The Influence of Technology on Addiction Patterns

The exponential growth of technology use has transformed human behavior, bringing efficiency and global connectivity while simultaneously generating new forms of dependency.This dissertation examines how technology use influences addiction-like patterns among individuals, analyzing data collected through a structured online survey modeled on the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) by Dr. Kimberly Young (1998).Using quantitative and qualitative analysis, the study explores correlations between time spent online, preferred digital platforms, psychological well-being, and self-reported dependence indicators.Descriptive statistics, correlation matrices, and cross-tabulations reveal distinct patterns indicating that prolonged engagementespecially with social media and mobile applications-shows significant associations with irritability, preoccupation, and sleep disturbance.The findings align with Young's original impulse-control disorder model, suggesting that technological overuse reflects behavioral addiction dynamics characterized by tolerance, withdrawal, and loss of control.Implications for counseling interventions, digital-well-being education, and self-regulation techniques are discussed.