Technology addiction in adolescents

Abstract

Currently, technologies like -mobile, tablets, internets are frequently used by people to meet day to day needs. Technologies have made our living easier and now, one cannot imagine life without technologies. Mobile phones and internet help in facilitating communication among people. Social networking through mobile phones and internet are common in today’s world, young population being the most commonly affected ones. Adolescents use different types of gadgets like cell phone, tablets, laptops, I-pads etc. Some use it for just mere communication. Some use it for entertainment (watching movies, listening music, playing online games), shopping, browsing educational materials etc., other than communication. Use of technology is essential to make the tasks of life easier; however it’s abnormal, excessive, unnecessary use leads to addiction and makes life more difficult. Though there is no standard definition for “Technology addiction”, the attempt of Shaw & Black (2008) to define “Internet addiction” as –“an excessive or poorly controlled pre-occupations, urges or behaviors relatedto use of internet and computers, that is significantly impairing and distressing” also valid for any other technologies like –mobile or pager etc. Another way of defining technology addiction is – a habitual and compulsive way of indulgence with technology deviating from meeting the life’s different issues.