Running head: RISKS OF INTERNET AND PHONE ADDICTION

Risks of Internet and Phone Addiction

Gabriel Rivera
November 4, 2014
NSCI 306-05
Professor D. Paul Sweeny, Jr.
Format A

RISKS OF INTERNET AND PHONE ADDICTION

Abstract
By obtaining ten empirical reviews to show the relationship between excess use of both phone
and internet addiction and the effects that arise. The effects under investigation are both the
academic effects in college students and the health effects of addicts. With a combined total of
6,212 participants, the ten articles used various methods in finding these effects, among the two
most used are observing and surveying. Based on the data gathered from the methods, it can be
concluded that the excessive use of internet and phone addiction can cause a decrease in both
academics and health.
Keywords: internet, addiction, phones, effects, health, academics

RISKS OF INTERNET AND PHONE ADDICTION

Risks of Internet and Phone Addiction

Todays society is constantly advancing, and technology is continuously growing and
evolving to newer and better things. More and more people throughout the world use it, it has
changed not only the way we see the world, but also it has changed how people spend their days
whether its at school, or work. Everyone seems to own a cell phone, wherever they go a phone
seems to be with them. Phones have become a necessity of life, and because of this, phones have
dramatically changed the way we communicate. In the past, technology had a limit; consumers
could not take a computer everywhere, but now it may seem as though our generation has access
to internet whenever it is wanted. Before, the users would have to turn off and disconnect, but
now they can stay on for as long as they like, there is no off switch for the consumer. This may
arise to an addiction to both phones and internet. As technology progresses, the age limit will be
limitless. This new way of technology impacts social work, academics, and marital status. The
purpose of this literature review is to point out the excessive use of phones causes negative
effects on someones health and academics, as well as the effects that result from this addiction
in college students.
Trends
The rate of technology is growing at a fast rate. Many people want the newest gadget and
try to keep up with the newest trends. Among some of these gadgets are laptops, gaming
systems, and music players. Of all these items there is one item that seems to do it alla cell
phone. Cell phones are the hottest trend, what everybody wants. A lot of people in todays
society are surfing the web, and have multiple social networks.
Hypothesis
Excessive use of both phones and internet will cause problems in health and

RISKS OF INTERNET AND PHONE ADDICTION

dramatically affect the grades of the students.

Criteria
One major criteria for this study is the collection of ten empirical articles. In order for an
article to be valid in this literature review the ten articles had to be a scholarly source with an
abstract, a method, participants, and results. Researchers from these obtained their results by
either methods of surveying and observation, some did both (Rosen et al., 2013; Dietz and
Henrch 2014). Participants in these studies were primarily college students from different
schools. Before testing students the researchers got the consent from students being tested. These
participants were handed surveys in class, by sent emails, or by observation. In order for surveys
to be used in this study, researchers made sure that all answers on the surveys were completely
filled out, otherwise they were considered invalid.
Literature Reviewed
First Group of Studies
The effects on both school and grades. It may seem as though everyone owns a cell
phone, especially in todays society. Wherever a person may go it can almost be guaranteed that
they have a phone with them. A cell phone may seem as a great necessity of a consumers life.
There are many uses for a cell phone, these uses may distract a consumer. These distractions that
come from cell phone use can interfere with the consumers everyday lives, including school,
which can have a negative outcome on a students overall GPA (grade point average). The
purpose of this group study is to show the relationship that may come from phone and internet
use and the negative effects that have been proven to on a students academics. This group of
studies obtained four main topics and connected how they relate with negative academics. The

