Ireland will inevitably need a dedicated clinic to treat mobile phone overuse or addiction, according to a psychiatry professor at University College Dublin, reports Breaking News.
The number of mobile phones in the country has surged, with 2023 data showing 5.76 million devices in use — or about 1.1 per person, exceeding Ireland’s total population.
In comparison, the United States has 1.2 mobile phones per individual, based on statistics from worlddata.info, reports Breaking News.
Professor Colin O’Gara, a clinical professor of psychiatry at UCD, stated he has “no doubt that there will be mobile phone detox and rehabilitation clinics, and outpatient clinics dealing with this,” established in Ireland in under 15 years.
He noted that managing mobile phone overuse or addiction will become “a mainstay treatment,” reports Breaking News.
“There is an existential change in personal device usage due to the amount of GP referrals that have become more and more difficult to keep up with. Plainly, this is a massive issue and it will be bigger and bigger in time and such clinics will be needed without a doubt,” reports Breaking News.
Prof O’Gara explained he has observed this trend firsthand in addiction services since 2013. He believes everyone falls somewhere on the spectrum of overuse, with some individuals displaying excessive dependency.
He highlighted that smartphones also facilitate access to other addictive behaviours such as gambling, gaming, pornography, and shopping, reports Breaking News.
He categorised mobile use into “sub classifications”—using the device as a distraction, emotional regulator, and tolerance impactor, with a key concern being its replacement of other activities.
“As a result of this there is psychiatric comorbidity of anxiety and a decline in a person’s own well-being,” reports Breaking News.
Data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) reveals that 94% of internet users access it daily.
Daily internet usage was nearly universal among 16 to 44-year-olds, while 96% of people aged 45 to 59 also used it daily. In contrast, only 72% of users over 75 were online each day.
Deloitte’s recent survey found that 47% of Irish users are on their phones during meals, and 70% feel they spend too much time on devices, reports Breaking News.
This survey of 1,000 Irish people, part of Deloitte’s Digital Consumer Trends report, also found that 74% of adults use their phones immediately after waking up. Over half (54%) said they often stay up later than intended due to screen use. One in three people (34%) check their phone at least 50 times daily, while 15% check it more than 100 times.
The report also noted that 47% now use their smartphone or smartwatch for in-store purchases via digital wallets — up from 36% the previous year, reports Breaking News.
Alex Cooney, CEO of CyberSafeKids, pointed out that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has not officially classified excessive social media use as an addiction — a decision she finds “controversial”.
“It’s all about the money for social media companies that is created through the design and the harmful features attached,” she said, reports Breaking News.
“That’s what needs to be tackled, not telling people they are spending too much time on social media or by companies putting up messages or blocks on age groups. It’s all about the metrics and algorithms,” reports Breaking News.
Ms Cooney emphasised that digital device use — among both adults and children — disrupts sleep, work, education, social life, and physical activity. “In extreme cases I have heard of people wearing nappies when they are gaming so they will not have to stop what they are doing and go to the bathroom.”
Acknowledging the “crisis” surrounding excessive phone use, the Department of Health set up an Online Health Taskforce last September. This was in response to rising evidence from Ireland and abroad linking online behaviour with mental and physical health issues in young people, reports Breaking News.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health said the taskforce is preparing a “strategic public health response to these harms and will bring forward evidence-informed interventions and recommendations.
“These recommendations may include, but are not limited to, legislation, regulation, national guidelines, education, awareness campaigns, as well as additional health and social care supports,” reports Breaking News.
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