An Analysis about the factors of Smartphone Addiction on English

Literature Students in State University of Medan

Aldito Yazum Fiendra 1), Laura Mifana Ginting 2)
Universitas Negeri Medan 1), 2)
Email :
alditoyazim@gmail.com
lauramifana@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

This study aims to investigate the factors of smartphone addiction among english
literature students in State University of Medan and to explore its association with personal
factors. The data collection technique is by giving questionnaires to students. The object of
this research are the students of english literature and the results showed that most of the
participants are having smartphone addiction and they almost use their phones everyday.

Keywords : Smartphone, Smartphone use, Smartphone addiction, learning activities

INTRODUCTION

A smartphone is a portable computer device that combines mobile telephone and

computing functions into one unit. Users can make phone calls and send text messages.
Smartphones also can browse the Internet and run software programs like a computer.
Smartphones help people interact with friends and meet new people. The first smartphone
was produced in 1992, but the term “smartphone” was designated in 1995, when smartphone
functions evolved to include more than communications. Currently, smartphones provide
entertainment, social media, health monitoring, productivity, text talk, photo editing, and
many more features in one handheld device. In the last decade, the number of smartphone
users has grown exponentially and has become an indispensable part of our daily lives. In
every country surveyed, those under 35 are more likely to own smartphones, to use the
internet and to use social media than those ages 50 and older. Based on Statista Research
Department (2022), the number of smartphone users in Indonesia is estimated to reach 199.2
million users in 2021. Currently, Indonesia is the fourth-largest smartphone market
worldwide after China, India and the United States.
 Recent studies found that smartphone usage has become an addiction nowadays,
especially among young consumers. Smartphone addiction is a form of technological
addiction. Generally, it is similar to internet addiction. Smartphone addiction also defined as
the excessive use of smartphones characterised by uncontrolled usage, neglect of daily
activities, and negative consequences for the user's life (Otsuka et al., 2022). Smartphones are
a fundamental tool for most people nowadays, and young generations make the most intense
use of and are strongly attached to these devices. Many factors are associated with
smartphone addiction and other patterns of smartphone overuse among young people
especially college students. These include for example, depression and anxiety, loneliness
and shyness, low psychological well-being, low self-esteem and others. To address this
research, the present study explored the prevalence of smartphone addiction and factors
associated with smartphone addiction among English Literature Students in State University
of Medan.

LITERARY REVIEW

These days, using smartphones in the class is extremely popular as an indispensable

learning assistant tool. In the era of digital education, smartphones, tablet, or laptop would
expectedly replace physical books/ study documents. Many studies have investigated
educational outcomes of smartphone addiction, and there have been inconsistencies in
research findings. Bohmer et al. (2011) found that users typically spent almost one hour per
day on smartphones, and that the average session duration was less than one minute. On the
other hand, Smartphone is known to be very popular among university students,
increasing their social inclusion and connectedness as well as providing a sense of security
as they can contact others in times of distress or emergency (Balakrishnan & Raj,
2012). Although most of students own Smartphone not for learning purpose, but
indirectly Smartphone can be directed to useful and beneficial purposes. According to A.
Gurcan, S. Ozhan, R. Uslu in (Karagün, E., Ekiz, Z.D., Sarper Kahveci, M, 2018), the
addiction to digital technology aimed at the loss of control over the excessive use of
technology and the use of unlimited technology can cause serious adverse impacts for
someone.

RESEARCH METHOD

The research design of this study uses a quantitative and qualitative approach in the
Survey design. According to Neuman (2012), qualitative data is in the form of photos,
Written words, phrases, or symbols that describe or represent people, actions, and events In
social life. Data collections in this research using Google form to collecting the data from the
participants by asking some question that related to the title about having smartphone
addiction and they almost use their phones everyday.
 This helps in identifying how many English literature students that have smartphone
addiction and they almost use their phones everyday.In this study, the researcher collected
data from questions from the questionnaire and data from the answer of the participants. Data
from participants will analyze in the form of circle grafik.

FINDINGS

The target audience for this study is Unimed students, particularly millennial
teenagers majoring in English literature, because many millennial teenagers now use
smartphones. The focus of this article is on the examination of real. It takes several stages to
write a literature review, including (1) determining the topic to be discussed, (2) looking for
relevant sources, (3) determining strategy and development, (4) reviewing each journal and
book, (5) writing reviews, and (6) applying the results of literature studies to the research to
be conducted.