RISKS OF INTERNET AND PHONE ADDICTION

four are excessive phone times, multitasking, texting, and boredom. This review is going to look
into each of these four separately.
Phone use interrupting study time. Student use phones for an excessive amount of
time, which gives reason to believe that this time spent is the main caused of addiction in phones.
Researchers worry that the longer one has a phone then the more they are expected to be
addicted. The longer one uses a phone, the more dependent they become towards the phone.
According to Cagan, Unsal and Calik (2014), as the addiction to a phone increases so does the
consequences of either failure of bad grades in school.
The longer a student is working on studying or homework, then the more the motivation
and attitude will decrease. Calderwood, Ackerman, and Conklin (2014), concluded that students
spend more on phone when multitasking with homework. As a result they found that the longer
period of time someone is on their phone the higher increase of negative effects there will be. As
opposed to the less time spent on phone, then the great the positive effects. We can conclude
from this study that it is to a great advantage if students put phone distractions away, and pay
more attention and stay focus on the task at hand.
Cagan et al. (2014) concluded that dependency of a phone increases when time spent on
phone increases, and that grades will decrease. Grades are affected mainly for the reason that
students waste precious time on phones, playing games, texting, social networking, rather than
focusing responsibilities. These bad grades will then produce a negative health causing
depression in students which will be explained in more detail in the second group of study.
Multitasking while studying and during class. A large amount of students are
multitasking with phone rather than focusing on the important issues, and that those students
need better study strategies in order to stay on task. Constantly checking a social network is

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damaging, not only is there just one, there are many other social networks. Three of the most
popular, as stated by Rosen, Carrier, and Cheever (2013), are Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
There are many other negative influence out there, and the more a student multitasks the less
they are to be focused. Calderwood et al. (2014), noticed two things, one that phone time is
putting in with time that should be used for studying, and two, that students believed they could
multitask without being too distracted, and that student would incorporate their phones with their
study time. We know that students are distracted during study time, this study is conducted in
order to observe how often students multitask in a classroom during lecture. Also to
understand why they are distracted and the outcome of phone use in class. They found that
students will focus for a short amount of time, then take a break by using their phone.
Those who text more often than others are more easily distracted and can be pulled away
from their studying with little effort. The ones who use phone less are less distracted and use
phone and internet when it is needed not when it is wanted.
Texting disrupting students. According to Dietz, and Henrich (2014), adolescent age
people send approximately over 2,000 text a month. Also when compared to other ways of
communication, texting is the most preferred way. Students reported to over excessive use of
texting, reported texting during work, school, and even in the shower. Those who text often are
more likely to text during class than those who do not. Texting in class can be a huge distraction
to learning new information, which can affect the grade point average (GPA) in bad way. Study
habits are also interfered by phone usage. This test shows that those who text during class will
have a lower percentage score than those who do not.
According to Harwood et al. (2014), texting is a part of our everyday lives and people
feel like it is a necessity to text someone. Lepp, Barkley, and Karpinski (2014), found that texting

RISKS OF INTERNET AND PHONE ADDICTION

is a negative factor towards the GPA of a student, and also the longer period of time the internet
is being used, the more anxiety one will have to use their phone constantly. As a result GPA and
grades dropped and the students reported with less satisfaction. Researchers also concluded that
the amount of time does not affect the consumer, but what does affect them is that they do with
this, what seems to be limitless internet access. This being that the consumer uses it for suitable
reasons, not just social networking.
Boredom in students. By surveying students, researchers are able to conclude that
students used phones in class, while studying and when bored. (Lepp et al. 2014; Dietz and
Henrich 2014; Calderwood et al. 2014; Kuss et al. 2013; and Sahin et al. 2013).
Rosen et al. (2013), stated that students switched to phones whenever they felt bored. The
students get an emotional gratification from social media. Students get a habit of using phone
when becoming bored, and are becoming bored often.
When bored students take an extensive amount of breaks during lectures, doing
homework, and also during study time. According to Lepp et al. (2014) the main use of phones
during these breaks are for checking social networks, sending messages, and usage of apps. As
technology and society develop new ways to entertain the consumers, the more distracted
consumers will become and cause a greater interference with the daily lives.
Lepp et al. (2014), also claimed that the use of cell phones are increasing and students are
reported to using cell phones when feeling bored. Researchers from this study claimed that there
is a feeling of satisfaction that is brought from using phones and is very indulging.
Second group of Studies

