Technoaddiction: what is it and what are its causes and symptoms?

New technologies bring with them a growing need to be glued to the cell phone.

For the last few decades, new technologies have become part of our lives and have brought about important changes in the way we relate to our environment and to others. and with others. Due to technological advances, social networks and the presence of the Internet, we spend many hours connected to technological devices, whether it is our computer or our cell phone.

Such has been the impact that some people may feel lost in this world dependent on new technologies if they do not have access to these gadgets. Experts say that if we do not make proper use of new technologies, phenomena such as Internet addiction, nomophobia or FOMO syndrome may appear.

What is technoaddiction

Technoaddiction is the uncontrollable desire to be connected to ICTs at all times, and a behavior that can cause discomfort and a deterioration in the individual's life. It is a relatively new phenomenon, often described as the inability to control the use of various types of technology, particularly the internet, smartphones, tablets and social networks, such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

This phenomenon has become more acute with the proliferation of the use of smartphones, as access to internet and social networks can now be accessed from almost anywhere and at any time. Many of us spend connected to technological devices virtually all day long, from the time we wake up until the time we go to bed. The use of technology by itself is not bad, but if used inappropriately it can cause serious problems for a person's well-being.

A large part of the problem lies in the education of individuals, which being such a current phenomenon, even the parents themselves are the first to be affected by this problem and are unable to properly educate their children in this regard.

Is it a disorder?

Some experts have labeled this problem as a disorder because of its negative consequences and the impact it can have on a person's life. Technoaddiction is not a disorder recognized by the DSM, but it is a problem that has aroused a lot of interest. is an issue that has been of great interest to health professionals since the 1990s..

In 1995, Kimberly Young, an American psychologist, created the Center for Internet Addiction and the first treatment plan for technology addiction based on cognitive behavioral therapy techniques. That same year, the term "Internet addiction disorder" was coined by psychiatrist Dr. Ivan Goldberg.

However, the concept of technoaddiction encompasses different phenomena, among which nomophobia and FOMO syndrome stand out.

What the research says

Scientific studies show that, in the case of Internet addiction, in the United States and Europe 8.2% of the population suffers from Internet addiction.. In 2006, researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine conducted a telephone survey that found that one in eight Americans feel addicted to new technology.

Technology addiction is recognized as a widespread health problem in other countries, such as Australia, China, Japan, India, Italy, Japan, Korea and Taiwan, which have established dedicated clinics to address this growing problem.

Like other types of addiction, technology addiction can range from moderate to severe, and some researchers claim that the dependence is psychological rather than physical. However, being without access to the Internet or without the possibility of using a smartphone can cause serious problems such as anxiety or discomfort. Dependence on new technology is so great today that people with technoaddiction feel lost in the physical world. New technologies affect our daily life, interpersonal relationships, academic or work performance....

Frequent symptoms

Addiction technoaddiction is a heterogeneous phenomenon that includes both addiction to technological devices and the need to be in contact with the virtual world; however, both are related. In general, technoaddiction manifests itself as follows:

• Compulsive checking of text messages and chats
• Frequent change of Facebook status and excessive selfies to upload to Facebook
• Anxiety and stress about being left without access to the internet or technological devices
• Social isolation
• Need to buy the latest technological novelties on the market, even if they are not necessary
• Loss of interest in activities that do not involve a computer, phone or other technological gadget
• Feelings of unease when they can't go online
• Occasionally, people may develop sleep disorders and depression

The problem is not the technology, but its misuse.

The appearance of this phenomenon is not caused by the use of technology itself, because like any addiction, its origin may be in the person's lack of social skills or low self-esteem. New technologies provide us with multiple benefits, since they allow us to be connected to any place in the world and to have information practically instantly.

Psychologist Jonathan García-Allen suggests that education is key to preventing this phenomenon, as he explains that "the main problem is not the new technologies, but the pathological use of them, which can lead to addiction as well as uses that can generate psychological problems".

In this sense, the answer to this problem does not lie in prohibiting Internet use or removing smartphones from the lives of children or adolescents, but rather the important thing is to make them understand that their misuse brings with it harmful consequences for their emotional health. It is the task of all educators and parents to educate them from an early age to avoid misuse and pathological uses of new technologies.

Nomophobia and FOMO syndrome

Two phenomena associated with new technologies that have had the greatest media repercussion in recent times are the fomo syndrome and nomophobia. The first is related to identity formation and the impact that social networks have on how we relate to others. Lnomophobia is the addiction to smartphones..

You can learn more about both phenomena in our articles:

• "FOMO syndrome: feeling that other people's lives are more interesting".
• "Nomophobia: the growing addiction to the cell phone".