In an age of digital revolution, with its remarkable innovations, an unparalleled level of connectivity has unfolded. However, as with any significant technological leap, it presents transformative breakthroughs and new challenges. The rising concern of smartphone addiction is prominent among these, particularly among adolescents. "Addictions among adolescents are not simply a result of heightened use of technology but of conditions mimicking the symptoms of conventional addictions, including withdrawal and dependency" (Wang).
It is a concern that goes beyond simply overdependence on devices. For many adolescents, smartphones have become central to their existence, with apps like social media and games taking priority over real-life interactions. As some studies suggest, this shift can result in deteriorating interpersonal skills (Griffiths). While the idea of smartphone addiction presents complex challenges, the most significant concern appears from the potential consequences they might have on the mental welfare of the youth.
Another critical aspect of smartphone addiction centers on the biochemical: the influence of dopamine. As adolescents navigate significant physical and neurological changes, the effects of dopamine, traditionally associated with pleasure and reward, are especially evident in adolescents (Griffiths 67; Silverman), and the design and function of many modern-day digital apps often inadvertently, or sometimes purposely, exploit these biological responses. With research highlighting the unique susceptibilities of adolescents to tech-related behaviors (Forbes), the industry may need to reexamine and recalibrate its design approaches.
Scholarly papers have correlated the overuse of smartphones with mental health irregularities, including feelings of depression, anxiety, and reduced self-worth (Boers and Ikeda). In an age that advocates using digital platforms as a means of connection, the irony of many young people instead feeling isolated and having low self-esteem requires thorough study. The research also addresses how behavioral tendencies and influences, such as sensation-seeking, a lack of mindfulness, and the undeniable sway of peer pressure, exacerbate adolescents’ difficulties associated with technology (Macït, Wang, and Yang).
The research problem this literature review seeks to address revolves around balancing the principles of designing engaging applications with the moral obligation of preventing possible dopamine-driven addictive behaviors in adolescents, leading to reduced academic performance, diminished social skills, and increased mood disorders.
Works Cited
Boers, Elroy, et al. “Association of Screen Time and Depression in Adolescence.” JAMA Pediatrics, vol. 173, no. 9, 2019, pp. 853–59. Https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2737909.
Forbes, Erika E., Et al. “Healthy Adolescents’ Neural Response to Reward: Associations with Puberty, Positive Affect, and Depressive Symptoms.” Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, vol. 49, no. 2, 2010, pp.162–72,https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0890856709000240.
Griffiths, Mark D. “Adolescent Social Networking: How Do Social Media Operators Facilitate Habitual Use?” Education and Health, vol. 36, no. 3, 03 December 2018, pp. 66–69, https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/35779/1/13313_Griffiths.pdf.
Ikeda, Kayoko, and Kazutoshi Nakamura. “Association between Mobile Phone Use and Depressed Mood in Japanese Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study.” Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, vol. 19, no. 3. 2014, pp. 187–93. Https://doi.org/10.1007/s12199-013-0373-3.
Macït, Hüseyin Bilal, et al. “A Research on Social Media Addiction and Dopamine Driven Feedback.” Journal of Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Economics and Administrative Services Faculty, vol.5, no. 3, December 2018, pp. 882–97. Https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/607734.
Silverman, Merav H., Et al. “Neural Networks Involved in Adolescent Reward Processing: An Activation Likelihood Estimation Meta-analysis of Functional Neuroimaging Studies.” NeuroImage, vol.122, November 2015, pp. 427–39.Https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S105381191500703X.
Wang, Pengcheng, et al. “The Exacerbating Role of Perceived Social Support and the Role of Depression in the Relation between Sensation Seeking and Adolescent Smartphone Addiction.” Personality and Individual Differences, vol. 130, 2018. Https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886918301995.
Yang, Xiujuan, et al. “Mobile Phone Addiction and Adolescents’ Anxiety and Depression: The Moderating Role of Mindfulness.” Journal of Child and Family Studies, vol. 28, no. 3, 2019, pp. 822–30. Https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10826-018-01323-2.
Image Credit
“Library Book Mockup: Book Library mockup design.” FREEPIK, Accessed on 12 October 2024. https://www.freepik.com/premium-psd/book-library-mockup-design_33805473.htm#fromView=search&page=2&position=4&uuid=d921a8e0-c020-4a07-a234-00d03c12eacd.
Related Posts
