For the most part, our smartphones have greatly improved our day to day lives. However, even the best of technology can become a negative source if the way it is used is not managed. If you find yourself going into the bathroom with your smartphone, missing your step, ending up hitting lamp posts or bumping into people on the street all because you are texting or just simply checking for updates on phone, then you may be sufferer of smartphone addiction. Here are just a few of the ways you can tell that you are a smartphone addict.
You walk into everything on the street while texting
This can be people, trash cans, dogs and worse lamp-posts. When you are so engrossed in an interesting Whatsapp conversation with a friend or just checking up the latest updates on Facebook, it is not unusual for everything around you to become invisible, well that's until you literally bump into them.Accidents related to smartphones have become rampant. Its seriousness as gone as far as seeing some states such as Nevada in America having police who fine people who are found texting while walking. A few years ago, the UK tried softer approach by adding padding to lamp-posts on Brick Lane in east London.
You visit the bathroom with your smartphone
A visit to the bathroom is generally seen as an intimate affair. Perhaps that is why there are locks are put on the doors, so we can take comfort in the knowledge that our privacy is separate from the outside world. Despite our need for privacy we always deem it necessary to carry our smartphones which is one of most world-connected device on the planet, with us to the bathroom.The worst part some of us have to reach out for our smartphones whenever we need to go, just to keep themselves entertained for the duration of the bathroom break. You know its serious when someone is really pressed to go to the toilet, and when they do make it, they realize to much horror that they have forgotten their phones, then stopping whatever they were doing they run back to fetch it with some even locking themselves out of the toilet. If you can relate to this, then you may be addicted to your smartphone. But don't lose heart, you are not the only one, a study done by Plaxo, an address book site reports that up to 19 percent of smartphone users accidentally drop their phones into the toilet. This obviously is not because of a cut out pocket.
You phone keeps you awake in bed
How many times have you found yourself constantly oversleeping because you didn't sleep when you were supposed to, even though you were already in bed? Is it always because you were checking out your friends pictures on Instagram or reading interesting things on Facebook? If so, then you may be a smartphone addict. For instance, a recent research in Norway revealed that the risk of poor sleep was doubled in people who used their smartphones an hour before bed.
You capture every 'magical moment' on your phone
In this modern age, it is rare to visit entertainment spots, touring areas, etc and not find them filled with people waving their phones and tablets around, trying to capture every precious moment they possibly can. This is presumably what they consider living in the moment rather than just enjoying the moments present.
You are highly dependent on Google in conversations
Picture this, you are sitted with a group of friends and then someone says that stirs up a disagreement within the group. In the era before smartphones, this would lead up to a discussion, where everyone would put across their opinion until some sort of conclusion is arrived at.Fast-forward to the current era, when a disagreement is triggered among friends, someone suddenly says “OK, Google”. This is followed up by silence in anticipation of what the all-knowing Google has to say about the matter. Google offers its answers and in most cases, its the end of the discussion and people can go back to their smartphones and update their status, check their email or at least find something do for the duration of being around their friends.What are your thoughts on smartphone addiction? Do you think you can relate to the signs above? Let us know in the comments.
