New research is confirming what many have already suspected — that more and more of us are literally addicted to technology and our devices. Adam Alter is author of “Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping us Hooked.” Alter says:
“If not managed well our use of smart phones and other devices can be an addictive crutch that erodes our ability to communicate with real human beings in our presence.”
But wait! Help is on the way with — yes, you guessed it — new technology. There are apps that track and manage your use of the smartphone and other devices and can help you gain control of your time, finances, and relationships.
BreakFree (iOS or Android) is a new app that tracks how addicted you are to your phone. The company’s website says that research is showing that an average adult checks their phone a whopping 110 times a day. The app promises to help users “maintain a controlled digital lifestyle.”
Then there’s Moment — an iOS app that automatically tracks how much you use your iPhone and iPad each day. If you’re using your phone too much, you can set daily limits on yourself and be notified when you go over. You can even force yourself off your device when you’re over your limit.
QualityTime is an Android app that automatically keeps a diary of your smartphone activities and tells you how much time you spend on your phone by hour, by day and by week, as well as which apps you use the most, so you can track your smartphone habits.
These apps can be downloaded through the Apple store or Google play.