Although technology is a valuable tool, its widespread adoption has determined an increase in different types of behavioral addictions. These behaviors produce negative effects on mental and physical health, as well as interpersonal relationships. This article explores the nature of technology-based addiction, its mental health impact, and common digital compulsions, from online pornography to gambling.
Defining Technology Addiction
Technology addiction is a behavioral addiction characterized by an uncontrollable urge to engage in various online activities despite the consequences. Unlike mere excessive use, technology addiction is marked by:
- An overwhelming preoccupation with online activities.
- Multiple failed attempts to curb usage
- Difficulty in maintaining real-life responsibilities and relationships
Mental health impacts of excessive technology use
Excessive use of technology can lead to several mental health issues:
- Heightened anxiety: Depending on the precise condition, this stems from a multitude of factors, from social comparisons to the fear of missing out or excessive consumption of news.
- Depressive episodes: These episodes may be caused by the increasing isolation stemming from the worsening interpersonal relationships or cyberbullying. However, depressive episodes and low mood may also have physiological causes. Behavioral addiction determines poor sleep and blocks dopamine receptors in the brain, thus increasing symptoms of depression.
- Attention deficit: Short-form posts or videos, the possibility of scrolling to the next interesting post, or even the existence of hyperlinks promote distractibility.
- Stress: For people with a technology-based addiction disorder, online content creates strong emotions. Jumping from one pleasure or fear-inducing piece of content to another reinforces this compulsion, determining instant gratification. However, instant gratification is not available in real-life scenarios, which increases stress levels and reactivates the compulsion.
- Physical health issues: Interaction with technology is often a nonphysical activity. This issue adds to poor sleep and elevated stress levels, contributing to various medical conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, heart health.[1]
8 Types of technology-based addictions
Technology addictions produce a wide range of negative effects. However, each type of condition has its manifestation and symptoms. The section below reviews the most common compulsions, their warning signs, and side effects.
1. Online pornography addiction
Online pornography addiction entails excessive consumption of virtual sexual experiences coupled with an inability to stop use. The signs of porn addiction include:
- Engaging in online sexual activities for inordinate periods
- Intense sexual cravings that disrupt daily responsibilities
- An increasing need to consume pornography
- Inability to experience pleasurable sexual experiences with a real partner[2]
Online pornography addiction can lead to various negative consequences:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Sexual dysfunction
- Strained romantic relationships
- Financial issues
2. Compulsive news-seeking addiction
News-seeking addiction is a compulsive disorder wherein people feel the pressing need to find specific information on a particular subject. Individuals with this behavioral disorder feel the overpowering need to find the most recent updates, reports, or studies to alleviate their anxiety.[3]
Red flags include:
- Excessive and frantic news searching
- Interrupting their regular activities to find this information
- Increased anxiety when news is not available
- Loss of focus on everyday tasks[3]
People with news-seeking addiction may have strained relationships and poor workplace or school performance. Mental health outcomes vary from increased anxiety to feelings of overwhelm, stress, and depression. Decision paralysis is also common.
3. Browsing addiction
Individuals with browsing addiction (sometimes referred to as internet addiction) cannot control their excessive online browsing. Unlike compulsive news-seeking behavior, people with browsing addiction do not purposefully want to find relevant information. The signs of browsing addiction include:
- Aimless internet surfing to decrease boredom or as a coping mechanism
- Not remembering viewed content
- Spending inordinate amounts of time browsing
- Irritability when browsing is not allowed
Browsing addiction determines short attention spans and blocks dopamine receptors in the brain. As such, it may generate persistent low mood, difficulties maintaining focus, apathy, and strained relationships.
4. Online relationship addiction
Individuals grappling with relationship addiction experience an uncontrollable urge to build romantic or intimate connections through the Internet. Characteristic signs are:
- Spending unlimited amounts of time on online dating platforms, chat rooms, or messaging services
- Sacrificing sleep, work, or leisure activities to pursue their love interests
- Rapidly developing emotional attachments to people met online
- Unrealistic view of romance and romantic relationships
- Neglecting or undervaluing real-life interactions
- Significant disappointment or dissatisfaction with the evolution of online relationships, followed by the compulsive need to find a similar relationship
Online relationship addiction leads to strained personal relationships, social withdrawal, and loneliness. The results on mental health may include low self-worth, depression, and anxiety. If the person compulsively pursuing online relationships frequently sends gifts to their love interests, they may face severe financial issues.
5. Social media addiction
Social media addiction entails creating and consuming social media content compulsively. The first symptom of this addiction is spending inordinate amounts of time on social platforms. People with this disorder may also manifest:
- Severe withdrawal symptoms when social media is not available
- Lack of interest in offline, personal relationships or offline endeavors
- Disregard for their education or job
- Disregard for their safety to create engaging social media content[4]
Social media addiction triggers mental health issues, such as loneliness, low self-esteem, anxiety, and depressive episodes. In some cases, the condition may be linked to eating disorders and insomnia.[4]
6. Online shopping
The compulsive need to buy items from the internet bears the name of online shopping addiction. People with this compulsion focus on satisfying their behavior but may care little about the products they purchase.[5]
Online shopping addiction has the following tell-tale signs:
- Adrenaline and satisfaction from making online purchases
- Dissatisfaction when the option to shop online is not available
- Increased browsing of e-commerce stores or online marketplaces
- Compulsively buying unnecessary products
- Hiding their behavior and hoarding the purchased items
Online shopping addiction determines severe financial strain and distress, straining interpersonal relationships.
7. Gaming addiction
Gaming becomes an addiction when it is pursued regardless of its interpersonal, physical, or financial effects. People with gaming addiction:
- Have trouble focusing on other activities or tasks besides gaming
- Experience withdrawal symptoms when trying to reduce gaming, such as intense irritability, depressive episodes, and low appetite
- Require regular increases of time spent gaming to achieve the initial satisfaction
- Do not show interest in other activities
Gaming addiction may intensify preexisting mental health issues and cause sleep problems. Individuals may also exhibit personal hygiene issues, financial debt, and plummeting physical health.
8. Online gambling addiction
People with compulsive gambling cannot limit or stop their betting. Although this addiction caused financial distress, they believe continued gambling may be the way out of this situation.
The tell-tale signs are:
- Frantically gambling as a coping mechanism
- Financial issues
- Inability to perceive the extent of their financial problems
- An inexplicable belief that more gambling may help them recuperate losses
- Hiding this issue from their loved ones
- Severe withdrawal symptoms when they cannot gamble
This addiction may lead to severe debt, bankruptcy, broken relationships, and job loss. As a result, people with gambling addiction may develop a concurrent substance use disorder as a coping mechanism. Some individuals may get involved in illegal activities to repay their debts, repair relationships, and continue gambling.
Technology Addiction Treatment
The most common treatment for technology addiction is psychological therapy, specifically cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT gives individuals with behavioral addictions specialized tools to recognize their triggers, become more mindful of their reactions, and develop healthier coping mechanisms.
The treatment strategy may also include medication and detox for concurrent disorders, support groups, or inpatient rehabilitation. People in technology addiction treatment may also enroll in specific programs depending on their condition, such as financial courses to prevent shopping addiction.