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Phone, Internet and Health. This group of studies are mainly focusing on the health
effects that may arise from phones and internet. These health effects include anxiety, stress,
depression, and sleep loss.
A good nights sleep is a great way to remaining healthy, and staying focus. With todays
technology, especially with phones it sometimes seems as though there are no off switches. It
appears as though phones are the first and last thing people see when they wake up and go to
bed. According to Sahin, Ozdemir, Unsal, and Temiz (2013), students use their phones till they
get tired or fall asleep but because of phone use they seem to be getting tired later on. This may
be due to the fact that they sleep with phones plugged next to them and stay up late watching
movies, involved in a late conversation, caught up in a game or scrolling through social
networks, as stated by Sahin et al. (2013).
By determining the addiction level in students Sahin et al. (2013), was able measure their
sleep quality, and was able to conclude that the more addicted someone becomes with their
phone the worse their sleep quality will become. The younger the age a person is to receive a
phone the higher the risk they are to become addicted. Tsai et al. (2009), stated that those who
are addicted to internet and phones regularly skip the most important way to start the day,
breakfast. A majority of participants stay up late surfing the web, which is a reason for sleeping
in late, thus the reason for skipping breakfast. Both staying up late and not eating breakfast give
indication for lower energy and impaired academics.
Health. Many people are buying cell phones, and because cell phones can be used by
almost any age, researchers worry that the longer one has a phone them more expected they are
to be addicted. Cagan et al. (2014). Technology is always advancing, and as it advances so does
the use of internet. When compared to the 1.133 billion people that use the internet, young adults

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such as college students are the ones who use it most (Tsai et al., 2009). Which is why a majority
of participants being tested are in college.
Internet and phone addiction causes the loss of sleep which can decrease the energy
levels, although sleep loss is a huge factor to health and grades, there are many other health risks
that arise. The more attached one is to their phone the higher the chance of them being stressed
and having anxiety will be. They found that stress and anxiety develops when texting a person
and they do not receive a text back right away, or they feel like they have the need to text back
right away. This will make them worried and feel isolated. In many of the participants, they feel
different or unusual when not having their phone with them, because they use it so often they
become attached Harwood et al. (2014)
Lee, Chang, Lin, and Cheng (2014), found that those who have an uncontrollable habit of
phone use show symptoms of social anxiety, and have a higher need for materialistic things.
They also found that more females when compared to males have anxiety, and that males are
more materialistic than females. Reasons for social anxiety is that consumers are used to
computer contact rather than human interaction. Meaning that cell phone users are used to
texting, or calling a person that they get anxiety when its time to communicate face to face.
As technology changes to newer and better products, the more people try to keep up with
the newest trends. People use phones so often that they begin to develop a need to constantly
check it, as stated by Lee et al. (2014). People will continuously grab and look at their phones.
Obsessive use of a phone but also outcomes such as depression. Researchers are certain
that depression is harmful to a students way of learning. The rise of stress with mobile phones
may raise due to the fact that more people are reliant on using phones according to Cagan et al.
(2014). Consumers feel like they have the need to text or communicate with someone, and this

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constant want to communicate can be stressful, and also show signs of anxiety. These bad grades
will then produce depression in the students.
Other health risk that researchers noticed are that the internet addicts show signs of
isolation, depression, family and spouse problems, academic problems, job loss and neurotic
personality disorder. These people with neuroticism prefer to do things alone, and have low
social support. Researchers also noted that the lonelier a person is, the more likely they are to
become addicted to the internet (Tsai et al., 2009).
Main use of both internet and phones. Computers could not be taken everywhere and
internet was mainly used when needed, as opposed with today in which internet is used when
wanted mainly.
According to Kuss, Griffiths, and Binder (2013), there has been an increase of internet
addiction in users, especially since the update in games, social media, and just how easy it is to
access internet. Use of internet as well as overuse of games, texting, emailing, and social
networking, claimed Harwood, Dooley, Scott, and Joiner (2014).
The two main sites that people use most are the social media sites, and online shopping
sites. Internet addicted shoppers can get all shopping done without having to go from store to
store, with just a click away (Kuss et al. 2013).
Researchers found that of the two genders, more males than females are likely to become
addicted to the internet. Why more males than females? Well, according to Tsai et al. (2009), it is
mainly due to the access of pornography and other sexual sites.
Personality as a factor. Three researchers, Tsai et al (2009); Harwood et al. (2014); and
Lee et al. (2014), observed the personality traits of participants in hoping to discover the relation
between personality and phone addiction. Personality traits are a huge factor as well, if a person

