There is hardly any doubt that the smartphone can no longer be ignored in our daily lives. Questions that have preoccupied us, and researchers, for years are ‘How (un)healthy is a smartphone, especially also for young people?’ and ‘Can you become addicted to it?’ Well, the latter question has been partly answered by a new study. At least, research has shown that young people who are forced to use their smartphones less intensively show brain activitities similar to addiction withdrawal symptoms after three days.
A group of 25 young adults aged between 18 and 30 participated in the smartphone study. They were instructed to minimise their smartphone use for three days (72 hours). No more staring at the smartphone screen from dawn to dusk, but using the device only for strictly necessary tasks, such as work and communication with family or colleagues.
Brain scan shows withdrawal symptoms
Prior to the study, each participant was given a brain scan, functional MRI. Participants were also screened for the severity of physical, psychological and social problems associated with smartphone use and computer gaming, and checked for any pre-existing mental health conditions.
After the three days, a new fMRI brain scan was taken. The two scans were then compared to determine whether they showed effects of the ‘forced’ limited smartphone use. What turned out, the scans showed that restricting smartphones led to changes in brain activity in areas associated with dopamine and serotonin - neurotransmitters that regulate mood, emotions and also addiction.
In other words, limiting smartphone use is in some ways similar to kicking off addictive substances or cravings. This was noticeable both in participants who overused their smartphones (excessive smartphone useage, or ESU) and those with moderate, or normal smartphone use.
Smartphone addiction?
The term smartphone addiction is increasingly popping up in psychological tests. However, experts do not yet agree on it. The debate in this regard is that the term could misrepresent the complex emotional, mental and social aspects associated with excessive smartphone use. Yet excessive smartphone use (ESU) has also received increasing attention within neuroscience because of its association with negative physical and mental health effects and links to addictive behaviour.
Adding to this, more and more countries are considering restricting social media use for young children in particular. Besides spending hours, in extreme cases even deep into the night, peering at their smartphone screens, young children and young adults are also much more sensitive to everything they are presented with through social media channels, influencers and companies.
Smartphone is here to stay
Even in healthcare, the smartphone has already become all but indispensable. Whether accessing medical data via a patient portal app or filling in questionnaires and communicating with doctors. For these tasks, the smartphone is sometimes much more convenient and faster to use than an ‘old-fashioned’ computer. A development that is generally welcomed, but studies like this one show that it is good to think about any negative consequences.
The smartphone is mostly seen as a tool that helps relieve the workload, and administration burden, but of course it will never be the intention that other problems arise as a result.
