Why Fears Over Smartphone 'Addiction' are Based on Flawed Evidence
Staff ReporterMost studies into the impact of technology use on psychological wellbeing rely on flawed measures say, researchers. Surveys are often used to understand how people use their smartphone, but these are poorly related to actual smartphone use when measured with an app.
This means that existing evidence suggesting that screen time is "addictive" cannot be used to justify any change of policy. The UK Parliament's Science and Technology Committee recently held an inquiry into social media use including the effects of screen time on the health of young people.
But Dr. David Ellis of Lancaster University and Brittany Davidson from The University of Bath say the official policy should not solely rely on existing studies using self-reports.
Dr. Ellis said "Knowing how much someone thinks or worries about their smartphone use leaves many questions unanswered"
The team examined 10 "addiction" surveys for measuring people's technology use such as the Smartphone Addiction Scale and the Mobile Phone Problem Use Scale, which generate scores that determine use.
They then compared these self-reports with data from Apple Screen Time which provides an objective measurement of:
The researchers discovered weak relationships between how much people think they use their smartphones and how much they actually do.
Miss Davidson added "Our results suggest that the majority of these self-report smartphone assessments perform poorly when attempting to predict real-world behavior. We need to revisit and improve these measurements moving forward."
High smartphone usage has been previously linked to anxiety and depression but Dr. Ellis said there is insufficient evidence to support these conclusions.
"Scales that focus on the notion of technology 'addiction' performed very poorly and were unable to classify people into different groups (e.g, high vs low use) based on their behavior."
most read
more stories from News
Discover top iPhone apps that let you earn real money by playing games, scanning receipts, and staying active.
ernest hamiltonSamsung has reached a remarkable milestone, shipping nearly 3 billion smartphones since 2014. Discover how the tech giant's decade-long dominance and innovative advancements have solidified its leadership in the global smartphone market.
ernest hamiltonLearn about Apple's settlement in the class-action lawsuit over iPhone 7 audio issues, offering up to $349 compensation for eligible users. Dive into the details and implications of this landmark agreement.
ernest hamiltonThousands of Apple users experienced a major iMessage outage on Thursday evening, impacting communication across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. Downdetector reported over 13,000 disruptions starting at 6 p.m. ET. Stay updated with the latest developments and potential fixes.
ernest hamiltonDelve into the complexities of managing screen time for children as parents navigate between practicality and idealism.
ernest hamiltonDiscover why the Pixel 7a outperforms the new Pixel 8a in this detailed comparison. Learn about the advantages in affordability, color options, and feature parity. Read now to make an informed choice!
ernest hamiltonDiscover the future of smartphone audio with Moondrop's MIAD 01. Explore its dual audio jacks and premium DACs in this in-depth review. Ready to elevate your music experience? Read now!
ernest hamiltonUnveiling Android's AI evolution with Gemini integration, Discover how AI is poised to combat scams and revolutionize security. Stay informed and secure!
ernest hamilton