Overview
Technological addiction, a phenomenon first identified by psychologist Ivan Goldberg in 1995, has become a pervasive issue in modern society, with an estimated 210 million people worldwide suffering from internet addiction, according to a 2019 study published in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. The average person checks their phone over 50 times per day, with 70% of adults experiencing symptoms of nomophobia, or fear of being without their mobile device. The tech industry, led by companies like Apple, Google, and Facebook, has been criticized for exploiting psychological vulnerabilities to keep users engaged, with some experts arguing that the design of digital products is intentionally addictive. As the World Health Organization (WHO) officially recognized gaming disorder as a mental health condition in 2018, the debate around technological addiction has sparked intense controversy, with some arguing that it is a legitimate medical condition, while others see it as a moral panic. With the rise of emerging technologies like AI, VR, and the Internet of Things (IoT), the potential for technological addiction to worsen is significant, and experts like Dr. Jean Twenge, author of 'iGen: Why Generation Z is Growing Up More Slowly Than Any Previous Generation', are sounding the alarm. As we move forward, it's essential to consider the long-term consequences of our digital habits and the role of tech companies in perpetuating or mitigating this issue.
Key Facts
- Year
- 2019
- Origin
- First identified by psychologist Ivan Goldberg in 1995, with significant research and debate emerging in the 2010s
- Category
- Psychology, Technology, Society
- Type
- Psychological Concept