Are You Really Addicted to Your Phone?

[@Master_Therion]

1:50 "Officially, you can't be addicted to your phone." In other words, it's not a true addiction but a _phony_ addiction.

[@solarshado]

Take your upvote and get out

[@Master_Therion]

Justin O'Brien You and I are old-timers. I do everything on my desktop computer, though admittedly, it's hard to fit it in my back pocket.

[@threePwny]

Ah, can always count on you for the puns.

[@microbuilder]

Desktop user here also, yay us! All notifications on my phone are turned off, I do watch an absurd amount of youtube on my computer though, but never on my phone.

[@Yotanido]

I honestly don't understand how people watch KZbin videos on their phones. The screen is far too small for my liking. I like my big desktop monitor and I put the video in full screen. I've watched some videos on my Laptop when I had no other choice, but I do prefer the bigger screens for sure.

[@ethanetn]

Sometimes I feel like my life would be a lot better if I had a shitty little flip phone

[@jarboer]

INAUDIBLE SCREECHING than get one, literally they’re way less than a smart phone. Or you could get something basic, there’s a phone that has a screen but only allows for texting, calling, alarms and maybe music. It’s also a mono screen

[@caroljomartin3051]

I'm 65. I'm frustratingly addicted to youtube and facebook. I used to be addicted to tv, but 3 years ago I moved to an area that has no tv reception without cable or satellite, and since I can't afford those, I started watching youtube and facebook almost constantly. It's actually a problem. I have to force myself to pick up a book once in a while.

[@makeupbyushna3085]

Carol Jo Martin I don't think it is addiction. All of us spend time doing what we enjoy. In the past, people used to play games like chess, cards etc, or do gardening or collect tickets. Now we have internet and everything is changed. Why do we consider reading books superior than watching KZbin videos? They have a similar kind of function. Both provide us with entertainment and knowledge.

[@celinak5062]

Homo Sapien the internet and social media is gamified So everything is a skinner box

[@Sepear305]

Homo Sapien The moment a hobby becomes an addiction in my opinion is when you can't stop yourself, even when you know you have to, and even when it's affecting you negatively. Also, reading is good for your mental fitness and well being, the same can't be said about watching TV or scrolling through Facebook

[@seabb]

Reading is more of an active activity than just watching KZbin videos or tv shows, since the brain has to work harder to interpret the words and visualize imagery. However, it all depends on what kind of videos you watch and how engaged you are in the content. As long as those activities don’t inferfere with your daily life, I don’t think they’re necessarily addictions.

[@SteeIdancer]

May I recommend some books that will keep you occupied for a while? Try everything by Brandon Sanderson.

[@UtauReni]

My family has a history of addiction. Well, to things like substances, etc... I've always been warned to be careful, as it could happen to me too. I think for me, addiction came in the form of behavioral addictions - mainly in relation to my computer, my phone, and to the people that those devices connect me to. My online activity has led to wonderful things at times, but it's definitely caused noticeable suffering, too, when the adverse symptoms of addiction have cropped up.

[@PaleGhost69]

I put my phone on the same level as my keys and wallet. If I can't find any of these, I freak out. However I could easily go without it, like I could go without locks or money. Society can't.

[@warpedreality7988]

I'm on my phone right now Not addicted! Very addicted

[@TheEvOrAf]

This channel deserves more subscribers

[@suewoo5]

Rafael Oquero spread them

[@tomscisci7331]

True. I can't give sub because I already did.

[@iLOLZU42]

Me before video: Yes Me after video: Not officially, but yes, but no...

[@AwesomeTreee]

*is watching this on her phone with her computer in front of her* uh what no I'm not

[@Daniel-br4nc]

AwesomeTree yeah I usually watch youtube on my phone not on a computer.

[@christey123]

Same!!!! Well i use my phone for recreational use and my computer for strictly homework. Rn is just a "little" study break. Uhh i think its time to get back to statistics

[@0mn1vore]

My phone's a better and faster computer than my laptop, if only because my laptop's much older.

[@briandoolittle3422]

notifications from my phone usually trigger an anxiety response.

