Smartphone and Internet Addiction Affect Cognitive Functions in Young Adults

Since Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone in 2007, the sales of smartphones have expanded dramatically. The rise in smartphone usage is evidence of this. According to recent data, more than 6.6 billion people use smartphones worldwide to communicate, browse the web, or simply play video games.1 In recent years, the duration of smartphone usage has increased among most of the global population due to its wide range of applications.2 The excessive use of smartphones with associated dysfunction, withdrawal difficulties, and other phenomena similar to substance addiction is referred to as Problematic Smartphone Use (PSU).3 According to research on PSU, PSU is more likely to affect people who are young, female, and highly educated.1 PSU is defined as “smartphone use associated with at least some element of dysfunctional use, such as anxiety when the phone was not available, or neglect of other activities”.4 PSU is linked to various mental health conditions such anxiety, depression, and others.5 The excessive use of cell phones, often known as “nomophobia”, is a type of technological addiction that is quickly emerging as a serious social issue throughout the world.