Smartphone addiction is a growing problem is society, and impacts individuals all over the world. As smartphones are developing and growing, our addiction not only consumes our leisure time, but takes over every free minute of the day. Experts have researched smartphone addiction and determined that it isn’t only the users fault, as it’s a growing issue due to the fact that smartphone designers are rewarded for creating techniques that keep you glued to your screen (Yazin Akkawi). However, this reliance on smartphones creates negative externalities that cause concern. Negative effects are being discovered that correlate to smartphone addiction, causing for the demand of a solution to address the problem. As smartphone addiction is a prevalent issue in modern day society, experts have given their input on their opinions on the most effective way to break smartphone addiction.
Individuals have come up with various ways of breaking smartphone addiction, most of them consisting of multi-step processes. A 7 step process developed by Victor Espigares, attempts to create an effective method to cut back extreme amounts of smartphone usage. The steps in the process consist of: not carrying your phone everywhere, turning off notifications, using airplane mode, not sleeping near your phone, disconnecting the WiFi at a certain time at night, scheduling time to attend to things online, and scheduling time to attend to things offline. Applying all the methods can greatly impact an individual’s smartphone use, as it correlates to the causes of addiction.
As people get addicted to smartphones from constantly using them, not having your phone on you at all times can help reduce dependency on smartphones, and encourage people to complete everyday tasks without them. Turning off the WiFi at a certain time at night also encourages individuals to not spend their leisure time connected to the internet. People often spend much of their leisure time at night on screens, causing a lack of sleep and a bad habit of using technology every night. Countless hours of rest are often lost due to smartphone use at night. Keeping your smartphone out of the room where you sleep at night also decreases an individual’s dependency on the smartphone. I often notice with my own personal use that when I sleep with my phone at night, the last thing I do before I sleep is check my phone, and the first thing I do when I wake up is check my phone. This produces a bad habit and a feeling of dependency on the smartphone.
The idea of FOMO (fear of missing out) is an extremely common cause of smartphone addiction, as individuals are afraid that they will miss out on something important if they don’t constantly check their phone. The methods turning off your notifications and turning on airplane mode address this predicament. Turning off notifications for bothersome and unnecessary apps, such as social media can greatly reduce smartphone usage. Turning on airplane mode also allows you to concentrate on offline tasks more efficiently. There should be no fear in missing on important information, because if it’s vital information, it will get to you some other way.
As smartphones can be extremely useful if used wisely, time can be set aside for online use. Individuals can schedule times during the day where they’re allowed to check their phone, and respond to notifications. Using this method increases productivity and reduces reliance, as you respond during a certain time of the day rather than every time they appear. With the freed time from all the other methods, individuals can fill in their leisure time with offline activities. Practicing and incorporating offline activities into people’s everyday lives promotes an individual’s well-being, and helps people spiral out of smartphone addiction. While smartphone addiction is a common issue, it is solvable and can be addressed.
Sources:
https://www.victorespigares.com/7-ways-to-break-your-smartphone-addiction/
https://www.inc.com/yazin-akkawi/7-ways-to-curb-your-smartphone-addiction-right-now.html
Smartphone Addiction 
It’s a very knowledgeable and informative one! You gave specific solutions and detailed explanations to each of them. I love the last two part of the process: schedule time to attend to things online and offline. I think that is the most practical way to discard the dependency on cellphones. I agree with that since I always take notes on notebooks instead of on tablets or laptops. I think doing something offline will somehow less distracted than doing online. On the other hands, I used electronic device to check new and stock prices online, which are more convenient and efficient than on offline. The internet and cellphones bring great convenience and effectiveness to our lives. As you said, people should use them wisely.
LikeLike
Coming from my perspective, I believe that everything in this post is indeed true and relatable, the fact that smartphones have become part of our lives is the biggest concern of all. One thing that I do think is that smartphones have their ways of benefits, but then again addiction is a problem. Furthermore, breaking addiction is not easy as it sounds but taking baby steps will still lead them to reduce the constant usage of smartphones and as well as its negative effects on an individual. I most certainly agree to the fact that the fear of missing out is indeed an extreme common cause and I totally relate to that. As everything you see happen around the media you can’t help to know more, which causes you to be on a look out. Nevertheless, it is still important to break the addiction to lessen the problems and the negative influence of smartphones to not only to an individual but to also the whole society, and I thought the steps and suggestion of this post is helpful, I had experience trying those out!
LikeLike