[@seleuf]

This got me thinking about a few different things. You touched lightly on how it might depend on WHAT one is doing on the phone as opposed to the phone itself and I think that's something that needs more attention. For example, a friend of mine admitted to a psychologist that because he doesn't get out much, living somewhat isolated geographically and economically, he'll often pass the time with computer games, but also hours of reading news articles, chatting with friends and paying bills on said computer. But just because he admitted to spending hours a day in front of the computer they tried to diagnose him with computer game addiction. By the same logic, someone who works 9-5 in front of a computer screen would also be a computer game addict? Relating this back to phones, it's hard to remember just two decades ago, before widespread cellphones were a thing, how you had to arrange meeting with friends and be very clear about where you were going to meet up and when because once either of you were out the door that was it, there was no way to contact each other to correct information, change plans, or ask if you're in the wrong place or just blind. Nowadays, you can be out on the town, check if your friends are out and about and spontaneously meet up for a coffee. You can change your plans on the fly and check the bus timetables to make sure your new plan will actually work out logistically. You can check you bank account and transfer money from your savings while standing in the grocery store where your pay card just failed to make a transaction. Not to mention you can look up or save all sorts of information at any time. I would not class any of the above examples of smartphone usage as addictive behaviour, even though to be able to do thise things you need to carry your phone around with you everywhere. Other things you tend to bring everywhere: keys and wallet. However, there are definitely a lot of "games" (and i use the term loosely) made for smartphones that are specifically designed to trigger the brain's reward centres and encourage or trick you into spending more time and perhaps money on them. "Games" that are so rife with gambling tricks that they give a bad name to smartphone games and "smartphone gaming" in general. And as you mentioned, the social media notifications and effects they have on us. I'm actually very glad to have turned off 90% of those notifications. My phone is not allowed to make noise at me outside of alarm clocks, phone calls, text messages and if I choose to watch a video on it, and I log out of all social medias when I'm not actively having a look at them.

[@seleuf]

That got pretty long so I'll put my second train of thoughts in a reply post. It occurred to me that there's potentially also a rather complex relationship between insomnia and smartphone usage. I've heard it said time and again that the light from the screen going into the eyes messes with the brain's sleep chemistry, so prodding the smartphone while trying to sleep is probably bad. But then it occurred to me that if one's already suffering insomnia, tossing and turning for hours, getting restless, annoyed, frustrated and even angry at not being able to fall asleep, that could be quite detrimental in itself. But if one spends those hours lazily prodding a smartphone instead, one's alleviating the restlessness, getting less frustrated, managing to lie still and at least letting the body rest even if the mind is still active and confused about time and sleep? And eventually one may exhaust eyes and brain enpugh that one finally drops off to sleep, perhaps not to the best quality of sleep, but more restful than hours of tissing and turning, frustration and adrenaline perhaps?

[@N....]

Hearing a notification on my phone is like getting a small electric shock, because I have anxiety about it being a message that will make me feel bad or have to do something. So I hate using my phone.

[@honestlyaram9211]

Honestly people say video games are addicting, and they CAN be. But they aren't addicting for everybody. I don't find much trouble in taking time to do required things, like cook bad ass meals, do my school work, and go biking down by the river cuz Saskatchewan has a beaut of a river valley ESPECIALLY in Saskatoon. But when I feel like it I'll play games online with my friends from around the city for a whole day at times. Yes if you have an addictive personality of course I can see how video games are addicting. But for me and many others, "no way ho say" . They are truly just really fun to play.

[@trulyinfamous]

I'm addicted to being educated, and learning. Not to bad of an addiction, huh?

[@motheraiya]

Truly Infamous saaaaaaame

[@RamonQuiro7]

Too* for education purposes lol

[@tomscisci7331]

Me too.

[@alexchen2519]

If you are addicted to Sex then you're seriously doing life wrong.

[@ZA-mb5di]

You need help man

[@kittycatgaminghayley6210]

My school showed a video saying that all cellphone use is bad (it didn't even show the pros of cellphones just the cons) most of the students hated the video (I only know of 1 student that liked it) the teachers liked it. The teachers give us assignments to do on our phones. A lot of students said that most of the cons they showed were just the result of bad parenting.

[@ZamanSiddiqui]

I think I might have a SciShow Psych addiction.

