Is Technology Addictive

[nailit]

Could you live without the internet and all its associated trappings (FB, Twitter, Skype, AB etc)?
Theres a lot of research that's associated dopamine production in the brain with a reliance on todays technology.
I see a lot of people that seem to spend an inordinate amount of time both on here and FB. (and I'm not excluding myself, I KNOW that I spend to much of my spare time on social media) But I do try to curb it a bit. Nevertheless the internet *IS* addictive. Or is it just me?
I sometimes long for the days when people actually spoke to each other rather than having their noses buried in their phones.

[rowanwitch]

It's the paths you can wander down.. ooh that's a nice dress, get to the dress site, then there's a handbag with fascinating embroidery, so you look up the style of embroidery.... etc etc.

[237SJ]

Cortisol effect? Cortisol is a stress hormone. Do you mean the dopamine effect?

[nailit]

//Cortisol effect? Cortisol is a stress hormone. Do you mean the dopamine effect? //
No 237, I mean Cortisol, the opposite of dopamine!

[andres]

Social media is addictive . The sad thing is that a lot of the ones getting addicted are very young. They like the constant attention and enjoy being in contact with their friends at the touch of a button .An addiction is a need that has to be filled and social media is filling this need for many people. The sad thing is that they don't realize how it is taking over their lives until like any other addiction they can't live without it.
Technology is a marvelous thing when you are in control but not so good when it controls you! Better to get a grip before it gets a hold .

[Maydup]

Yes, technology is totally addictive. I dont use social media very much, but I am constantly checking news websites, researching random things that cross my mind, answering in forums and shopping. In between I play games and all in all, pass far too much time on my ipad. Its changing me as a person and reducing my creativity, but I cant seem to stop. Sadly I have always had addictive tendencies and this is the latest obsession.

[tiggerblue10]

I couldn't live without it and I rely on it maybe too much. I used to spend a lot of time on FB but not as much these days. I do however spend more time on Twitter where I'm pretty much anonymous and hardly anyone I know follows me.

[ducksie]

I couldn't live without skype, everything else is take it or leave it

[margarettom]

I was doing a survey and had to answer, 'which I would choose to do without my TV or my laptop/tablet?' and I had to choose my TV. I don't watch much TV these days but, although I don't use Social Media, I use my tablet for so many things ( as well as AB occasionally). I can't imagine not having instant access to answers to questions, facts at my fingertips etc. So, yes, it probably is addictive.

[Old_Geezer]

It's probably addictive; most things seem to be. And better than sitting there watching paint dry, or whatever. It is also highly infuriating. It's usually my biggest source of stress and irritation.

[naomi24]

I could live without the internet and my phone, but I’d find life more difficult. Technology is so convenient. I don’t ‘do’ social media (apart from AB).

[Cloverjo]

I feel a bit twitchy without my iPad within reach. Ridiculous really.
I grew up in the 70s and 80s when not everyone had even a landline phone. If you wanted to talk to your friends after school you'd have to get on your bike and go to their house.

I wouldn't call this new wave 'addicted'. It's just a necessity now like food, water, inside loo and electricity.

[naomi24]

//It's just a necessity now like food, water, inside loo and electricity.//

God! I'd hate to be THAT dependent on technology! That would seriously worry me!

[nailit]

Had to leave this thread last night as a couple of friends popped over. Didn't even bother to check on it after they left. However when my sons friends come over to see him they think nothing of sitting there with their noses in there phones all night and barely speaking to each other. I find THAT both ignorant and sad.

[ummmm]

My kids are not like that. One son tends to watch amusing youtube links but him and his friends don't have their phones out when they are here together. They are more interested in what I'm cooking :-)

[Old_Geezer]

I blame the parents.

[woofgang]

I suppose it like the 50's/60's and telephones....parents popularly couldn't understand why teenagers needed to spend so much time on the phone talking to their friends....and of course that was expensive too.