The reason why people use digital technology is changing. And along with it, urban relationships. When gadgets become the focal point of one's life, eating into work, family life, friendships and leisure, it's an 'addiction', just like any other addiction. In India, digital addiction is not yet considered for a clinical diagnosis. But excessive use of internet by young people that takes them away from the real world for many more hours than experts consider healthy is a serious concern around the world.
If holding a gadget makes you euphoric and the absence of it makes you miserable, it's time to call on the counsellor to check for addiction. In 2014, NIMHANS in Bengaluru gave interesting insights into the tech-addiction age: 3.5 percent of those seeking treatment were seriously dependent on digital technology. And 11 percent of addicts were in physical and psychological distress. People are getting addicted to technology without realising it, It is a psychological problem which has a physical outcome and can snowball into a societal problem.
For the young and impressionable, the virtual world becomes the reality, often with disastrous consequences. With a rising number of cases of gadget addiction pouring into counsellors' chambers, mental health experts are coining such terms to describe behavioural changes that come with excessive gadget use. A number of youngsters are reporting disorders such as Selfitis and Vibrating Phone Syndrome. Be it attention or social acceptance or just a burning desire to get a peek into people's lives, FOMO or the Fear of Missing Out is gripping a large number of tech addicts.
The symptoms are clear, when the user compromises on work and leisure activities to spend time on the smartphone, it marks the beginning of addiction. Experts link tech addiction to other personality disorders such as low self-esteem and a desire to be accepted. For most, the virtual world is a bed of roses without the thorns that come with real life.
Internet addiction can cause neurological changes similar to those with alcohol and cocaine dependency.It leads to problems with dexterity and adversely impacts mind-body coordination.Another common complaint is pain in the neck, hand and fingers which is a result of repetitive strain injury, when the same muscles get worked because of poor posture or frequent texting. Constant exposure to electromagnetic radiation interferes with cognitive memory and sleep. The heat generated from the gadget irritates the surface tissues of the skin. We have no concrete evidence yet to link tumours to mobile radiation."
There's no quick-fix solution. Going gadget-less isn't always feasible. And people often slip into their old digital routine after a spell of abstinence. The new buzzword is ''digital hygiene": Create a corner for your gadgets when you go to sleep, throw the television remote and mobile phone out of the bedroom. But, like every other new-age detox routine, new frills are being added to turn 'digital detox' into an experiential marketing platform the world over.
Detox camps and holidays are being advertised; wellness retreats with gadget detox packages are coming up; hotels are setting new rules of gadgetry engagement; 'Detox Yoga' is being offered, with a touch of back-to-nature energy healing experience. Workplaces, too, are laying down norms with tech-free spaces and no-gadget work time and urging employees to reclaim their weekend time.