Blackberry Addiction

Blackberry addiction was an expression or phrase used to describe a person's almost obsessive need to check their Blackberry device regardless of the situation they were in.

Blackberry addiction, as an informal issue, rose to prominence as many professional and non-professional users relied on their Blackberry devices to remain connected while away from their computers. Blackberry devices were the progenitors of modern smartphones, before they were largely replaced by more technologically advanced iPhones and Android smartphones. Some common symptoms of Blackberry addiction included constant checking of emails and texts, answering phone calls at inappropriate times and the need to always have the smartphone device within reach. These symptoms match those individuals who suffer from the modern form of the addition, namely smartphone addiction.

From the time the device was introduced into the telecommunication industry in 2002 by Research In Motion, now known as BlackBerry Limited, many users playfully described themselves as Blackberry addicts. Many CEOs and high-ranking business professionals admitted to being overly reliant on their smartphone. The problems became pervasive enough to trigger a round of  "detox" articles and news stories in the popular press. Some businesses went to extremes to address the issue, to the point of banning Blackberry devices from meetings and company events. Due to the addictive nature of the device, the Blackberry gained an unflattering nickname in popular culture: the "crackberry." Indeed, many of the symptoms of Blackberry addiction and smartphone addiction can mimic, to an extent, the symptoms of people suffering from substance abuse problems.

The overuse of mobile phones can have negative effects on social and psychological well-being of those afflicted. The addiction can put users in physical danger if it leads them to text or otherwise use their smartphone while driving or when navigating through hazardous areas. At any given moment in the U.S., hundreds of thousands of drivers are using cell phones or electronic devices while driving. Distracted driving leads to a large number of accidents and other issues, and many of these can be contributed at least partially to the overuse of mobile phones. Interacting with the device can keep users up late or otherwise interfere with normal sleep patterns. Overuse of a smartphone can negatively impact time spent with friends or family, and can interfere with the ability to finish work or homework in a timely fashion. Device addiction can cause an increase in rudeness in social situations when smartphone users elect to scroll through their phones instead of making eye contact and interacting directly with the person or people in front of them.