Health Farm

-- Almost a quarter of young people are so dependent on their smartphones that their behaviour is consistent with addiction – study

Research published in BMC Psychiatry analysed 41 studies involving 42,000 young people in an investigation into “problematic smartphone usage”.

The study found 23% had behaviour that was consistent with an addiction – such as anxiety when unable to use their phone, an inability to moderate time spent using a phone, and using mobiles so much that it was detrimental to other activities.

Researchers warn that such addictions have “serious consequences” for mental health, including stress, depression, insomnia, and reduced achievement in school.

What’s more, having access to a constant flow of information has all but destroyed attention spans: a few years ago, a widely publicised study proved goldfish can focus longer than we can. This increase in ADD-like symptoms has been linked to the overuse of smartphones.

France seems to be ahead of the game: last year, lawmakers enforced a ban on smartphones in schools. And in 2017 they gave people the legal right to disconnect from work — no checking emails or taking calls — outside of working hours.

Help is at hand

Apple fans should use a new feature called Screen Time to track usage and sets parameters for certain apps. Install a website blocker app on your browser to block distracting sites.