Mobile, social media addictions on the rise

Social media and mobile devices have become two of the biggest technological trends of the last decade. At the same time, they have become two of the most addictive trends as well, begging the question of whether one has a tendency to fuel the other.

An August 2011 study shows that more than a third of adults and 60 percent of teenagers admit to being addicted to their smartphones. The study also reveals that mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets, are starting to affect people's social behavior.

By comparison, a separate study from UK-based research firm Intersperience points to a growing dependence on being connected to the web, social media sites especially. According to the report, 53 percent of survey respondents say they feel "upset" when they have no internet connection, and 40 percent indicate they are "lonely" when they can't go online.

These studies do not necessarily highlight a concrete connection between mobile and social media addictions, but they do suggest that caution must be taken when engaging in either activity. For all the benefits that both technologies provide, one must be careful to monitor his or her habits to avoid becoming dependent on either.