Debunking the 6 biggest myths about 'technology addiction'

Only about 3 percent of gamers develop problematic behaviours leading to bad grades. A vast majority of the problems are mild.

Kids who use smartphones aren’t all addicted, and having a smartphone won’t cause major interference in work or social relationships.

The addiction to games or gaming disorder has been classified as a disease, but it could only be a symptom of other mental health issues like chronic anxiety and depression.

The truth is that most cases are mild and easily cured.

If a person is depressed, chronically anxious, or having attention problems, he or she may be showing abnormal behaviour and symptoms, and one of those symptoms may be to use technology in a disproportionate way and be affected by it.

If such a person starts to sleep all day, one doesn’t blame the bed and think that it is a ‘bed addiction’. The mistake is that a symptom is being treated with the real problem being neglected.

Apart from using technology, many people indulge in a wide range of activities disproportionately, like exercise, eating, sex or shopping.

The activity isn’t the problem in these cases, but the person’ underlying mental health needs to be diagnosed.