The invention of social media’s never-ending scroll birthed an unforeseen addiction to the internet, and now, researchers are attempting to measure screen dependency in new studies.
Scientists from the University of Surrey investigated the association between age and internet usage, finding that youth and internet addiction were linked.
“We found that the younger you are, the more likely you are to be addicted to the internet, and this tendency decreases with age,” lead author Dr. Brigitte Stangl said in a statement.
The researchers, who sought to identify problematic internet usage, addiction and its severity, surveyed 796 participants for the study, finding that those 24 years or younger averaged six hours online, while those older than 24 only spent an average of four.
The study, published in the Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, coincides with emerging data about the negative impacts it has on the mental health of American youth.
Based on the survey responses, the University of Surrey researchers were able to categorize screen users into five groups: casual users, initial users, experimenters, addicts-in-denial and addicts.
Casual users, which accounted for approximately 14% of respondents and averaged 33 years of age, went online for “specific tasks” and logged off without lingering, showing no indications of addiction and weren’t interested in using novel apps.
Initial users — 22% of those surveyed aged 26 years on average — found themselves “online longer than they initially planned” and would neglect chores in lieu of screen time, while experimenters, which were approximately 21% of participants, felt feelings of unease or anxiety when not “connected to the internet.”
“Once they go online, they feel better,” the researchers described of experimenters, who were aged between 22 and 24 years and were more open to trying new applications.
The addicts-in-denial, which included about 17% of participants, displayed “addictive behaviors” such as making relationships on the internet and “neglecting real-world responsibilities to be online.” Yet, the technology savants would never admit to feeling nervous when not scrolling through social media.
Lastly, the true addicts — comprising about 22% of participants — openly acknowledge their screen dependency and the negative impacts it could have on their day-to-day, spending a “significantly greater” amount of time online than the casual user.
While there was no correlation between internet usage and gender, the researchers found that cell phone use was linked to higher levels of addiction and that emotional responses to technology predicted future behavior toward augmented reality.
“Our study underscores the need for tailored interventions and support for individuals at various stages of internet addiction,” Stangl said.
“The findings will certainly influence the design and development of digital services and [augmented reality] applications, ensuring they cater to the diverse needs of users in the current digital environment.”