Blackberry Addiction

Key Takeaways

• BlackBerry addiction refers to compulsive behavior linked to BlackBerry device usage.
• The BlackBerry was a dominant mobile phone known for email access and a full keyboard.
• "Crackberry" humorously highlighted the addictive nature of BlackBerry use.
• Mobile phone overuse can lead to physical danger and negative social impacts.
• The focus on tech addiction shifted from devices to social media platforms in recent years.

What Is Blackberry Addiction?

BlackBerry addiction refers to compulsive early smartphone behavior, marked by a constant urge to check the device to stay connected. In the early 2000s, BlackBerries helped normalize always-on access to email and communication, which reshaped user habits. The idea now maps onto tech addiction tied to iOS and Android phones, with much of the focus shifting from email to social media.

The History and Impact of Blackberry Addiction

The Blackberry was created by Research in Motion, a Canadian technology, software, and cybersecurity company. The very first device—the Blackberry 850—was introduced to the world as a two-way pager in 1999.1 Three years later, the company released one of the world's first smartphones.

The Blackberry 5810 connected users to the internet and provided instant access to emails and a phone.1 Enhanced by its full keyboard at the bottom of the device, the device gained popularity on a global scale, primarily among executives, politicians, and celebrities. At one point, the company sold more than 50 million devices annually, taking 50% of the U.S. and 20% of the global mobile phone market.2 Blackberry phones also had a feature called Blackberry Messenger. The service, which was introduced in 2005, allowed users to send each other instant messages across the globe on a secure network.3

This rise in popularity was a blessing to the both company and its shareholders. But it also became so problematic for users that the handsets were derisively called "crackberries" in reference to the highly addictive drug. Because many professionals in business and nonprofessional users relied on their Blackberry devices to remain connected while away from their computers. People would compulsively check their Blackberry devices. Because the technology was new and a set of social conventions around mobile telephone use hadn't had time to develop, they would check them in wildly inappropriate places.

It isn't unusual for people to keep mobile phones on them at all times, checking their devices from the moment they wake up in the morning to the moment they go to sleep at night. But the phenomenon was new in the mid-aughts, and Blackberry was the recognizable face of it. In 2008, Sheraton Hotels surveyed 6,500 traveling executives, and the results showed 80% of respondents checked their email first thing in the morning and 84% said looking at their Blackberry was the last thing they did at night.4 Disturbingly, 35% said they would choose their device over their spouse.4

Tip

Research in Motion changed its name to Blackberry in 2013 and now trades under the ticker symbol BB.5

Effects and Risks of Smartphone Overuse

The overuse of mobile phones can have negative effects on the social and psychological well-being of those afflicted. The addiction can put users in physical danger if it leads them to text or use their smartphones while driving or when navigating through hazardous areas. At any given moment in the U.S., hundreds of thousands of drivers use 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.6

Interacting with a device can keep users up late or otherwise interfere with normal sleep patterns. Overuse of a smartphone can negatively impact the time spent with friends or family and can distract users from finishing work 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.

Some scholars have criticized the methods used to measure tech addiction, but the general trend at the end of the 2010s was toward building awareness about tech addiction, particularly in children, and developing digital hygiene.7 In 2017, France gave workers the right to ignore digital communications outside of work, and in 2018 they banned smartphones in schools.8 According to a 2019 Los Angeles Times report, tech detox coaches charged up to $700 per session while retreats like Camp No Counselors offered a phone-free experience for adults starting at $125 a day.9