by J. Lang Wood

Created on: July 18, 2009   Last Updated: August 17, 2009

We live in an age of amazing technology, where contact with people across the world is just the push of a button away, and we can carry these amazing devices with us everywhere. But do we want to be that connected? Is there a point where staying connected becomes less of a convenience and more of a burden? And can it sometimes be a habit that gets out of control? And we begin to ask: Are we addicted to our technology?

When Is Staying Connected an Addiction?

'Crackberry' is the nickname given to the ubiquitous BlackBerry device that is seen in the hands of so many people. That nickname clearly shows how addictive the new technology can be. The Internet is a place where there is always company to be found, where you can find limitless diversions and an infinite number of interesting things to engage the mind and senses. It is almost a little better than real life, which has its moments of alienation and boredom and routine. Texting has become the language of the day, and you can connect day and night with new friends and old, for constant companionship and attention. When you begin to feel anxious, lonely, and fearful when kept from your Blackberry or iPhone, you know it's time to re-evaluate your relationship with technology. When the Internet and all it offers seems brighter and livelier than real life, you might have a bit of an obsession. And when you spend more hours connected to others via your technology than you do interacting with others in real life, you might have a full-blown addiction.

Why It's a Problem

Humans are social beings. We depend on each other for survival, for connection, and for validation. We need to feel like we belong to something and that we are accepted by our group. The Internet is a such group, but it lacks the personal identification and social rules that give us legitimate feedback on our words and actions and subtle limits on our behaviors. It is a false reality, in fact, and one that we can easily confuse with true reality. In our minds, what we experience through our technology can feel only too real. But trying to adapt the world of technology into the world of reality brings problems.

Technology can also become a too-easy way to interact with others. You can turn your device on or off on a whim, which you cannot do with real people in real life. Those obsessed with their technology can often seem cold, unfeeling, and unreachable, because they are habituated to patterns of behavior and speech that only occur within the world of technology. This can create numerous interpersonal problems in real life.

How to Pull the Plug

Those who are addicted to their technology may be aware of their problem, but feel anxious about pulling the plug. Start slowly, turning off devices for short periods of time, and then longer and longer periods during the day. Make a list of other hobbies and tasks to complete instead of texting, myspacing, or tweeting. There will be a period of adjustment after limiting your technology in which you may feel lonely, unable to concentrate on other tasks, and at loose ends. This is normal. Keep busy with other projects and resist the urge to return to technology except for essential communication needs. After a few days, you will find that managing your connected time will be easier. Resist the urge to return to old habits, and whenever you find yourself becoming too dependent on technology, re-work your program of limiting it. If you find you these methods do not help you limit your use of technology, it might be time to get some counseling on why you are using technology to avoid issues in real life.

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