4.4.2. Negative Impacts
Addiction to Smartphone (also known as communication addiction disorder), is a serious problem.
According to recent research, the addiction to Smartphone is increasing rapidly. The Ministry of Public
Administration and Security of Korea reported that around 8.4% of Smartphone users in Korea are
addicted to Smartphone and around 10.1% of Koreans overuse social networking sites including
Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. The addiction to Smartphone can be described as wanting to be in
constant communication with people even though when there is no real need for communication [29].
According to an article, Smartphone addiction is not just a buzzword but researchers have recognized
habitual and compulsive communicating as a serious psychic problem. It is also established that
obsession with our Smartphone is also responsible for significantly altering our brain‘s perception for
the device. While several research across the world have been reasserting how Smartphone dependency
is going to be a real danger in future, some other studies in UK also discovered another aspect to it,
showing that anxiety and withdrawal symptoms in Smartphone users increase when they do not receive
any messages or updates [30] [31]. Most of the time the problem is not with the use of the Smartphone,
but it comes when the device takes over a function that human brain is capable to perform perfectly.
It's like multiplying 5 by 7, resulting the opening calculator in your Smartphone instead quickly
calculating in your mind and getting result 35 or waiting for an elevator to take you to first floor of
building instead of the stairs; the ride may be quicker but your muscles won't get a workout.
Smartphone‘s can be considered as mental elevators, taking the basic and useful functions off the brain
[28]. Another psychological impact is that users check their mobiles almost all the times, while at work
time, with family or even when with friends. Lookout, a mobile security company conducted a study
on Smartphone users in USA and found that 58% of Smartphone users check their phones at least once
in an hour and another 54% of respondents said that they check their phone even while going to bed to
sleep[28].