You’ll likely keep browsing on your phone if you’re looking for contentment or a sense of purpose without finding any. But, according to a recent study, using your phone or social networks to look for purpose can inadvertently worsen emotions of hopelessness while concurrently promising to fix people’s problems.
Smartphones offer unrestricted information access to those seeking meaning.
According to sociology experts from Campbell University and Baylor University, smartphones offer unrestricted information access. Unfortunately, limitless access to information can mislead people into thinking they are constantly looking for a higher, inherent truth. But in truth, consumers are just feeding into a pointless technology addiction because their never-ending quest is an endgame in and of itself.
According to the experts, sentiments of sadness, despair, loneliness and suicidal ideation are linked to the intricate interplay between fulfillment-seeking and the seemingly infinite data at people’s disposal. In a study by Baylor University on information and communication technology (ICT) gadgets, individuals who use their smartphones to find comfort or connection may find the contrary. The “Meaning in Life Questionnaire” was used to compare respondents’ responses to questions concerning their sense of fulfillment or meaning from their phones.
Sociology Professor at Baylor University Christopher Pieper said that people are naturally seekers who are constantly seeking meaning in their faith, work and relationships. He said that they were interested in smartphones and social media’s role in seeking meaning. Pieper adds that seeking is a meaningful activity which is the basis of addiction and anomie.
Using a smartphone to seek fulfillment leads to addiction
People who constantly expect rapid information access on their smartphones or do quick searches might find that their searches become longer over time. The process strengthens people’s emotional and physical ties to their phones and may make them more susceptible to mobile phone addiction.
The research demonstrates that finding meaning is related to more smartphone attachments implying that someone will panic if their phone stops functioning. Social media also has increased attachment feelings.