[@tomscisci7331]

Yes. I too.

[@nothingtoseeherefolks6911]

As addictions go, that’s a pretty good one.

[@thstroyur]

3:41 The point is screening for _social media_ addiction; just give people a cheapo not-smart-phone (or use people that already own one). Even I can figure that out XP

[@cysioland]

- "put that away" - "okay" *puts down PB&J sandwich*

[@tafellappen8551]

I tend to feel like compulsion is a better term than addiction for these things

[@nikolademitri731]

Phone use? Maybe addiction isn’t the best word. Social media? It’s not even a question, DSM or not, many people are addicted to social media. Not surprisingly, social media is literally designed to be addictive. That’s a fact.

[@op4000exe]

I'm literally addicted to reading novels on my phone, not my phone in and of itself.

[@WarheaddVids]

op4000exe kindle?

[@op4000exe]

Nope phone in my case, I don't have a kindle or similar device.

[@WarheaddVids]

op4000exe what I mean is you should consider getting one

[@op4000exe]

That makes sense xD Though the novels I read aren't on web sites I'm entirely sure kindle would support...

[@WarheaddVids]

op4000exe idk, you do whatever

[@lacrosseperson]

hey britt - love the hair - you look fantastic!

[@hauntedshadowslegacy2826]

There are days where I legit never even see my phone. I leave it somewhere, and then a family member asks if I saw a message/picture they sent to me. The answer is often, 'Right, I have a phone. Somewhere. It's still on silent, like usual.'

[@Jaybiiird]

I actually got addicted to *Mountain Dew* So yeah, good job sugar and caffeine

[@chris7263]

I come away from this feeling like asking about "phone addiction" is asking the wrong question. There's so many different ways to use your phone; it might be better to ask about specific uses, like can you be addicted to social media or youtube.

[@samthixos1746]

I think a better term, I think, would be phone 'dependancy'. There are pleny of people, myself included, who have entire parts of theri life almost completely monitored and controlled by their phones. I would have less friendships, likely not a job, perhaps not even my diploma, the list goes on.

[@makeupbyushna3085]

Most of the time I am using my phone to watch KZbin videos (mostly science videos). When I was a kid I was always reading books and my mom would get angry. One could say that I was "addicted" to books. It could be said that I am "addicted" to my phone now. But I think it is something different from addiction.

[@SteeIdancer]

Homo Sapien literally same!

[@nothingtoseeherefolks6911]

Oh good I’m not the only one! My mom once threatened to take away my books because I was reading too much.

[@deeb3272]

3:42am still holding my phone.

[@0mn1vore]

Watching this on my phone, and I rarely miss an episode... Thanks for the fix. ;-)

[@TrancorWD]

My phone suddenly died on me in december, took me till mid-late march to even bother with the insurance company (Little over 3 months phoneless). I didn't realize it before, but after getting a new phone, I take upwards of an hour+ to get out of bed, vs 15-20 minutes without a phone. I was a lot more productive, writing notes on the toilet rather than scrolling imgur. Which carried into me thinking about those projects more, giving me more drive to actually adult; spending time on myself and personal projects more often. It might not be a recognized addiction to be on your phone too often. But I noticed a definite shift in my drive in life after getting my phone back..... As a disclaimer, I am no where near bad with using my phone as others I see in public. To me, its rude to be on a phone around friends outside of taking a call. So I'm only imagining how much time and potential personal drive others may be losing to their phones in general.

[@luanasilva7341]

So I'm not addicted yet, phew.

[@poorplayer9249]

So when older generations are accused of screwing everything up, we can just blame it on all the angst we suffered from not having a phone with us all the time. I can live with that.

[@zukaro]

Not to my phone but certainly to social media (even though it makes me miserable). I only check my phone if I have a notification, and I never use it to really interact all that much on social media. I use my desktop or laptop for that (but more so my desktop); just find it far more taxing to do it on my phone, and slightly more on my laptop. If my phone was the only device I had I'd be on social media a lot less. But I definitely need to work on this, as social media only ever makes me feel bad.

[@RaeWakefield]

I like it when you do videos. You smile a lot

[@TealCheetah]

I used to get legit panic attacks when I couldn't check my social media. Now I'm ok for about 6 hours, then I start to get anxious.

