Are screens addictive?

Yes, screens can be considered addictive. Adam Alter, a marketing author and NYU professor, explains that screens are particularly potent vehicles for addiction due to their ability to replace social connections and dominate our time and attention. He notes that about half of the world’s population exhibits addictive behavior related to screens, highlighting their widespread impact 1.

Additionally, Cal Newport and Dr. Alok Kanojia discuss how screens often serve to fill a psychological void or soothe psychic pain, which can lead individuals to excessive use. Cal Newport argues that our lack of fulfilling activities and overreliance on screen-based tasks can enhance this dependency, while Dr. Alok Kanojia asserts that screens operate by engaging the mind in ways we haven't evolved to handle constantly 2 3.