Growing Smartphone Addiction Among Malawian University Students

By Madalitso Mtukula

Universities in Malawi are seeing a big change. Students who used to focus on books and classes are now spending a lot of time on their smartphones. These devices have become very important to them.

Smartphones are like mini computers that can connect to the internet and social media. Students carry them everywhere, even to class. But why are they so obsessed with their phones, and how does it affect their studies?

Micheal Mwambakulu and Patrick Chikumba discovered that Malawian university students primarily use smartphones for browsing, social media, and staying in touch.

"This addiction to their phones becomes a problem, causing distractions in class."

Although smartphones can be useful for studying, most students spend more time on social media. They get hooked on apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, often ignoring their studies. This addiction to their phones becomes a problem, causing distractions in class.

A student at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Memory Jumbe, who is studying for a Bachelor of Science in Business Studies, said that she spends a lot of time on her phone because she enjoys finding things she likes, and it has become a hobby for her.

Regarding being on her phone during class, she mentioned that it varies from person to person, but for her, it works well.

Another student, whose name is Sangwani Moyo, studying Disaster Risk Management at Malawi University of Science and Technology said that what makes him stay on the phone for so long is social media, and being on the phone while in class is not a good idea at all, but we all do it anyway because it give vibes.

This, with smartphones is not just a personal issue, it affects everyone. It's important for universities to have clear rules about phone use. They need to find ways to use smartphones for learning without letting them disrupt classes.

Moving forward, everyone needs to work together to tackle this problem. Educators, policymakers, and students must talk about how to use smartphones responsibly. Teaching digital skills can help students make better choices about when to use their phones.

Smartphones have become a big part of university life in Malawi. But they can be both helpful and harmful to students' education. It's important for everyone to find a balance so that smartphones can be a useful tool for learning.