Is There Such A Thing As WhatsApp Addiction?

Internet addiction, WhatsApp addiction, Instagram addiction, online dating addiction… People will no doubt remember the 21st century because of the addictive, repetitive behaviors regarding technology that characterize it. This is a new and growing phenomenon. In this connection, it is likely that other types of addiction, especially those related to technology, will come in the coming years.

This happens because all pleasant behaviors, by pure inner reinforcement, tend to repeat themselves. These behaviors will therefore become addictive behaviors. However, addiction only occurs when the person shows a regular loss of control when they do that behavior. In addition, the addiction continues despite the negative consequences one can bring. This is exactly what happens when a person has a WhatsApp addiction.

It is important to remember that the basic components of addictive disorders are loss of control and addiction. Therefore, addiction is not limited to behaviors that include chemical substance abuse.

In fact, there are seemingly harmless behaviors that can become addictive, such as the use of technology. The truth is that when we use something repetitively and make it a priority, it can literally ruin our quality of life.

Use of WhatsApp

Jan Koum founded WhatsApp in 2009. Koum came from Ukraine to the United States in the early 1990s. He spoke very little English when he became the director of the Yahoo!

This app became popular in a very short time. Today it has more than a billion users. WhatsApp servers never get any rest. 42 billion messages are sent daily via WhatsApp. People send more than 1.6 billion photos and more than 250 videos through WhatsApp daily. This data gives us an idea of ​​how popular, and therefore powerful, this app is today.

Psychological addictions

Drug addiction usually refers to an addiction to a chemical substance. However, there is currently enough clinical evidence of psychological dependence, as in the case of WhatsApp addiction.

It is not an exaggeration to point out that certain behaviors, such as pathological gambling, addiction to social networks and addiction to food, can all be considered addictions. When someone shows a strong psychological preference for a behavior, they may begin to act with anxiety and impulsivity. As a result, they lose interest in other types of rewarding activities. These activities are shelved. In this way, the addiction kidnaps the person.

It is no wonder to see people using WhatsApp all the time. It does not matter where the person is either. People use WhatsApp anywhere and anytime, just like with other mobile apps. Its availability is immediate and its use is very rewarding. This gives us an idea of ​​the addictive power it has.

What is the progression of WhatsApp addiction?

As with some other psychological addictions, here’s how users become addicted to WhatsApp:

• Using WhatsApp is enjoyable and rewarding for the person. This is logical due to the many features this app has.
• The user begins to think more about using the app when they do not.

• They are starting to use WhatsApp with increasing frequency. Consequently, they begin to lose interest in other activities that used to interest them ( reading, listening to music, sports, etc.).
• The person tends to downplay how interested they are in the app. This is called the psychological mechanism of denial.
• There is a strong periodic desire to use WhatsApp. They have very high expectations of the relief of discomfort they will feel after using the app.
• They continue to use it themselves after experiencing negative consequences.
• These people usually justify their use of the app and try to convince others that they are fine. They see their actions through an amplified distortion of reality.
• As the negative effects of using WhatsApp increase, the addict begins to become aware of reality. They try and fail to control their behavior, but without success.

• What keeps the behavior going is not the fact that it is comfortable. Instead, they feel they need to keep using the app because it relieves discomfort. This relief becomes less intense and lasts for a shorter time as time goes on.
• The person shows a declining ability to be lasting in the face of negative emotions and everyday functions. Management strategies are depleted due to how often the addict uses the app. Thus, WhatsApp becomes the only way to deal with stress.
• An external crisis, such as a breakup, leads the person or family to seek help and treatment.

Consequences of WhatsApp addiction

As a result of all this, the use of WhatsApp becomes an automatic necessity. The use is linked to their emotional well-being, and the addicted person retains very little control over their actions. The person assesses the benefits of immediate satisfaction, but they do not take into account the potential long-term side effects and consequences.

There are two main negative consequences of being dependent on WhatsApp and other social media. One of these consequences is to be isolated from the environment. The other has to do with not being aware of other social aspects, such as work or school obligations. Our relationships are starting to get worse, including the romantic ones.

As we have seen, in addition to physiological addiction (tobacco, alcohol, cocaine, etc.) there are also psychological addictions. A perfect example of this is WhatsApp addiction. The effects of being forced to use this app can be very detrimental to our social well-being. It is quite ironic that a social app can be socially harmful and can limit and worsen our social life.