Entsteht durch die exzessive Nutzung des Smartphones wirklich ein Suchtproblem?

The smartphone represents a groundbreaking technology, which distributed around the globe in a very short time. Without doubt the smartphone and its many applications is of great help in everyday life and it enables communication via far distances to historical unknown extent. Aside from its manifold positive aspects the smartphone brings for digital connected society, mounting evidence suggests also negative side effects of excessive use of the device. Among others it is discussed, if persons can be addicted to the smartphone. In the present article the term smartphone addiction and related nomenclatures are critically discussed. Furthermore, insights are provided into excessive use of the smartphone from different perspectives: In this realm, differential-psychological aspects of (problematic) smartphone use and first results from neuroscience are considered. Finally, the treatment of internet use disorders (IUD) is discussed, whereas problematic smartphone use belongs to the category of mobile IUD.