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needs emotional support but cannot get it from people, they turn to the internet for support.
These researchers believe that internet addiction depends on the persons personality traits, the
life style how close relationships they have and whether or not they have a psychiatric illness.
Some personality traits found are neuroticism, compulsiveness and addictive behaviors. Tsai et
al. (2009), looked closely for neuroticism mainly because people are focusing more on how to
make themselves look better, and how others view them based on pictures and followers, from
these social networks. Also looking for signs of being able to restrain oneself, social anxiety, and
materialism. Lee et al. (2014) claims that the reasons for men being more materialistic is that
men, as stated by want nice things in order to get womens attention.
Harwood et al. (2014) found that depending on the type of relationship a person has with
their phones can lead to both depression and stress. This experiment shows that the longer one
uses a cell phone the more likely they are to become attached to it.
Comparative Analysis
Similarities
First Similarities. Both Tsai et al. 2009, and Sahin et al. 2013, linked the excessive use
of both internet and phone with sleep loss. Both claiming that consumers typically stay up late on
the internet or on their phones, and are going to bed late.
Second Similarities. Four out of the ten empirical studies examined the relationship
between the consumer and their pone. All proclaim that those with phones get a feeling that they
need to text someone, or talk and develop anxiety because of this. These people will purposely
go out of their way to find someone to talk to. They also claim that people get anxiety when
someone wont text them or if they do not text right away. (Harwood et al. 2014; Cagan et al.
2014; Lee et al. 2014; and Kuss et al. 2013).

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Third Similarities. Four of the ten articles mention the use of multitasking with students.
All studies point out that students were switching to different things while studying. They all
claim that this multitasking is a unreliable way of studying, because a person can easily lose
focus and become distracted. (Lepp et al. 2014; Dietz and Henrich 2014; Calderwood et al. 2014;
and Rosen et al. 2013).
Fourth Similarities. Half of the articles in this study discovered that students, when
asked, stated that the number one reason for using their phones or internet while in class or
during study time was because of boredom. (Lepp et al. 2014; Dietz and Henrich 2014;
Calderwood et al. 2014; Kuss et al. 2013; and Sahin et al. 2013).
Differences
First Differences. While all of the ten studies used a method of questionnaires and
surveys to obtain their conclusions, two studies also observed students. Both Rosen et al. (2013),
and Dietz and Henrch (2014), observed students to gain the answers they were looking for.
Discussion
As the amount of technology rises, so does the number of people that purchase these
technological products. These articles demonstrated the effects that arise from both phone and
internet addiction. It is clear that if consumers care about their health and academics they need to
learn how to restrain their selves and limit their use of phones as well as the internet, otherwise
they will be drastically affected. It would be a wise plan to help prevent this addiction by
educating the public how to restrain before becoming dependent on technology.
Some limitations or flaws in this study are that many articles gave a series of questions.
Not all people tell the truth, even if it is anonymous, they tell us what they want us to hear.

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Phones are made for practical reasons, but consumers obviously dont know how to spend their
time on the phones efficiently and need help to overcome this addiction. Technology is always
going to growing and as phones are going to be able to do more things, there will be newer
networking - people need to learn to control themselves.
Students arent able to focus with this technology and this could carry on when they
become older and get their jobs. These individuals need to seek help, or phone companies should
give limitations to downloading the amount of apps. If we keep going at this rate, future
generations will not even be able to imagine how one can live life without this technology
constantly in their reach.

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References
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Cellular Phone and Investigation on the Relationsship Between the Addiction and the
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Dietz, S., Henrich, C. (2014). Texting as a distraction to learning in college students. Computers
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