There are about two billion smartphone users in the world, who check their devices on an average 85 times a day.Checking your smartphone repeatedly is normally assumed as being addicted, especially in the younger age groups.

Smartphone Addiction

While being glued to smartphones may look like addiction, for most people it is just a behavior pattern, a habit that can be broken.A set of people may be having a fixation with checking specific apps on the smartphone, like a gambling site or pornography.

Not Really an Addiction

Social media rewards, like the number of views, comments or likes, engage us deeper into the virtual world, providing a sense of enjoyment via the 'dopamine' hits on the brain's pleasure center.Social media occupies an average of 50% of the time spent each day with our smartphones.

The Pleasure Center

The World Health Organization defines addiction as physical and behavioral dependence on a substance.An addiction can create psychological harm and many social problems with family and friends

Addiction Defined

<ul><li>A smartphone is less of a real addiction and more of an obsessive behavior. </li><li>We get small 'dopamine' hits in our brains, every time we see a social media like or something that provides us with a reward.</li><li>We often use our smartphones as a weapon against boredom in public transport and boring tasks.</li></ul>

Obsessive Behaviour, Not Addiction

Smartphones may be on the verge of being an addiction for some people, but over time it will become less of a problem as the society will adjust to it, just like it did with computers.We need to address the compulsive usage of youngsters if their activities are potentially time-wasting or can cause psychological or other health issues in the long run.

On the Verge of Addiction

The term "addiction" is often bandied about when we think someone spends too much time on something we deem detrimental to their health and well-being. From checking our phones repetitively, to playing with specific apps and texting, the modern culprit is excessive smartphone use.

Addiction Defined

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