A psychologist told about the negative consequences of watching short clips on the Web

The content consumed by smartphone users can form an addiction similar to drug addiction. Such consequences can be caused by regular viewing of short clips or constant search for negative information on the Web. This was told to "Izvestia" on February 6 by Mikhail Khors, candidate of psychological sciences.

"Short clips - funny, interesting, which do not touch us intellectually, but emotionally affect us - are dangerous because we receive dopamine not labor, but "cheap", the same as drug addicts and alcoholics receive. <...> And in fact the same addiction is formed. When a person tries to reduce or suspend this, he begins to have a 'dopamine pit', that is, in fact, 'withdrawal'," he explained, adding that this also applies to computer games.

Horse noted that in such cases, the world can begin to seem uncomfortable and uninteresting.

The second type of dangerous content provokes negative emotions, which can make a person feel tired, exhausted, apathetic and demotivated.

"News feeds, analysts who know for sure there's going to be a crash, and all that kind of stuff. That is, a person experiences systematically, reading all this, and in fact, there is a serious strain on the nervous system. These are these chronic worries," the psychologist noted.

He emphasized that at the first or second stages of addiction a person will feel discomfort, but in his free time he will still be able to communicate with loved ones, work, develop and do sports. However, in severe addiction, he or she may experience real suffering that can harm his or her life.

Horse added that people who have decided to overcome smartphone addiction can try using a button phone.

"They (those who decide to overcome addiction. - Ed.) have their lives changed for the better. <...> They sleep better, have more time. More time for sports, calmer," he summarized.

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