Thesis: The Impact of Screen Time on Social Behavior

This thesis investigates the impact of screen time, particularly from smartphones and other electronic devices, on human social behavior. It explores the growing issue of smartphone addiction and its effects on family, social, and corporate life. The research examines the use of "app detox" applications to reduce screen time and increase social connectivity, presenting preliminary findings from a study of 1,000 university students. The thesis includes a literature review covering historical context, statistical evidence, theoretical frameworks, and related works, along with a detailed methodology involving variable testing, regression analysis, and diagnostic tests. The study seeks to identify the causes of screen time attraction, its drawbacks on social life, and potential solutions. The research also highlights the impact of screen time on stress levels, sleep loss, and social gatherings, as well as the limitations and future research directions in this area.

Effect of Screen Time on Human Social Behavior
by
Thesis 1
Supervisor:

Abstract
Nowadays we spend lots of time in technologies like tab, mobile phone. The more we are
getting used to this technology the less time we are spending with family and society. As a
consequence we become isolated by using frequent technical devices.
The intention of this thesis is to determine the use of anti smartphone addiction in cell
phone and reduce the screen time to increase the social connectivity.
With this growing usage of smartphones is really challenging phenomena become very
apparent: People nowadays are shifting their normal lifestyle and turn into addicted to
diverse services that those smart phone or electronic devices offer us. In this thesis we
present some screen loc apps as app detox:
AppDetox means it will help us to cool of our mobile apps usage, and acquire the
digital detox to reduce the time we spend in these devices. We are capable to put our own
rules for our apps to detox from a number of intense usages and stop procrastinating on
social media and other things on internet. We explain here our exploitation of the apps and
present the preliminary findings gained through observation of about 1,00 users of the
application in few universities. We discover that people are rather careful when limiting
their app usage, and that mostly they restrain use of social networking as well messaging
apps
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Table of Contents
Abstract...................................................................................................................................2
Table of Contents....................................................................................................................3
List of Figures.........................................................................................................................5
List of Tables...........................................................................................................................6
Chapter 1
Background.............................................................................................................................7
Chapter 2
Literature Review....................................................................................................................8
2.1Introduction....................................................................................................................8
2.2Social , Corporate and Family life effected by this screen time...................................17
2.3Historical Context.........................................................................................................18
2.4General Information and Statistical Evidence..............................................................19
2.5Theoretical Framework ...............................................................................................20
2.6Thesis Objectives..........................................................................................................21
2.7Related Works..............................................................................................................22
2.8Thesis Problem.............................................................................................................23
2.9Thesis Question............................................................................................................24
2.10 Screen lock app..........................................................................................................24
2.11Screen time by Gender...............................................................................................26
Chapter 3
Methodology.........................................................................................................................28
3.1Test of Variables ..........................................................................................................29
3.1.1Descriptive Summary of Variables........................................................................29
3.2OLS Regression analysis..............................................................................................29
3.3Diagnostic Test of the Models......................................................................................30
3.3.1Multicollinearity Check.........................................................................................30
3.3.2Heteroskedasticity Check......................................................................................30
3.4Monte Carlo Algorithm ...............................................................................................31
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3.5Other details..................................................................................................................32
4Experiments.....................................................................................................................33
3.5.1University...............................................................................................................34
3.5.2Student...................................................................................................................34
3.5.3Data Collection .....................................................................................................34
3.5.4Data Collection Demo for 5 students.....................................................................35
3.5.5Data analysis ???....................................................................................................39
5.Result ????......................................................................................................................39
5.1. Presentation of results ????........................................................................................39
5.2.Limitation ????............................................................................................................39
5.3.Discussion????............................................................................................................39
References.............................................................................................................................41
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List of Figures
5

List of Tables
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Chapter 1
Background
This thesis focuses on the issue of people spending their time on tab or mobile or other
electronic devices and the influence of on individuals and society, as well as the connecting
reasons, with the specific attention on the role of screen time. Screen time does not mean only
the amount of time people spend in front of the computer or tab or other electronic device, we
label it is the combined volume of time people are spending on smart phones, computers and
multitasking with different devices.
