Find out where you fall on the study's internet addiction spectrum
Researchers are now striving to quantify screen dependency in new studies as a result of the invention of social media's never-ending scroll, which gave rise to an unanticipated online addiction.
Researchers from the University of Surrey examined the relationship between age and internet usage and discovered a connection between young people and online addiction.
Lead author Dr. Brigitte Stangl stated in a release, "We observed that the younger you are, the more likely you are to be an internet addict, and this propensity decreases with age.
Researchers contacted 796 individuals for the study in an effort to detect problematic internet usage, addiction, and the severity of it. They discovered that those under 24 spent an average of six hours online, compared to those over 24 who only spent an average of four.
The study, which was published in the Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, is timed to new information regarding the harm it does to American youth's mental health.
The University of Surrey researchers were able to divide screen users into five groups based on survey responses: casual users, first-time users, experimenters, addicts-in-denial, and addicts.
Casual users, who made up about 14% of respondents and had an average age of 33, went online for "specific tasks" and quickly logged off, displaying no signs of addiction and having no interest in trying out new apps.
Initial users, or 22% of survey respondents who were "online longer than they initially planned" and on average 26 years old, would put off doing chores in favor of screen time, while experimenters, or about 21% of participants, experienced feelings of unease or anxiety when "not connected to the internet."
The experimenters, who were between the ages of 22 and 24 and were more willing to test new applications, were regarded as feeling better once they went online by the researchers.
About 17% of the individuals were addicts-in-denial, and they exhibited "addictive behaviors" such developing online relationships and "neglecting real-world responsibilities to be online." The IT experts, however, would never own that they get anxious when not scrolling via social media.
Last but not least, a "significantly greater" amount of time is spent online than the casual user, with the actual addicts (about 22% of participants) openly acknowledging their screen reliance and the potential harmful effects it may have on their day-to-day.
The researchers discovered that cell phone use was associated with higher degrees of addiction and that emotional responses to technology predicted future behavior toward augmented reality, despite the fact that there was no correlation between gender and internet usage.
According to Stangl, "our study highlights the need for tailored interventions and support for people at different stages of internet addiction."
"The results will definitely have an impact on how digital services and [augmented reality] applications are designed and developed, ensuring that they meet the varied needs of users in the current digital environment."