Technology Addiction

Calendar icon Last Updated: 07/28/2025

Reading Time: 6 minutes

Technology addiction is defined as the persistent, compulsive use of technological devices despite negative consequences. While this once centered around computers and laptops, it has grown to include digital platforms like the internet and social media.

According to one report, 85% of American adults cannot go more than one day without hopping online. Additionally, 32% of teens say they’re addicted to their smartphones, and one in five adolescents wakes up at night to scroll social media or check their profiles. In all, the report explains that the average internet user will spend around 43% of their waking life online.

These numbers make it easy to see how someone could go from a casual tech user to addicted in a very short timeframe. Those who suffer from technology addiction tend to prioritize device use above all other daily activities and responsibilities. Technology addiction can lead to serious problems surrounding your career, relationships, and other life areas as a result of your spending an excessive amount of time on the computer and neglecting these important obligations.

Understanding how this addiction works can help you determine whether you or a loved one is suffering from a real problem and needs professional treatment.

Since many Americans use computers or smartphones for hours at a time for reasons like work or school, not everyone who spends an excessive amount of time on the computer is necessarily suffering from addiction or at any risk. Still, knowing the signs and symptoms of technology addiction can bring you closer to getting the help you need.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Technology Addiction?

The amount of time someone spends on their device may seem like the most obvious, tell-tale sign a person is suffering from technology addiction. However, technology addiction is characterized by a wide range of compulsive behaviors that can cause a serious emotional and psychological upset, along with problems that affect your livelihood.

Common signs of technology addiction:

  • Being preoccupied with tech devices, like laptops, computers, tablets, and smartphones
  • Experiencing strong urges to use the device for any reason
  • Compulsively checking email, using the internet, or scrolling social media daily
  • Skipping fun and important events and activities to spend time on devices
  • Spending more time on devices than with friends and loved ones
  • Being defensive about the amount of time you spend on devices
  • Making excuses or trying to justify your tech use
  • Performing other device activities when you should be doing work or schoolwork
  • Lying to friends and family about technology use
  • Feeling anxious or depressed surrounding device use
  • Mood swings and irritability about not being able to use devices
  • Spending more time engaging with technology than initially intended
  • Loss of sense of time when using technology
  • Thinking about what you will do on your device when away from it
  • Inability to reduce or stop device use despite attempts to cut down or quit
  • Mixed feelings of guilt and euphoria when using devices
  • Using devices to escape negative feelings and emotions

Those who suffer from technology addiction and who spend ample amounts of time on the computer may also experience one or more physical symptoms.

Physical symptoms that may indicate technology addiction:

  • Sleep disturbances or insomnia caused by blue-light exposure
  • Headaches and migraines
  • Dry eyes and vision problems
  • Neck and backaches
  • Changes in weight
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome

Side Effects of Technology Addiction

Technology addiction is associated with several negative consequences that can seriously impact your family life, social life, and work life. It can also affect your physical and mental health, and lead to serious health conditions that could take years to treat or reverse.

Common effects of technology addiction:

  • Inability or difficulty with interacting with people socially in real life
  • Loss of pleasure in activities that take place in real life
  • Overspending on computers, smartphones, tablets, and related accessories
  • Loss of relationships due to excessive device use
  • A decline in work or school performance due to excessive unrelated technology use
  • Negative feelings associated with uncontrollable device use
  • The onset of mental illness like depression or anxiety
  • Lowered self-esteem due to a lack of social interaction
  • Poor personal hygiene
  • Weight gain from sitting down for long periods
  • Vision impairment

Many effects of technology addiction can be improved or reversed with professional treatment. For instance, family dynamics can be improved using family therapy. During these sessions, you can mend relationships that may have been strained or broken on behalf of technology addiction. Group counseling and 12-step support group therapy may help rebuild your confidence and self-esteem after becoming socially isolated due to excessive device use.

How Does Technology Addiction Interact With Drug Addiction?

Technology addiction and substance use disorder (SUD) are similar in that they share the same set of compulsive behaviors. Just like those who suffer from technology addiction, those who suffer from substance abuse tend to isolate themselves from friends and family, lie about their drug use habits, and are unable to stop using drugs despite attempts to quit.

However, instead of using drugs and alcohol to make themselves feel better, people who suffer from technology addiction perform activities on their devices that offer them similar feelings of joy, happiness, and euphoria.

Technology addiction may increase your risk for developing a substance use disorder due to the way iot can affect your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Those who are unable to achieve the same feelings of pleasure and euphoria once experienced from technology use may use drugs and alcohol to improve their mood and feel better about themselves.

For example, those who feel lonely after losing friends on behalf of their smartphone obsession may abuse alcohol to escape negative emotions. Those who suffer physical symptoms triggered by tech addiction, such as headaches and backaches, may turn to drugs like heroin and opiates for pain relief.

The co-existence of technology addiction and a substance use disorder is known as a dual diagnosis. People who suffer from a dual diagnosis can be treated for both conditions at the same time to prevent one of the disorders from intensifying and becoming worse.

Fortunately, those who need help recovering from a dual diagnosis can be safely and effectively treated for both addiction types at a professional addiction treatment center. Detoxification and behavioral therapies are among the most common treatments used to treat a co-occurring drug use disorder and behavioral addiction.

Treatments for Technology Addiction and SUD

Technology addiction is treated using a range of behavioral therapies that focus on addressing the root psychological causes of your addiction. Many treatment programs for technology addiction are similar to those for drug use disorders, but without detoxification since no substances are involved.

Addiction therapy is available in either an inpatient or outpatient environment, though inpatient or residential rehab treatment is recommended so you can develop new healthy lifestyle habits while focusing on your recovery.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), 12-step support group therapy, and group counseling are just some evidence-based therapies for technology addiction. CBT helps you identify and change harmful thoughts and behaviors driving your addiction, while support groups and group counseling can help you develop new friendships, overcome social isolation, and boost your self-esteem. Motivational enhancement and individual therapy are other evidence-based therapies for technology addiction.

If you think you or a loved one may be at risk for technology addiction, follow these steps to minimize your risk and avoid the negative consequences associated with addiction:

  • Limit the amount of time you spend on technological devices
  • Commit to only using your devices for work, school, and other important tasks like paying bills and scheduling appointments.
  • Set limits on where you can use your devices
  • Seek social support in the form of friends, family, and support groups that can help you stay on track with your goals
  • Keep a diary to track your tech-based activities and the amount of time you spend using devices

Use our directory to find resources in your state that can help you fight and overcome technology addiction. Professional treatment can help you address and modify thoughts, behaviors, and unhealthy habits so you can benefit from improved physical, mental, and emotional health.