An estimated seventy two percent of adults in the United States own a smartphone. For most, they are a handy tool for keeping track of the kids and checking the weather. But, for a growing number, smartphones have become a problem - a conduit to potentially addictive games and social media.
Which category do you fall into? Try answering these questions, giving yourself one point for each "yes" answer. Do you find yourself:
- using your smartphone for longer than you meant to?
- wanting to cut down or stop using your smartphone, but not managing to?
- spending a lot of time using, or recovering from using, your smartphone?
- feeling cravings or urges to use your smartphone?
- not managing to do what you should at work, home, or school because of your smartphone?
- continung to use your smartphone even when it causes problems in relationships?
- giving up important social, occupational, or recreational activities because of your smartphone?
- using your smartphone again and again, even when it puts you in danger?
- continuing to use your smartphone even when you know you have a physical or psychological proble that could have been caused or made worse by it?
- needing more of your smartphone to get the effect you want?
- developing withrawal symptoms that can be relieved by using your smartphone more?
Add up your points. The total can help gauge whether your smartphone addiction is mild (2-3), moderate (4-5), or severe (6-7).
This quiz is actually a modified version of a diagnostic checklist used by healthcare professionals to determine whether someone has substance use disorder, and if so, how strong his/her addiction is.
So, how did you do?