In this blog post, we will look at why smartphone game addiction occurs and how it is affecting modern society.
Smartphones were first released about 30 years ago. The first commercial smartphone was the “Simon Personal Communicator” developed by IBM, which was announced in 1992 and released in 1994. This device is considered to be the first smartphone with features such as email, fax, and note-taking in addition to phone calls. Since then, smartphones have rapidly evolved with various technological advances to become what they are today.
Smartphones became widely available around 2007. That year, Apple released its first iPhone, which brought major changes to the smartphone market with its user-friendly touchscreen interface and app ecosystem. Then, in 2008, Google announced its Android operating system, which led to the entry of various manufacturers into the smartphone market and a rapid increase in smartphone penetration.
Currently, smartphones are used for various functions such as phone calls, texting, social networking, and the Internet, and have become a staple tool for leisure. Before the spread of smartphones, there were many limitations, so it was rare to see people engrossed in mobile games. However, now it is common to see people staring at their smartphones not only on buses and subways, but also at social gatherings. Some users even use their smartphones secretly in public places. According to a study by Derby University, smartphone games are spreading as quickly as a virus, with one in eight people currently infected. This is causing new social problems, such as a breakdown in communication between friends and family. What are the causes of smartphone game addiction?
On the surface, it seems that it is because smartphone games have become more accessible. With the spread of smartphones, countless games have become available for free, and with the establishment of a nationwide infrastructure system, it is now possible to access smartphone games anytime, anywhere. However, the fact that there are almost no restrictions on time and space does not fully explain the phenomenon.
As the smartphone game market continues to expand, it is tempting to enjoy games that suit your tastes while taking a break. In addition to online games that are played in real time, offline games can be easily accessed by beginners as they only require a few simple operations. When players become bored with existing games, they seek new thrills through new games, creating a cycle that leads to smartphone game addiction. Compared to the complex tasks of school and work, games offer easy rewards and a sense of excitement, which seems to lead to gradual addiction. Game companies exploit everyone’s desire for achievement by encouraging competition among smartphone game users, causing them to invest their precious time in games.
Even aside from the issue of information competition, many services provided through smartphones are designed to make users addicted. Service providers basically use various strategies to attract users, and among them, methods that trigger competitiveness are the most effective. One company’s service is designed to encourage users to compete with each other by revealing the game scores of their friends. Methods that encourage cooperation are also used. Games are designed for multiple people to play together, drawing them into the game. These days, game companies are increasing the number of users by taking advantage of users’ friendships, giving gifts to users who introduce the game to non-users, or allowing users to exchange items with each other.
In addition, although each person may have a role or image they want to portray, there may be things they cannot achieve due to real-life circumstances. Smartphone games allow users to escape the limitations of reality and transform into countless characters, such as heroes, protagonists, fairies, magicians, and billionaires. In the virtual world of games, it is extremely difficult to achieve the great satisfaction of becoming a savior by using magic. Sometimes, social rules and laws cause people to feel rebellious, and they often satisfy those feelings through games. Smartphone games allow people to regain desires that cannot be fulfilled in reality, which leads them to become addicted to games all day long.
It is a logical leap to argue that the fundamental cause of the “virus” of smartphone games is simply because they are fun and convenient. Companies have produced games that are a little more stimulating, violent, and addictive in order to make more profits. In addition, people become absorbed in games to satisfy their sense of accomplishment, vanity, or desire to escape from the real world. Like other leisure activities, smartphone games can have a positive effect on stress relief and improving relationships with others if they are enjoyed as simple entertainment. However, we must recognize that excessive gaming can have a serious impact on our society.