[@Samzillah]

I watched this on my phone. Also people who self report behavioral addictions may tend to have more shame about their use and see themselves as engaging in that behaviour as less average. It would be nice to have data about whether they are actually checking their phone more than usual.

[@LeoStaley]

I have such a phone addiction that my arm hurts from holding my arm in the same position for up to 12 hours a day. Both arms. And despite my arm pain continuing to increase, I continue using my phone for stimulation. I'm actually in a lot of pain right now, but I can't put it down.

[@RilianSharp]

if i'm addicted to my phone then i'm addicted to friendship and human interaction and well yeah. I am a normal human.

[@RilianSharp]

also i do a lot more now because need to distract from a terrible event

[@zethany9485]

I will definitely admit that I have a great concern for the whereabouts of my phone, since it holds a lot of important information on there that I don't want strangers to erase or take advantage of, and I have been known to nervously check the same pocket over and over in the same five minutes to make sure my phone is still there. However, I don't go my whole day going, "oh my god I need to check Facebook! I need that dopamine high! I need to check my messages!" Things like Facebook are mostly meant to pass the time when I'm bored, and if I don't have my phone or its dead in my pocket, I tend to just get kinda "oh well" about not being able to use my phone to pass the time. Along with all of this, I like having my phone on me just so I'm immediately available if someone needs to emergency contact me. Its more of a sense of security to have my phone on me than it is a "high."

[@LiftPizzas]

I wonder if there's ever been a generation that admired the generations who followed and/or thought the world was becoming a better place. The phenomenon -- where generations freak out over society changing and in their panic try to blame new things for it -- really needs a name. It's like a form of mass hysteria, and it tends to poison our society, especially in the realm of politics.

[@71.218-westshed]

Late response, but Scishow Psych already made a video about that phenomenon. I think the phenomenon is called juvenoia (unsure if I spelled it right), and the video's title I think is called "Why Do People Bash Millennials?".

[@s_m_t_d_m_]

that timing was absolutely perfect, i just checked my phone...

[@joeygenna4801]

No! My touchscreen won’t work.... I can turn it on and off wi5 the buttons but litterraly the screen won’t react to touches

[@touka32able]

Have I seen this video before? How come it only came out yesterday?

[@zeromailss]

No, I'm addicted to youtube, phone just happens to be a very convenient tool for it

[@Sepear305]

にゃあエイリアンMeowAlien same lol

[@sandragarner6432]

Good one

[@alexkorocencev7689]

This is going to be a popular vid

[@ZeitGeist_TV]

I barely use Facebook only going on it when a family member tags me or for the obligatory thank you to the happy birthday post. I check my credit scores, bank accounts and credit card accounts more than anything. My phone is used for text, and dare I say actually talking to people.

[@GamerSirus]

World of Warcraft addiction is very real, my friends.

[@Primalxbeast]

GamerSirus I don't think WoW has been called World of Warcrack since the Cataclysm, so not quite as addictive as it used to be. It seems to be treated like more of a job now with people just logging in to keep their characters up to speed.

[@bragtime1052]

Primalxbeast keep their characters up to “speed”... so it is an addiction.

[@Primalxbeast]

Bragtime Just logging in to quickly get a few tasks done isn't nearly the same thing as not being able to pull yourself away from the game like it used to be.

[@mattb3423]

Checks phone when there's an awkward silence

[@rebeccaplowman6367]

Ehhh... I'm on the side of calling it a compulsion.

[@Jebbtube]

Mobile gaming, particularly the kinds with microtransactions, can add to the level of addiction/stress.

[@mydadneverlovedme8567]

*My phones addicted to me*

[@SuviTuuliAllan]

You're a witch, Lotte!

[@hatsjer]

3:27 If you MUST have your smartphone, then It's more addiction. But if any reliable phone can do (I.e. an old nokia) then it's more about staying connected in case of something happens. (The latter one is very true for me.)

[@amyrenae1019]

I watch SciShow on my phone...like all of them. My phone makes me smarter!

[@jnzkngs]

I'm 43 and hell yes I am. Anything that makes you feel good can be addictive. So when people say pot isn't "addictive" they are smoking something.

