Smartphone problematic use, overuse and addiction

Aim: The use of mobile technology, which offers significant conveniences, is a common and everyday phenomenon. However, the growing importance of mobile devices raises some questions: Is frequent use of a mobile phone just an abuse or an addiction? Should problematic smartphone use be included in the group of behavioural addictions? This phenomenon has not been clearly defined so far. The aim of this paper was to perform a review of literature on problematic smartphone use and determine whether it meets the addiction criteria. Methods: In this paper we performed a review of research on smartphone addiction based on four scientific databases (PubMed, Web of Knowledge, Scopus, Science Direct), and an analysis to determine whether the diagnosis of "addiction" is more adequate than "excessive and problematic smartphone use." Conclusions: The need to change the definition is dictated by technological advances. In the past, problematic use of mobile phones and Internet addiction were easier to distinguish. Today, with the advent of smartphones, whose functions go far beyond phone calls and short messages, and which can have many Internet applications installed, these two phenomena seem inseparable. Although most studies confirm the existence of smartphone addiction, the severity of the consequences is not the same for smartphone abuse and addiction. Addiction is a disorder with serious physical and mental health implications. Although smartphone overuse bears some resemblance in terms of problems with impulse control and negative consequences, it is not the same as addiction. Considering the addiction criteria, this phenomenon should be defined as problematic smartphone use. Problematic use of technology should be investigated in a broader sociocultural context.