Technology & Cellular Phone Addiction

23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 

-1 Corinthians 10:23

New International Version (NIV)

In 2012, I got an iPhone 5, and I must say, it was a $700 investment that allowed me to do so many unnecessary and necessary things with the swipe of a finger. Some of the necessary things I do are communicating with my 'boss', paying bills, and making important phone calls. Some unnessary things I do are playing games, watching telenovelas, and browsing through screens pointlessly and direction-less-ly  for something to do. I have had several conversations about the addictive quality of advanced devices like these.  In the past, I was critical of my sister for watching TV on her phone, when I didn't have one. The television and computer screen are so much bigger, to me it just did not make sense why she would watch TV or movies on her phone. Now I understand. I take my phone to the kitchen, to bed, it is on the counter when I shower, and it is one of the first things that I touch when I wake up in the morning. 

There is one big problem here a lot of the moments that could be spent with God can be sucked away, by dependence on these types of devices. I lost my addictive device twice, once on the way from the hospital after a trip to the hospital at four o'clock in the morning (I was distracted), and later when I was moving in with a relative and carrying too many bags (I was also distracted), both times I shed tears. I lost a $700 item. Both times that I lost it I prayed. God is good. He worked in the hearts of honest people, and they returned my lost item. 

Then next question, is how can I honour him with it. I have set a daily reminder to read a devotional first thing in the morning to start my day in God's word. Sometimes I do, but I confess that more often than not I sleep in. Devices and the internet can be used for good but sometimes they can become a problem. 

31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.-1 Corinthians 10:31New International Version (NIV)

I would like to share three passages from article in Psychology Today; a popular website and magazine analysing issues by experts, doctors, and scholars. Note: That technology can actually affect the chemical balance in our brain. 

(We get a)“dopamine hit” caused by the constant reinforcement we get from messages, videos and social media."

"Dr. Kimberly Young a psychologist who directs the Center for Internet Addiction says that while a problematic relationship with technology or the internet can resemble that of alcohol dependence or abuse, it isn’t as black and white. “Even with drinking, it isn’t clear how much is too much. What we focus on instead is the effects and symptoms caused by a person’s relationship to the internet.” Dr. Young recommends evaluating the impact that your dependence on your phone and other devices has on your ability to be present in other areas of your life. She recommends asking yourself if you are able to control your use of technology and not allow it to control you. It is helpful to consider how your phone impacts your personal relationships, your time with your family, your efficiency at work and even your stress load. There is no easy solution for eliminating technology from our lives, or even for reducing our use. Dr. Young suggests focusing instead on developing healthy ways to incorporate technology into your life."  

We say to ourselves, “I’m just going to check my email” or look at “that one text” and then we find that we’ve spent three hours perusing Facebook.Dr. Ned Hallowell, a psychiatrist who is an expert on technology addiction, calls (this) “Screen Sucking”. 

From reading the whole article, I find that there are problematic signs that you have a problem, but four main ones are that you have:

• Lack of peace or restful periods without technology
• Inseparability with devices 
• Lack of dependability on one's own word when trying to separate oneself from a device
• Lack of self-control with devices 

There are help sections in the article, if you want to read more click here:

http://m.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-new-you/201312/are-you-addicted-your-phone-change-technology-addiction

Let our end result be what is written in Colossians...

17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

-Colossians 3:17

New International Version (NIV)