phone addiction such as identifying triggers, modifying thoughts, goal setting, etc.
Using apps or software that monitor and restrict phone usage to encourage responsible habits.

Turning off notifications so they aren’t constantly triggered to check the phone.
Deleting apps that tend to lead to compulsive overuse like social media or games.
Leaving the phone in another room and scheduling tech-free times.

Finding new hobbies and activities to reduce idle time spent scrolling phones.
Seeking social support from friends and family to reduce isolation that fuels overuse.

Treatment should address underlying issues like depression and anxiety that may be contributing factors. Support groups can also provide community and accountability for making behavior changes related to technology use.

Prevention

For parents and others wanting to avoid excessive phone use from the outset, research points to several prevention strategies:

Delay getting a child their first phone as long as reasonably possible.
Set clear limits and rules on phone usage time from the start.

Avoid using phones as the default to calm or entertain children.
Set device curfews, such as no phones at the dinner table or past a set time at night.
Be a good role model by limiting your own phone use around your kids.

Encourage phone-free spaces, activities, and interactions.
Help kids build skills like self-regulation and focus through media-free play and hobbies.
Monitor child phone use with tools like parental controls when needed.

Though challenging in a highly digital world, prioritizing real-life experiences and interactions throughout childhood can help prevent problematic smartphone dependency from developing.

Conclusion

Excessive smartphone use that becomes difficult to control, known as “phone addiction” or “smartphone dependence,” is an increasingly prevalent issue. With around 10-30% of certain populations demonstrating problematic phone overuse, it is impacting productivity, mental health, sleep, relationships, and more. While research is still evolving on this 21st century phenomenon, targeted behavioral and psychological treatments show promise in helping reset unhealthy phone habits. With vigilance and modeling of balanced technology use, parents and educators also have an opportunity to prevent compulsive phone use from taking root early in a child’s development.