[@IizUname]

I'll tell you right now: YES.

[@lenap4956]

Rather than the phone, it's the overstimulation that comes with it. Our brain's addicted to constant stimulation. And internet is like, a junk food paradise for the brain. Boredom, self reflection, being alone with yourself are all scary things that we tend to run away from. But what do I know. It's not like I've been spending my whole day watching youtube videos so that I can pretend that everything's alright for yet another day.

[@nataliejames5149]

I am so addicted to my phone especially when i am not that talkative person and introvert !

[@luciofernandes366]

Apparently I'm addicted to living

[@bragtime1052]

I’m not lol

[@nothingtoseeherefolks6911]

I’m addicted to breathing.

[@KimdraStBiryukova]

I'm definitely addicted to my phone. The funniest thing, though, is when I'm on public transit or driving around the city and it's the *middle aged* people who are on their phones. I've watched more middle aged women driving-while-texting than people my age (mid-twenties).

[@MysticalOrb522]

I have a SciShow addiction

[@AimeeColeman]

I can't be addicted to my phone if I just carry and use my laptop everywhere

[@NewMessage]

I am all about the dopamine. You know you wanna click me... dooo eeet.

[@honestlyaram9211]

Honestly I don't get phone addiction much. Sometimes I leave my phone in my pocket for hours before even glancing at it, I often miss texts too because I never check so if I miss the vibrate it turns into a waiting game haha.

[@celinak5062]

Sounds like somebody with Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and those make it more likely to get an addiction 4:20

[@dupersuper1938]

I still just have a landline...I think I'm safe.

[@Cae_the_Kitsune]

I think a lot of people who want to loudly proclaim that phone addiction is a thing rely on people thinking of addiction in general as a moral failing, and therefore something the addicted person should be put down for, rather than what it is, which is an illness, and therefore something the afflicted person should be helped out of for their own sake.

[@saintxio]

Is it a bad sign when my position mirrors the thumbnail image almost exactly as I'm watching this?

[@Kalleosini]

Hi I have no credentials, but I'll still say something I think is important and valuable. The answer to the video title is "no" the phone is not the cause, just the middle man, that's like saying a heroine addict is addicted to syringes :D a bit silly IMO.

[@luciofernandes366]

What about when you open apps without motive, to do nothing much? Is that something similar to OCD?

[@meerkatnip892]

Lucio Fernandes OCD typically includes obsessive thoughts that lead to the compulsions like "What if there's something on Facebook that I'm missing out on?!?!" and then opening the app to check. Just mindlessly opening apps without any conscious intention sounds more like your brain's been conditioned to be randomly rewarded when using your phone (like it was explained at the beginning of the video).

[@josephgroves3176]

If I don't have access to my phone I'm ok, no withdrawal. But if it's within reach it takes over

[@spoonyquine1584]

I don't take my phone with me everywhere and often forget to check it. What does that mean?

[@omaghty]

... and here’s me watching this on my phone...

[@frikativos]

I am not!!! I can stop using it whenever I want!! I just choose not to!

[@jimmysgotagun]

It's sad but my tiny following on Instagram does affect me more than I admit. As an artist having little engagement on a visual medium is crushing.

[@Mallow-568]

I was pulling out a cookie when I was asked to put it away. Cookies are addictions.

[@fossforever512]

I disagree, “behavioral addictions” are more similar to obsessions than actual addictions. Also, if you can be addicted to your phone you could in theory be addicted to you friend, seeing as its conceivable that a relationship with someone could, in theory produce the same or similar behavior

[@Teethmafia]

When’s the sci show going to break down how I can become addicted to my homework

[@cedarbobedar7223]

Is that a new tattoo? 👍

[@maxpaju]

That thumbnail was me finding this video

[@drhrithikpatil]

Even if we cant say the word phone addiction...are there any ways to reduce these behaviourial addictions??

[@pandaneverlucky728]

Can u be addicted to get infomation? Like Watch news, Watch Scishow and etc?

[@mmilcz833]

I have never been physically addicted but definitely have been behaviorally addicted several times, so I don’t associate addiction with the physical one.

[@TickTockTimeTraveler]

PLEASE talk about people who text and drive. Is there any research why people do this and how damaging it is?

