The place of technology in our lives is gradually growing and becoming an indispensable part of our daily lives. However, this may also cause individuals to become addicted to technological tools and applications. Technology addiction is a condition that negatively affects people’s lives and relationships, and awareness needs to be raised.

You can find the answers to your questions such as what is technology addiction , what are its harms and what can be done to get rid of technology addiction in the article we have prepared for you.

What is Technology Addiction?

Technology addiction is a situation that occurs as a result of people’s increasing need for technological tools and applications. It is defined by the person using technological tools and applications excessively, spending his time with these tools and making them a part of his life. The use of technology here can affect people’s daily lives and relationships and have many negative consequences if the person loses control. As a result, it may cause the person to experience difficulties in areas such as social, family and business life.

The causes of technology addiction contain a lot of information to solve this problem. The underlying problems of addiction should be examined and appropriate psychiatric treatment should be applied.

Types of Technology Addiction

Technology addiction can occur on different technological tools and applications and can appear in various forms such as:

Social Media Addiction

Social media addiction is when people constantly use social media platforms and these environments become an indispensable part of their lives. It arises from the need to constantly check, update and respond to social media platforms.

This addiction can reduce people’s interest in other areas of their lives and lead to emotional and social problems over time. Social media addiction is a result of people’s need to constantly communicate with friends and family, stay updated, or seek emotional satisfaction through the technological tools they depend on.

Phone Addiction

Phone addiction can be defined as the need to constantly hold a mobile phone, control it, and use it at inappropriate times. It is frequently used for communicating on the phone, monitoring, having fun, gaming, and spending time on social media. However, when the person exaggerates this situation and cannot concentrate on his/her work and responsibilities due to the phone, addiction occurs.

Game Addiction

Gaming addiction is when people constantly play video games, online and mobile games and exaggerate the importance of these games in their lives. Although it is more common in children, it can also be seen in adults. This addiction can be defined by the need to constantly play games or check them regularly and the feeling of emptiness that occurs when away from gaming.

Game addiction and too much preoccupation with games can lead to physical as well as emotional and social problems. Therefore, the appropriate solution and treatment should be applied to the individual.

Internet addiction

Internet addiction is a situation where a person cannot control his/her internet use and feels the need to use the internet constantly. It causes symptoms such as an excessive desire to use the Internet, not being aware of the time spent online, and feeling irritable when deprived. Awareness and treatment process are important in this situation, which negatively affects social and family life.

These addictions often affect people’s social and work lives, and can also lead to physical and mental health problems.

What are the Causes of Technology Addiction?

Technology addiction is a condition that varies from person to person and whose causes depend mostly on personal predispositions. As with every addiction, it is necessary to focus on the underlying causes of psychiatric disorders . In addition, the process leading to addiction is oriented in line with their interests and needs in technological fields.

Technological tools help fill the deficiencies in people’s social lives. Therefore, it can cause addiction. Causes of technology addiction may include:

• Using technological tools  to reduce or relieve stress
• A person turns to technological devices and online platforms to escape from his problems.
• The emergence of addiction tendencies in a person in technological areas
• People who have communication problems in daily life turn to online environments
• Disorders such as shy, recessive character and social phobialead the person to online environments
• As a result of depression, the person begins to spend too much time on the internet
• Especially in game addiction, the influence of friends is quite high.
• Spending too much time on social media and paying too much attention to social media
• The desire for emotional satisfaction, staying current, or gaining social status through technological means.
• The ease of use and constant use of technological tools can cause addiction after a while.

Erdem Psychiatry, Ankara Psychiatry Center , on our blog page  What is Substance Abuse? Please review our content.

These reasons may cause technology addiction to emerge and people have difficulty separating from technological tools. As a result, technology addiction may be triggered and it becomes difficult for people to escape the control of technological tools.

What are the symptoms of technology addiction?

Symptoms of technology addiction may include:

• Feeling the need to constantly check technological devices or use them at inappropriate times.
• Lack of attentionor inattention experienced in daily life .
• Deterioration of social relationships or inability to establish relationships due to the way and duration of use of technological tools.
• Sleep disorders caused by disruption of daily life routine.
• Increased stress and generalized anxietywhen using technological tools .
• Preferring online environments to real social environments.
• Spreading false information about screen time.
• Compromising the responsibilities of daily life due to the use of technological tools.
• Not being able to stay away from the computer and the feeling of emptiness that occurs when you do.
• Physical symptoms that occur as a result of long periods spent in front of the screen, such as neck and shoulder pain.

Along with these symptoms, applying a technology addiction test and getting an expert opinion is important in the diagnosis and treatment process. Being aware of technology addiction is the first step to be taken in freeing people from the control of technological tools.

Problems Caused by Technology Addiction?

Although technological addiction may seem mild among addictive behaviors, it is an important problem that affects daily life and social relations. While these problems cause psychological problems, physical problems are also quite common.

The harms of technology addiction can be listed as follows:

Social relations

The constant use of technological tools can disrupt social relationships and weaken bonds between people.

Distractibility

Distraction or inattention while using technological tools can affect learning or work performance.

Sleep Quality

Use of technological devices at irregular intervals and at night can disrupt sleep quality and also cause sleep disorders.

Physical health

Technology addiction can cause physical health problems such as neck and shoulder pain.

Psychological Problems

Technological addiction can cause psychological problems such as stress, anxiety and depression .

