There is a huge difference between
an addiction and a habit. Addiction involves a mental or physical aspect, which
leaves the addict unable to control his or her choices. When someone has an
addiction, they cannot just decide to stop using whatever it is that they are
addicted to, and they often have to seek help to end their addiction. In contrast,
when someone has a habit of using something, they are able to stop using it
whenever they choose (Medical News Today: What
is Addiction?) Furthermore, breaking a habit doesn’t cause the painful
withdrawal that fighting an addiction involves. Based on the differences
between an addiction and a habit, I classify technology use among most people
as a habit.
As stated
in the article on Internet dependency, many students spend a great deal of time
on their phone. Whether they are walking to class or sitting in a boring
lecture, students entertain themselves by using their phone. I’ll admit I am
one of these students, and when I am sitting in class bored, I always go on my
phone. This does distract me from learning, but sometimes my phone actually
benefits me in class. I use it to set reminders on my calendar of when I have
an exam or when I have an assignment due. Since I always check my phone, I am
able to stay on top of my schoolwork with the simple click of a button. However,
if I were to forget my phone in my dorm one day and I was not able to use it in
class, I would not experience any severe withdrawal. Yes, I would probably be a
little anxious to get back to my dorm and check Twitter, Instagram, and
Facebook, but it would not be the end of the world. Thus, I clearly am not
addicted to digital media, and using my phone when I’m bored is a habit that I
could easily break.
The fact
that more and more people are using technology shows how it has become so
important in today’s society. People stay connected through technology. We find
entertainment through technology. Most importantly, we learn about what is
going on in the world around us. Therefore, technology should not be seen as
harmful and “addictive,” but rather, a unifying aspect in our society.
