Affiliation:
1. Gulhane School of Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Turkey
Abstract
Digital technologies greatly affect many aspects of our lives and make life easier in every way. Nowadays, more than half of the world's population uses digital technology. Continuous and excessive use of digital technological tools or applications can lead to digital addiction. Presently, digital addiction is considered as a behavioral addiction, although there seems to be a lack of consensus on its definition. Effects of digital addiction on individuals are physical, mental, cognitive, behavioral, etc. Also, digital addiction, characterized by excessive and compulsive use of digital technologies, can have significant effects on society. Those are social, economic, legal and ethical, educational, cultural and societal norms, healthcare, environmental, privacy, security, and mental health, impacts. From a public health perspective, the priority is to prevent the prevalence of digital addiction. Effective programs in prevention and treatment should include a multi-sectoral and interdisciplinary approach and be methodologically strong, evidence-based programs.
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