Urbanization and User’s Perception of Spatial Variation of Smartphone Addiction in Ibadan, Oyo-State, Nigeria

The study explored the perception of smartphone addiction in an urban area of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Smartphone addiction involves excessive use of smartphones for social media, gaming, and other applications, leading to difficulty coping without them. The research aimed to investigate the spatial variation of smartphone addiction among users in Ibadan, employing a mixed survey research method. Four Hundred (400) structured questionnaires were distributed across the LGAs in Ibadan, and the Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS) with six subscales was used to question respondents. Maps were utilized to display the spatial variation of smartphone addiction, and gender differences among users were also analyzed. The Global Moran’s I test revealed significant spatial autocorrelation of smartphone addiction in Ibadan. The results indicated substantial variation in smartphone addiction levels across locations. This research may contribute to reducing smartphone usage and provide insights into why certain areas may be more susceptible to addiction. It highlights the importance of psychologists changing users’ thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors towards smartphone use. Communication agencies should also educate users on leveraging smartphones for positive impacts.