smartphone addiction
Compulsive device checking
Smartphone addiction describes compulsive, excessive use of a smartphone despite negative consequences—checking it constantly, feeling anxious without it, losing track of time while scrolling.
The term borrows from addiction language but usually describes a behavioral habit rather than a clinical diagnosis: I deleted social media to break my smartphone addiction.
Also called phone addiction.
- scrollingMoving display content vertically
- screenDisplay or barrier
- screen timeDuration on digital displays
- dopamineReward-linked neural messenger
- notificationsAutomated messages announcing events
anxiety · FOMO · fear of missing out · blue light · thumb · tech neck · Instagram · TikTok · social media · compulsive · checking · distraction · attention span · withdrawal · nomophobia · endless · refresh · likes
- technophiliatechnomania, early adopter, unboxing, tinkering
- medicalizationADHD diagnosis, homosexuality, shyness, sadness, menopause
smartphone addictiondigital detox
Period avoiding electronic devices
digital minimalism · unplugging · digital sobriety · disconnection · technophobia
smartphone addictionmindfulness
Awareness of the present
full attention · undivided attention · single-tasking · contemplation · flow state
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