Association of Internet use disorder and the use of analog watches

• Subjective overuse and post-time-check use strongly predict Internet use disorder. • Analog timekeepers (watches / clocks) link to less dysfunctional smartphone usage. • Less problematic internet use found for analog watches than smartwatches. • First daily smartphone use time predicts problematic use severity. This study examines the association between the use of so-called “timekeepers”, such as analog wristwatches or classic alarm clocks, or digital “timekeepers” as smartphones or smartwatches, and Internet use disorder. Based on theoretical models it was examined whether certain everyday habits are related to the extent of problematic online behavior. In a cross-sectional online survey (N = 6,615, average age = 28.3 years), participants answered the Compulsive Internet Use Scale (CIUS) and questions about their usage behavior about smartphones, wrist watches, and alarm clocks. Participants who stated that their Internet use was excessive or that they stayed online longer than planned after looking at the clock function on their smartphone had significantly higher CIUS scores. The same was true for people who did not wear a watch, used their smartphone as an alarm clock, took it into the bedroom, or went online immediately after waking up. The time of first smartphone use in the morning proved to be a significant predictor of problematic use, whereas the last time using the smartphone before going to bed was not. The findings replicate and extend previous studies and suggest that non-Internet-connected timekeepers are associated with less dysfunctional Internet and smartphone usage patterns. The use of the smartphone as a multifunctional device could be suggested as a potential trigger for unwanted media use. However, targeted everyday modifications − such as the use of classic watches − might contribute to the prevention of Internet use disorder which needs to be tested in future studies.