If you’re struggling to stay focussed, struggle with reading and reached for your phone the moment you woke up this morning, you may need to check these signs of tech addiction.
A new study examining the technology use of 2,000 people saw more than 48 percent state that their concentration and attention spans have dwindled rapidly in recent years.
Four in ten people describe themselves as someone who is ‘easily distracted’ and there are indications that this is growing due to high levels of technology use and the desire to regularly check our phones.
Signs of shorter attention levels ranged from struggling to watch whole films or TV shows without touching their phone to more than half stating they can’t read a book for as long as they could without the need to look at a device.
The research was conducted by market researchers, OnePoll, and commissioned by parental control app, OurPact. Results showed that one in four Americans (28 percent) claim to be addicted to their phones.
In fact, 36 percent say they get accused of not paying attention by friends, family, and colleagues because they’re on their phone too much.
The research prompted clinical psychologist, Dr. Lisa Strohman, founder and director of the Technology Wellness Center to offer these five key signs to help recognize tech addiction:
- Your cell phone is the first thing you reach for in the morning
- You feel anxious if you can't find your cell
- You plan vacations based on Wi-Fi access
- You lose track of time while browsing online
- Friends or acquaintances seem less important than your social media contacts
The signs may be helpful pointers for the three-quarters of millennials who say they wouldn’t be able to successfully get through their day without their smartphone, according to OurPact’s study.
And a similar number (72 percent) of young Americans are dependent on their phones - spending on average a third of their day purely on their phones twice as much time as older generations.
Factoring the recommended eight hours of sleep every day, millennials typically spend 35 percent of their day on their phone - a total of five hours and 39 minutes every day.
This struggle to control technology consumption is passed on - six in ten parents said they struggle to ensure their child doesn't become too reliant on screens.
While a further 34 percent of parents revealed their children spend five hours or more of the day on their devices.
OurPact is aiming to help parents limit their children’s screen time and even allows for the blocking of internet access or app usage.
Jim Magner, President & COO for OurPact states: "While we all benefit from advances in technology, parents all over America have express their concerns that their children may become too dependent on devices.
"The survey results show many parents admit to struggling to limit their children’s screen time.”
We understand given the busy lives parents lead along with the number of devices in the average household, it is very difficult to monitor how much time children spend using devices.”
“That’s why we created an application for parents to easily monitor their children's screen time, and even create schedules to ensure device access is blocked after a certain time.”
In addition to the use of the OurPact app in monitoring screen time, Dr Strohman offers these 5 lifestyle tips to help families get a better balance between time on and offline:
- Pick one day a week and unplug: 'Tech free Tuesday'
- Chose events like meals, sporting events etc. and keep your phone off
- Make a schedule to check your phone - 1x an hour, 3x a day and stick to it
- Log your use on an average day and track the screen time you have
- Keep the cell out of the bedroom. Use an alarm clock to replace the phone alarm
FURTHER INFORMATION ON CHILDREN’S EARLY EXPOSURE TO TECHNOLOGY:
Research indicates that the average age of a child getting their first smart phone is now 10, but the age they begin using smartphones, tablets and other technologies is significantly younger. Research done at University of Iowa revealed that by age two, 90 percent of children have a moderate to advanced ability to use a tablet. Most parents admit that they have allowed children to access devices under the age of one as “a last resort”.
We now know that the impact of early technology use and exposure impacts students entering school in ways that undermine learning, including:
- Impulse control and self-regulation
- Distracted attention, difficulties concentrating
- Motor and optical sensory development
- Decreased development in communication, social skills, empathy
- Creativity and imagination declines
- Increased rates of anxiety, depression, attachment disorder, attention deficit disorder, psychosis, and problematic behaviors
Preparing students that are growing up in a digital world presents the unique new challenge of teaching them to understand and utilize the advantages of technology, while making sure we are protecting and preventing the dangers that can undermine their safety and long term success.
***This two double-opt-in survey were conducted online within the U.S. by OnePoll a market research company and corporate member of ESOMAR and adheres to the MRS code of conduct. This survey of 2000 US adults who own a smartphone/ smart TV / computer / tablet / iPad / eReader was conducted between November 21, 2016 and November 29, 2016 on behalf of OurPact. This online survey is not based on a probability sample, and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For more information about OnePoll’s research in the media and complete survey methodology, navigate to their portfolio here: http://www.onepoll.com/in-the-media/
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