Texas Tech-coholism

Shattner Reeve estimates that on an average day, he can stay away from his smartphone for only about an hour or two.

Aside from shooting text messages between classes and browsing the Internet, the 18-year-old admits he sends about 100 “snaps” on the popular photo-sharing app, Snapchat. It is difficult to be without his phone.

“I feel naked,” he said, with a laugh.

Reeve is not alone in his strong attachment to technology. At least one survey suggests that millennials check their phones on average 43 times a day.

Texas Tech students Kade Corley, left, and Emma Smith spend time on their phones between classes in the College of Media & Communication in Lubbock on Wednesday.

The impulse to reach for your phone is normal, said Charles Crews, an associate professor at Tech and a counselor. Instant gratification from a “like” on Facebook or text message from a significant other produces dopamine, a chemical in the brain that is associated with pleasure. Dopamine is also transmitted when falling in love, gambling or using illicit drugs.

Progressing to the next level on a video game or tweeting daily activity is not as extreme as criminal behavior, but addiction to media can be risky, Crews said. For example, texting while driving and being oblivious to traffic while walking and looking at one’s phone are normal behaviors turned dangerous.

In his private practice, Crews has seen more than a 100 cases of addiction to mediated realities, be it social media, pornography or puzzle game like Bejeweled or Candy Crush. Recently, he counseled several students addicted to video games to help them graduate.

“They had to withdraw because they kept failing the same class over and over, because they don’t dedicate the time to it, because they want to play this game,” he said. “That’s where they are getting their reward; they’re not getting it in the real world.”

Crews himself was once addicted to gaming and played chronically for 15 years. Pointing to an intricately woven rope, Crews said replacing a technology addiction with a “busy” activity, such as weaving, can help.

“You don’t pull the needle out of someone’s arm if they are a heroine addict,” Crews said. “There’s not going to be change for people unless they change what their dopamine response is, what they are seeking.”

About Allison Terry

Allison Terry is an electronic media and communications major from Lubbock, Texas. She hopes to work in the media industry after graduation.