For example, how much time the young people losing from their social life? How is it shifting
their normal life? How students absorb and how they interconnect with the society? How can
we measure it is excessive?
Rideout, Foehr, and Roberts (2010) from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation carried out a
detailed research from 1999 to 2010 with nearly 2,000 issues that parents stated an average of
nearly seven hours of the screen time every day students who are between 13-16 years,
whereas the average 10-18 years old is expected to spend 7-8 hours per day holding their eyes
with screens. Beside the time people spend in different media, they also highlighted in one
segment in this their screen time with multitasking abilities. Their result was considerable in
viewing the rising of social media or internet usage in the social life of youth and the total
screen time they really spend (Rideout et al., 2010).
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Chapter 2
Literature Review
2.1 Introduction
As people succumb to the addiction of social media and spending more screen time, there a
new medium has been introduced, to reduce the screen time the anti smartphone applications -
smartphone apps claim to assist us to resolve smartphone addiction. Though, the apps are
tricky as they spot to a inadequate understanding of smartphone obsession; the simplicity of
these apps appears conflicting to the difficulties of smartphone addiction. Furthermore, the
anti smartphone addiction app entails a problematical paradox; resolve the smartphone
addiction via smartphone.
As a result the thesis involves with the output of using the smartphone addiction apps-
OffTime and Flipd- tried to reveal how these app frame people’s screen time, on the context
of people’s social life. We can’t consider them as neutral as they are the product of human
decision-making. These are underpinned by hypothesis, discourses and norms which are
already circulating in society (Lupton 2014).
1. Identify the use of current technical tools where the members of our society spend every
day time and the influence on the social aspects
According to the view of Hale and Guan (2015) there are various methods and
techniques which are used by most of the people in their free time period. It can be analysed
that most of the people are spend their time on smartphones and TV. In this, large number of
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individual are spend more time than ever watching videos, browsing social media and swiping
their lives away on their tablets and smartphones. Smartphone is that technology which is
successful among users that businesses and employees have trouble imagining a day without
them. These smartphones are used in providing accurate direction through GPS, take pictures,
play music and keep track of appointments and contacts. It is considered as cellular telephone
with an integrated computer and other applications which is not generally related with
telephones such as regulating and operating system, web browsing and ability to run software
users. They are able to sending emails and taxes as well as keeping calender of events for the
users. It is simply making calls and sending messages (Allen, 2013). A smartphones has
ability to support accessories which includes bluetooth headphones, power charging cables
and extra speakers.
As per the above described report, it can be analysed that smartphones are such
method where large number of people are spend their more time. This will assist in increasing
and enhancing knowledge about respective technique in better manner. In the society and
community, there are number of people who are mainly use smartphones in order to spend
their time. The emergence of communication and computing for mobile consumers devices is
on the evolutionary course which carry out interoperability and leverage the services and
functions. Smartphones have brought out a massive change in the lives of people. An
individual enjoy great comfort with the advancement in science and technology. Smartphones
are popular among people for the applications so they are offer best services to their
customers. People identify it quite easier to communicate and interact with people in different
manner and also access various things with the features that support smartphones (Bian and
Leung, 2015). The main thing which are enjoy by people to do with smartphones is have
entertainment and get connected with people in all over the world. When an individual are
spend their more time on online so this will make them far from society and their family
members. The usage of smartphones are directly affect on person personal and professional
life and it is create negative impact on their life. Advancement in technology gives people
great ease and it will keep them active. Most of the people are capable to spend time with
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family and friends when they finish their works from home. It is an essential people in take
into account so it is positively aspect of smartphones and help in improving their lifestyle.
2. Recognise the causes for getting attracted to the screen time
On the basis of opinion of Maras (2015) Smartphones are analysed as great invention
which allows to have access the global communication, direction and maps. There are various
causes for getting attached with screen time which are reduces their memory power. It can be
analysed that an individual who are used smartphones while driving so this will be dangerous
for their life. They are create bad impact ion their life which is one of the important thing.
