For the past two years and with support from Gdynia City Council, the University of Gdańsk and the DBAM O MÓJ Z@SIĘG Foundation have been conducting research into the phenomenon of phonoholism (mobile phone addiction). Headed by Dr Maciej Dębski from the UG’s Institute of Philosophy, Sociology and Journalism, the work has resulted in a report made public in December during an international conference entitled “Mobility in the Net. Relations. Safety. Development.” co-organised by the University of Gdańsk.

The report entitled “Addictive use of mobile phones. A detailed characteristic of the phenomenon of phonoholism in Poland” was created based on the results of nationwide research conducted amongst 22,086 young people between 12 and 18 years of age and 3,471 teachers, as well as a social experiment entitled “Poz@Siecią” (“Outside the Network”) which involved voluntarily disconnecting 100 young people from their mobile phones, Internet, tablets/computers and television, as well as on-line and PlayStation games for a full three days.

The University of Gdańsk and the DBAM O MÓJ Z@SIĘG Foundation are planning to conduct more research in the coming year, this time aimed at diagnosing the digital competences of parents.

The report (in Polish) is available at: http://dbamomojzasieg.com/publikacje-raporty/.