1.1 Diagram of Using Smartphones Based On Questionnaire

Based on questionnaire, there are 13 respondents. All respondents were from english
literature students in state university of medan. From the diagram above, there are 100% of
them are using smartphones everyday.
1.2 Diagram Languages Of Activities Mostly Respondents Do On their Smartphone Based
On Questionnaire

In regards to the activities mostly respondents do on their smartphone, there are

61,5% of respondents use smartphone for communicating with family and friends, 23,1% use
smartphone for academic tasks and 15,4% use their smartphones for other purpose. It means
mostly of respondents are using their smartphones for communicating with family and
friends.

1.3 Diagram Of Hours Respondents Use On Their Smartphone

Based on the result, it is mentioned that 61,5% of respondents use their smartphone less than
10 hours and 38,5% of respondents use their smartphone more than 10 hours. Therefore, less
than 10 hours becomes more dominant in use smartphone by respondents.
1.4 Diagram Of Effects According To Smartphone Addiction Based On Questionnaire

From the information above, most of the respondents are having insomnia (Diificulty
Sleeping) while have smartphone addiction. It shows 53,8% of respondents answers Insomnia
and 46,2% said that the effects they got after having smartphone addiction is lack of direct
interaction.

1.5 Diagram Of Respondents Overcome According On Their Smartphone Addiction

As explained above, 84, 6% of respondents are doing other activities such us support or doing
hobbies to overcome their smartphone addiction. Meanwhile, the rest of respondents or
15,4% are doing limit the time of smartphone use.

DISCUSSION

A. Use of Gadgets
The utilization of the internet with this device is really helpful. There are many different
methods to use gadgets. Is the technology utilized as an addition to conventional learning, or
even a replacement in the learning process.
1. Gadgets as an addition to learning
This technology-based learning style is frequently used in our education. With the limitations
of information technology in the regions so that student has different abilities in terms of
technology. For instance, some pupils do not gadget, so they are unable to use it. Students
still learn in class from the teacher even when they are unable to use the internet.

2.Gadgets as a support in learning activities

Gadgets can support learning. For example, in English lessons, the teacher gives assignments
to look for material on the internet about tenses or pronunciation. So this can be said as one
of the supporting learning. Students become active in looking for assignments on the internet,
not only active on social media.rather than just using social media.

B. Smartphone Addiction
Smartphone addiction, sometimes colloquially known as “nomophobia” (fear of being
without a mobile phone), is often fueled by an Internet overuse problem or Internet
addiction disorder. After all, it's rarely the phone or tablet itself that creates the
compulsion, but rather the games, apps, and online worlds it connects us to.

C. Causes and effects of smartphone addiction

While you can experience impulse-control problems with a laptop or desktop
computer, the size and convenience of smartphones and tablets means that we can take
them just about anywhere and gratify our compulsions at any time. In fact, most of us
are rarely ever more than five feet from our smartphones. Like the use of drugs and
alcohol, they can trigger the release of the brain chemical dopamine and alter your
mood. You can also rapidly build up tolerance so that it takes more and more time In
front of these screens to derive the same pleasurable reward.

Heavy smartphone use can often be symptomatic of other underlying problems, such
as stress, anxiety, depression, or loneliness. At the same time, it can also exacerbate
these problems. If you use your smartphone as a “security blanket” to relieve feelings
of anxiety, loneliness, or awkwardness in social situations, for example, you’ll
succeed only in cutting yourself off further from people around you. Staring at your
phone will deny you the face-to-face interactions that can help to meaningfully
connect you to others, alleviate anxiety, and boost your mood. In other words, the
remedy you’re choosing for your anxiety (engaging with your smartphone), is actually
making your anxiety worse.
CONCLUSION
Based on the results of the research, I can draw some conclusions as follows because
the using of smartphone that can make an addiction. From the data there are 100%
students that always use smartphone everyday and 61,5% of them using smartphone
more than 10 hours each day. It proving that the percentage of people have an
smartphone addiction is bigger than people using smartphone normally.
Smartphone It is helpful in learning English literature students, and it is helpful in
communicating, but addiction to the smartphone has many bad influences, too.
Therefore engage in other activities such as hoby to limit the time of smartphone use
to avoid the effects of smartphone addiction.
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https://www.helpguide.org/articles/addictions/smartphone-addiction.htm