Most of the couples are sitting at the same table but does not have any time to speak with each
other. Families sit in a separate rooms where all the people are use different devices for spend
their time. It is directly effect on human people relationship where they does not maintain
relation with their peers, colleagues and other family members (Campbell and Choudhury,
2012). Many employees or staff members never leave the office as all their emails which are
important for their business operations are conducted in better manner. They never take time
off to unwind, vacation and even spend time with their family and friends. There are various
other causes by use of smartphones that are describe as under:
 Increasing Stress level – It can be analysed that when a person are use cell phone al
the day so this will create negative impact on their life. An individual who are spend
most of the time with their mobile phones so the are lead towards more prone to stress
and fatigue. Along with this, this can lead towards psychological disorders in some
cases.
 Sleep loss – It is the major cause which are develop due to more usage of cell phones.
Most of the people keep their mobile phones or smartphones nearby, at the time of
sleeping to respond to texts and calls with another person. They feel controlled to
remain achievable around the timepiece. It can lead towards sleep disruption and
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interruption and this will became irritable when they are sleep deprived (Coskun,
2013).
 Discourage socials gathering – Social gathering is becoming a rare occurrences in
present society and community. As the mobile communication has developed and
formulated largely with extreme reliability, people tend to finish their social
communications over phone. In addition to this, smartphones includes various apps
which are used by most of the people such as Facebook, twitter and Instagram through
which communication are developed in easy manner. There are various people who
are spend their time by sitting at home without caring about social gathering (Derks
and Bakker, 2014). As a result, people became unsocial and less communicate which
is not good for a society and community.
3. Drawbacks of the heavy screen time in all areas of life specially on social life
According to the view of Bucksch (2016) prevalence of smartphones are considered as
a greater method and technique in daily life which have been taken a turn from its original
purpose of staying connected through texting and calling to wider and more extensive
functionally such as capability to play games, find more friends and family members, connect
to the internet and so more. There are various areas in which screen time are heavily impact
on person's personal life such as health, social gathering and so more. There are various
drawbacks which are heavily impact on screen time on social life which are described as
under:
 Cost – It can be analysed that smartphones are not cheap and lower in price so there
are large number of users who does not purchase this due to lack of money.
Smartphones do not come cheap and with the producers constantly coming up with
new updated and upgraded technology, people, especially with the young generation
so they want to keep up and always have their latest model even if additional
functionality proves insufficient to warrant a new purchasing (Elhai, 2016). This will
mainly affect on human behaviour and its attitude which are fluctuate as per their
needs or demand.
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 Social networking – The prevalence of social networking may not be purely done
through smartphones, but this means it is definitely most commonly used method. It
can be analysed that social networking is slowly talking the place and location of
actual social communication and interaction. With the advanced use of social
networking sites, an individual can face various issues which directly affect on their
health and make them unable to maintain their mind.
 Destroy personal life – It is one of the major drawback which are develop while using
smartphones so this will create bad impact on person social life. When a person are
used more social media so this will create negatively impact on their social life
because they are not go outside which reduces their social gathering (Franko and
Tirrell, 2012).
 Internet addiction disorder – In a society, there are various users who are taking
internet around with them all the time in a small compact device so this can fit in their
pouch. Sometime it can demonstrate that it could be harmful to the users as there have
been many reported cases of internet addiction to date. There are large large number of
people who are addicted with internet which are directly affect on person's health. This
will create various impact on an individual mind such as stress, anxiety and many
more. With the more use of internet, this will create negative impact on person mind
and health.
 Dangers of distraction – There are enormous number of applications, web pages,
sports scores, TV and movies which are shows at the press of button on smart phone
(Haug, 2015). As a result, smart phones can be distracting. The temptation is to check
the phone during a conversation which can alienate colleagues and friends. It can lead
towards longer wait times when an individual purchase goods and services.
4. Features and behaviour of addiction control apps
On the basis of opinion of Jeremy Goldman (2019) it has been stated that overuse of
the mobile phone is proposed form of psychological dependence on the cell phones which are
related to the other formers of the digital media overuse for an instance internet addiction
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