[@originalnox1228]

Oh man I just use my phone when I got nothing else to do.

[@TizonaAmanthia]

Cellphone? heh. I frequently charge up my phone, and then it's dead before I think to use it, I don't actually have service on my phone, the few phone calls I make are satisfied by Google Hangouts on my PC. however, instead of a cellphone addiction......i have a PC addiction. youtube being my drug of choice, for the most part. *shrugs*

[@mariuszj3826]

Similarily, cigarette addiction overall is not just physical addiction. It's ingrained in behavior as well it's just a comorbidity. Gambling is a perfect example of Pavlov's little bells ringing.

[@gabiailincai]

I literally picked up my phone at the beginning of the video because I noticed the notification led was blinking. Not addicted at all.

[@Sl0baZl0ba]

Sooo.... its not an addiction, but a slight Dependence. xD xD

[@kostassx7658]

When I saw the title I said yes this video created for me🙅‍♂️

[@SlyPearTree]

You say or imply this but it's not a phone addiction, it's an app addiction, peoples use their phones to check their email or social medias, or to play games, or to read, or to text, or even to talk with other peoples, I know that last one is a bit extreme but peoples actually use their phone to communicate by voice in real time. /partly sarcastic and partly serious, phone addiction is like saying glass addiction for alcoholism.

[@kiraPh1234k]

Addiction in all forms is not really understood by people, including psychologists (keep in mind psych is one of the most difficult fields of science as much of it can't really be called science, a lot is based purely on perceptions and even perceptions of other perceptions since a lot requires a person reports information on themselves which humans are pretty bad at) Unfortunately due to my life, I ended up in close quarters with thousands of people that were labelled "addicts", and formed relationships with many. Every one of these people used illicit substances because they wanted to. None of them had any problem stopping, however some of them would lie and say they wanted to stop but this is purely for appearance in the best cases and is a literal delusion in the worst. A huge problem with it is that we have created a social class for drug users that paints them very negatively. Most of these people never saw a psychiatrist, instead they were labeled by their family, aquaintences, selves or a court judge and often this labelling happens because of the drug use itself, not because of behavior surrounding said use. I could go on about this topic however, simply consider that if addiction was actually understood, we would actually have an improvement in drug abuse and overdose rates. In America, we don't and in fact some of our practices lead directly to an INCREASE in these statistics. That's not to say that there aren't examples of how to improve the situation, one country in particular has a great understanding and as such they allowed easier access to drug parephenelia (such as clean needles), easier access to medical care, employer bonuses such as taxes exemption for hiring "drug addicts"/drug users and more, all of which has lead to not only a massive reduction in overdose but q massive reduction in usage of the drugs as well since they got rid of the cycle of pushing drugs users away from anyone who isn't a drug user, allowing them to actually reenter society in a positive and productive manner.

[@mitchgrove4086]

Eh, we're addicted to our phones, our parents are addicted to television, their parents were addicted to books and newspapers. The list goes on. Long story short, every generation goes through this, the world will be fine.

[@beesgold1487]

I have an excuse rn I’m sick

[@kitteridgesimpson8144]

Bees ? i’m gonna say this is the only addiction where that would be an excuse. “yeah i’m doing black tar, but i’m sick”

[@KilgoreTroutAsf]

This is aclassical example of trying to sweep an inconvenient problem under the rug by playing the semantics game. If we would focus less on the metaphysics of "what IS an addiction" and more on the real impact on peoples attention, productivity and human bonds of checking your phone 100 times a day we would take a step in the right direction. Also, for the record, most drug addictions are just behavioral.

[@patrickbateman4541]

Yes.

[@thefyrefairy720]

I cringe when my notification thing goes off, I only use FB because I can't reach my friends any other way and I leave my phone at home on purpose fairly often. I'm old enough to remember getting actual letters in the mail and having a phone that stayed with the house. I miss not being reachable. Don't get me wrong, I love the tech, but a break from it every now and then is very necessary.

[@somesax3053]

As I watch this on my phone

[@suly3243]

am I addicted if i sleep during lectures while trying to focus but wont sleep if I open my phone?

[@cassieoz1702]

Games and social media are designed to hook you