Mobile apps have changed every aspect of our lives. Be it travel, gaming, banking, communication, knowledge, or anything, an app is there for everything. Maybe we have got few moments or an urge, we pull out our smartphones from our pocket and try to see what our friends are up to do that extra bit of reading, language learning, mate finding, game playing or just simply scrolling indefinitely sneaky apps like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook WhatsApp, TikTok, Snapchat, etc. Even the online shopping has made lives busy and shopping easy through Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, Myntra, etc. which are designed to lure and make us a shopping spree.
Jonathan Kay Chief operating officer of app analytics has used the term for app addiction as displaced time which means people are displacing a lot of time that they would spend on TV and phones. Displaced time is not an added valued time but instead displacing time from one medium to other, for example playing video games or games online instead of loving to play outdoors.
Social Media Addiction
It is a Behavioural Addiction that is defined by an uncontrollable urge to use social media and devoting so much time and effort to social media that it impairs relationships and other important life areas.
It is our silent acceptance of wasting our downtime, leisure time, behavioural damage, emotional damage, impairment of relationships, inactiveness, sluggishness, mental and physical fatigue, etc.
It's usually negative if termed as addiction as it impairs our thinking and stops us from doing any important work.
What makes people addicted to an app?
1) Easy access: Smartphones can be carried anywhere and almost everywhere. It is easily accessible and can be pulled out of a bag or pocket at any time or when we feel lonely. It becomes a part of spending our leisure time than reading a book, going for a walk, following our passions, etc.
2) Speedy access: In this world of instant ways, fast access is the first choice for information and fulfillment. When people want instant happiness, instant texts, instant answers, etc. an app is opened. Even relaxing and resting has been understood as scrolling through various apps.
3) Personalization: The more users get the ability to share their experience with the app, the more they will invest time in it. The photos, memories, songs, actions, etc. can be dumped into innumerable ways in these apps. The beautiful features attached to these filters glorify us.
Many dating or matrimonial sites give us partners to start a relationship which may or may not end well and turn toxic. These apps can even give rise to erotomania - a delusional disorder where a person believes that the other person of usually a higher status is in love with him or her.
4) Simple to use: They run even without instructions and are quite simple to use. It makes you stick on or work on it as it gives incentives. Eg: Tiktok, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, etc can be used anywhere like waiting for a meeting, on the bus, in the loo, in the middle of online sessions, etc.
5) Content: You find never-ending content or stories to read. And most of the content we get is familiar to users and audiences, be it newsfeeds, reels, stories, online shopping, etc. This content even helps us in our day-to-day lives. Duration of content keeps running on the fact of how much content a viewer can digest efficiently in one period of time. eg: youtube recipes, online classes for kids, etc.
6) Fun and frolic: This is the most impressive feature. People get happier as they scroll through their favorite content. Be it games, shopping, conversations, memories, or even daily news people go on getting glued to what new content is changing the next moment.
7) Quality, stability, and visibility: Apps follow the fundamental principle that content must be vivid, short, and crisp.
8) Motivation: Apps motivate us to use by introducing all types of buttons like copy, text, paste, feedback, edit button, etc. They even introduce messaging, follow, like buttons which lure us to use, open and scroll without fail. Moreover, it doesn't cost us a penny. We even have calorie fitness, sleep, and mileage trackers to surplus it's usage. They even use fonts, flyers, templates, emojis, and other special features to make life more amusing.
9) Logo designs: These are usually with pleasant colours, sober, crisp, simple, short, and distinct.
10) Novelty: Apps give stories that are something new and often changing minute by minute. This is why FB is so addictive. It appeals to all types of cohorts. Messaging apps with emojis, chat backup, and photos storage, keep us staying in touch with others and keep us busy with phones all the time.
11) Default Apps: They enter our home screen and force us to use them. eg: YouTube, Google, etc.
Harmful effects of apps: Apps have a huge impact on our daily lives.
- It has increased our mental stress.
- It can cause depression.
- It can reduce physical work.
- Reduced ways of thinking.
- So-called 'Text neck' is visible. Seeing for long hours put serious pressure on your neck.
- Disturbed relations.
- Distractions in learning.
- Eyesight problems.
- Obesity
- Waste of time
- Sleep issues
- Tendinitis (stiffness around shoulder and neck joints).
- Comparisons or obsession with filtered looks sometimes lower our self-worth.
- Dating apps may sometimes land us in toxic relationships. They make us strive for super looks and dream of superfine life.
But apps are needed:
For a speedy process, good looks or smart work, or for that extra knowledge or talk to a distant friend apps are needed. They make communication easier and available in our pockets. But one must use these apps wisely and moderately. It's within us whether to utilize it beneficially or harm ourselves. So 'Act Wisely'. Uninstall apps after your use and install them if required. Follow this tip and see. Be strict with yourself on spending time with your phone. Enjoy reading a book, go for a walk, play guitar or anything though not good at it, dance, etc. It works wonders as there are so many other things to do with our life.
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