Are you addicted to your smartphone? episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 2, 2026 · 22 MIN

Are you addicted to your smartphone?

from Focus on Africa · host BBC World Service

How many hours a day do you spend on your smartphone? Smartphones have become essential to daily life - but concerns about overuse are growing. Research has linked smartphone addiction to depression, anxiety, and loneliness. Focus on Africa host, Nkechi Ogbonna, spoke to 27-year-old Dion Rapakgadi from Johannesburg about his past struggles with phone addiction, and to Kenyan musician Nviiri the Storyteller, who recently swapped his smartphone for a basic “dumb phone.” We also hear from Dr Ethel Obeng-Treve, a Clinical Psychologist from Ghana, who shares insights on how to have a healthier relationship with your smartphone. Presenter : Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Carolyne Kiambo and Fana Weldye Senior Producer: Priya Sippy Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jan 2, 2026

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Are you addicted to your smartphone?

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