To ask if this hits you hard?

[Sadmac]

virtual-addiction.com/smartphone-compulsion-test/

I scored 11 points. I feel angry and upset that I've let my smartphone take over parts of my life. I don't really read books any more. My phone is on the bedside table at night and it's the last thing I do before I sleep, and the first thing I do when I wake up. When I leave my phone at home to go for a walk, I feel free, but if it's on my person then I have to check it. My DP gets upset that I check my phone when we are supposed to be doing something together. I'm self employed so my phone is integral to my day-to-day business, but needing it by my side has encouraged more and more mindless and pointless scrolling!

I think phone addiction is more serious than we are letting on. I know I'm not the only one. Anyone out there feel the same way I do and desperately want to change?

14/15 doesn't surprise me. Apparently my average has gone down to 9.5 hours over the holiday, but is more like 14 hours some days. I don't watch TV much (watch it on the phone when I do) and a lot of that is work especially online training, but still. It's more than I sleep, or do any other activity. I knew before this I need to change though, it's really crept up on my since covid especially. I know it's a combination of boredom, loneliness and habit

I get through a lot of phones, batteries and chargers unsurprisingly. I just really burn through phones through over use.

We’ve just started a family reading half hour before youngest 2 go to bed but we all sit in the living room and read. Dh and I love reading, as does teen Dd 1 who was very excited by the idea but dd2&3 are easily distracted so sitting together means they see us setting a good example and bed times have actually been calmer. They’ve really embraced it. I stepped away from my phone and came back to my friend’s message about her dad who has just died so now I feel bad for not responding immediately. I’ve no idea how to get the right balance but I need to stop looking at FB.

@Thickasmincepie

My phone tells me how much time I spend on it.

But I don't look

I think this shows the extent of my problem.

I do have ADHD.

The test crashed but I scored 9. Would’ve been 11 until a couple of months ago but I now deliberately leave my phone in another room or at home if going for a brief trip somewhere so I no longer feel like I need it close to hand all the time.I also no longer sleep with my phone by the bed as I have bought an alarm clock. I do however have it at the other side of the bedroom because I have a fear of someone breaking in and not having my phone with me to call for help so I can’t bear the idea of leaving it in another room (seems silly I know, but I have been in a domestic violence situation previously where I was often woken to be attacked and I get anxious at night about not being safe).
I desperately want to cut my screen time, but it’s like my brain has forgotten what to do instead! I used to read books all the time and now I lack concentration, it’s embarrassing! I don’t know how to get my love for reading and focus back.

Checked screen time for today and I’ve spent almost 9 hours online, with 3 of those hours on MN 😳 What a waste of a life!

It’s quite a simplistic quiz.

I use my phone for reading, I have my kindle on it. It stays on my bedside table. I use it for an alarm, and a torch. It’s the equivalent of what our landline was, and that was on my bedside table.

I don’t think anyone needs the quiz to understand problematic behaviour

Yes I scored 12 and I know I have an issue that I need to tackle.

As pp have said, having it by your bed isn't always a sign of an addiction. I like to have it near me in case of emergency in the middle of the night. Before smart phones, I had a landline phone on my bedside table. How is this any different?

Some of the things I answered "no" to would be a "yes" if it extended to laptops. I waste more time on my laptop than on my phone. Is that somehow better?

I mean, yes, it's important to recognise how much we use our tech and whether or not it's a healthy balance with the rest of our lives, but this quiz does seem rather dramatic!

I answered no to every question then hit Submit.

It came back with “Error occurred”.

I spent 8 h and a half on Mumsnet since midnight last night. Oooops 😬

Reading this makes me very glad that I don't have a smartphone.

I usually check for comms, from Hq, then it's mumsnet and bit of Facebook

Same as you op i scored 11.. also new years resolution is to reduce screen time or mobile use .

OP this website is a front for a psychiatrist who makes his money promoting the idea of internet addiction and curing it. He calls himself the preeminent expert but it seems he has not been a member of faculty at a respected research institution for years.

You may have a phone problem, you may not. But this “test” will not tell you. It will just con people into worrying about it and buying his over simplified self-help book. This is a classic example of one of the major problems with the US healthcare system.

I scored 3 - I hate mobile phones with a vengeance. They have completely taken over a lot of people's lives, my DH included! He is never without his phone, checks it constantly, even when we are out. I don't WANT to be contactable 24/7 - it means you never have time off.

I think a better way of checking smartphone usage is to go into your settings and check how many hours you have spent on your phone. It will be under digital balance or screen time usage. Mine is 45 hours in the last 7 days! That is absolutely shocking.

Some of it is work related. Photo editing, posting items online and writing product descriptions, social media promotion, etc. Some will be music and Netflix. The majority is probably mumsnet or doom scrolling through tiktok, Instagram and Facebook.

I scored 6.

Personally I fail to see why it's better to have an alarm clock and paper books over using my phone for both.

And I'm on call for work, so obviously I have it with me all the time and have to check if (certain) chimes come on. Plus kids of course, the school might need to contact me (unfortunately more often in these Covid times)

Oh, plus I use it to pay for most things these days, so I don't need to carry a purse, and if I left the house without it, I wouldn't be able to do that.

I think that there's a difference between addiction, and using it as a useful multi-tool personally

(or perhaps that's my addiction talking )

Was the test written by a 15 year old ?
I don't disagree with the sentiment, but it's very judgementally worded and clearly geared towards making a point which undermines it's point.

It is a stupid, badly thought out quiz. It is apparently designed to help gage whether you spend too much time on your phone but virtually every question is a variation of “do you spend too much time on your phone”, “do you wish you spent less time on your phone”.

Pointless.

@NumberTheory

OP this website is a front for a psychiatrist who makes his money promoting the idea of internet addiction and curing it. He calls himself the preeminent expert but it seems he has not been a member of faculty at a respected research institution for years.

You may have a phone problem, you may not. But this “test” will not tell you. It will just con people into worrying about it and buying his over simplified self-help book. This is a classic example of one of the major problems with the US healthcare system.

I knew it would be something like this - and the problem isn't confined to the US, either. The world is full of scammers telling people that they have a 'problem' they haven't recognised, which the scammer can 'cure' in exchange for large sums of money. It's just the relatively modern variation of the grift involved in all religions - and often peddled by people who want to keep the lower orders in their place.

I scored 0 but then I don't have a mobile phone of any description, smart or otherwise.

Not yet needed or wanted one.

Sad how reliant people are on them

@iklboo

It is hilariously unscientific. A psychiatrist? I wonder what the author does for a living 🤔

Some things can look very simplistic but are based on solid science and have gone through all the test construction stats.

I've definitely been too dependent on mine. I've got into reading again so now I'll read a few pages on the train, on my break, to settle me for bed etc and its a lovely feeling craving your book instead of a flick through your phone.