by Aurora Prehara, Page Editor
Screens are everywhere. Take a look around any classroom, campus, or mall; chances are most of the teens around you are staring at their phones or other devices, even if they are with their friends.
Screens are popular amongst teens, but does their constant use qualify as an addiction? According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, no. The DSM-V is the principal authority for psychiatric diagnoses in the United States and does not classify “technology addiction” or a “screen addiction” as a disorder. The closest diagnosis is “internet gaming disorder,” and that is listed as a condition for further study. This omission is significant because the DSM-V shapes psychological and psychiatric treatment recommendations; if it does not acknowledge the issue formally, then it could reduce the awareness and addressing of the issue. However, the DSM-V does define the behavioral criteria for an addiction. The criteria for an addiction is a deep psychological attachment to an experience and something feels like it meets short-term needs. Over time, with excessive usage, side effects and consequences start to emerge, and it often feels difficult to stop the behavior; the addiction adversely affects other areas of your life, and attempts to stop or change the behavior are met with unpleasant feelings, or withdrawal.
Screens can fit this category of addiction for many reasons. For a lot of teenagers whenever they hear their phone make a noise they feel compelled to check it. Moreover, they feel uncomfortable without the device nearby, constituting psychological attachment. Sometimes if they can not check it right away they feel a sense of withdrawal or are afflicted by “FOMO,” popular slang for “fear of missing out,” which can worsen when people see others socializing on Instagram and feel left out. Some people would rather be on their devices than interacting with someone in person or hanging out with friends. Furthermore, developments in social media encourage teens to not only be on their screens but to be hyper-focused on the screen. For example, popular social media platform Snapchat eliminates the daily messages on your “streaks” with friends if there is no reply; if the other person does not reply to the streak in time, the screen shows an hourglass that starts to tick down. This encourages people to be on their phones more so they can maintain their streaks.
These screen experiences can distort emotions, create dependence, and cause negative consequences—so does screen addiction exist? You decide—that is, if you can stay off your phone long enough to think about it.