Dependence

Constant use of technological tools can cause people to become addicted. It becomes difficult for people who develop technology addiction to separate from these tools. It causes problems in private and business life as well as in social life.

The use of technological tools should be aimed at obtaining optimal benefit from those tools. When the limit is exceeded, it affects daily life and brings with it many problems.

What are the Methods to Control Addiction?

Treatment of technology addiction is possible with personal and professional help. Methods to control technology addiction can be examined under the headings of therapy, encouragement, exercise, activity and social support:

Therapy

Therapy by psychiatrists or psychologists is used to identify and treat the causes and consequences of technology addiction. It is the most important and effective method to be used to solve this problem.

incentive

It is important for the treatment of technology addiction that people use technological tools regularly and in a limited way, organize their daily lives, and encourage them to do so.

Exercise

Physical activity and exercise, regular sports are very useful to get away from the use of technological devices. It is also good for the feeling of emptiness felt by addicts as it reduces stress.

Activities to Improve Mental and Physical Health

Designating screen-free times, going for nature walks, or activities such as meditation and yoga can help detach from the use of technological devices. It can improve mental and physical health.

Social support:

Getting support from friends and family members is important for treating technology addiction.

Treatment methods and types of therapies used are not the same for everyone who wants to get rid of technology addiction. Different treatments may be applied depending on individual circumstances or degree of severity. The important thing is to get professional help and set personal boundaries in treating technology addiction.

In Ankara Psychiatry  Clinic, psychotherapists who are competent in their field help the clients in solving their problems individually; Many therapy methods are applied such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Schema Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, EMDR, Hypnosis, Analytical Child Therapy, Sexual Therapies.

How to Prevent Technology Addiction in Children?

The most important way to prevent technology addiction in children is to establish a strong communication and emotional bond with them. It will be easier to guide a child who is sure that his family understands him and who thinks that he can express himself correctly, in terms of using technology. Therefore, the most important point is to strengthen the bond between the child and the family and to adequately inform them about the use of technology.

The following suggestions can be applied to prevent technology addiction for children:

• Ensuring that children use technological tools at certain times and for certain periods of time.
• Children’s technological devices at determined rates and times; Ensuring that he/she sets time periods for doing homework, playing games and extra activities.
• Children’s spending time with the family and doing activities other than physical activity and technological devices prevents technology addiction.
• Children’s ability to establish social relationships and spend enough time with their family and friends can prevent technology addiction.
• Parents should be aware of what their children view and which applications they use while using technological devices.
• Informing children about the benefits and harms of technology can help prevent technology addiction.
• The most important thing is to create awareness that will enable the child to self-control and determine their limits with technological devices and online environments.
• The family should review its own technology usage habits and demonstrate exemplary behavior for the child.
• It is very important for the future life of the child who shows symptoms of addictive behavior to receive expert support and necessary therapies.

The steps that can be taken to prevent technology addiction in children are not the same for every child. Parents can adapt these recommendations according to their child’s needs and personal circumstances, and seek expert help when necessary.

How to Prevent Technology Addiction in Adults?

Technology addiction also occurs in adults for reasons such as escaping from real life and inability to communicate socially. Addiction is a significant problem for an adult, affecting his/her life and responsibilities. He needs to be aware of his addiction and look for ways to prevent it.

The following suggestions can be applied to prevent technology addiction in adults:

• Limiting daily technological device use to certain hours and periods.
• Apart from physical activity and technological devices, doing activities such as reading books and walking.
• Meeting friends and making time for social life.
• Reducing the use of technological tools outside of work.
• Establishing social relationships and spending time with friends and family.
• Night use of technological devices disrupts sleep quality, so stop using technological devices before midnight.
• To protect yourself from technological addiction, take individual measures such as taking breaks.

There is a negative relationship between social cohesion and technology addiction . As communication increases in social life, the time spent on technological environments decreases. However, adults should choose the measures that are suitable for them and apply them according to their personal situation.

How to Prevent Technology Addiction in Adolescence?

Technology addiction, which is frequently encountered when an adolescent leaves childhood and distances himself from his family; It may occur especially in adolescents who are introverts and have self-confidence problems. Technology addiction in adolescents can be prevented with the attitude of the family, correct guidance and therapy methods .

The following suggestions can be applied to prevent technology addiction in adolescence:

• To inform adolescents about the harms of technology use and to discuss appropriate use issues.
• Encouraging physical activity and spending time outside of technological devices
• To support adolescents to establish social relationships and spend time with friends and family.
• To avoid technological use that will disrupt sleep patterns.
• To support people to develop self-control and take their own personal precautions regarding the use of technology.
• Ensuring that technology usage time is appropriately adjusted
• Strengthening emotional bonds with the adolescent will prevent him from spending long periods of time in technological environments.

Adolescents, like anyone showing signs of technology addiction , need to seek professional support. It is also very important to receive support from the family and to be a role model for the family during adolescence, which is a fragile period.

Technology addiction is a problem that arises as a result of people constantly using technological tools in their lives and tending to stick to these tools. Technology addiction can reduce people’s interest in other areas of their lives and lead to emotional, social and even physical problems over time. Therefore, people with technology addiction need treatment. The treatment process varies depending on the person’s needs and condition and is recommended to be carried out with expert support.

Technology addiction , which is a very important problem today , is gradually increasing awareness through information through official channels. In addition to technology addiction presentations for students in schools, there are also boards  with technology addiction slogans and posters about technology addiction .