Smartphones Addiction: Do you really know your limits?

Twelve years ago, the only utility of cell phones was to make calls and to text messages. In that time, people were amazed with the possibility of talking through a “small” device from any place there were antennas nearby.  However, time advanced and so did technology; new features started being incorporated until cell phones became almost small laptops.

Nowadays, smartphones have become part of our lives.  Either to check our emails, to chat, to take photos, to read newspapers or to check twitter and facebook; we are using them the entire day because of a necessity of being connected.

However, it is said that several people around the world are becoming addicted to this devices. According to Lisa Merlo, Psychologist from the University of Florida, there is a series of behaviors regarding smartphones which may be alarming and signals of addiction; for instance, checking the phone every 5 minutes not only for missed calls, but also to catch up on anything that happens in social networks or emails; faking to do something on the phone to avoid contact with other people; getting into the phone and losing awareness of what is happening around; freaking out if the phone is left at home; among others.

The consequences can be sleep problems, increase of stress and nervousness, increase of dependence, lose of social skills and even extreme anxiety when the phone is not near.

In the next CBS News report, Betty Nguyen consults specialists about this issue.

What about you? Do you consider yourself as addicted to your smartphone? If you don't have one, would you like to?