Technology Addiction Tests
Seven free self-assessments. None of them diagnoses anything, and none is a substitute for talking to a clinician. What they do is turn a vague worry into a specific answer you can act on, which is usually the hard part.
- Smartphone Compulsion TestDr. David Greenfield's original screener, and the one most people arrive here looking for. Fifteen yes-or-no questions about how you use your phone.15 questions
- Porn Addiction TestTwelve private yes-or-no questions about control and cost: whether viewing runs longer than you meant, crowds out other things, or gets in the way of sleep, work or relationships.12 questions
- Technology Addiction TestEleven questions on how much control you have over your internet and phone use, for when the problem isn't one app but the whole day.11 questions
- Video Game Addiction TestSeventeen questions built around the behaviors clinicians look for in gaming disorder: loss of control, gaming crowding out everything else, and playing on despite harm.17 questions
- Social Media Addiction TestSix questions from the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, covering compulsive checking, using feeds to escape, and attempts to cut back that didn't hold.6 questions
- Digital Distraction TestFocused on attention rather than addiction: how much your devices pull you away from meals, sleep, the drive and the task in front of you.12 questions
- Brain Rot TestTwelve questions on short videos and endless scrolling: whether the feed is wearing down your focus, cutting into your sleep or getting harder to put down.12 questions
Which Test Should I Take?
- If your phone is the problem, start with the Smartphone Compulsion Test.
- If it’s mostly one kind of app or site, take the test for it: social media, video games or porn.
- If it’s everything at once, across phone, computer and games, take the Technology Addiction Test.
- If your worry is focus more than compulsion, such as losing track of tasks or reaching for a device mid-conversation, take the Digital Distraction Test.
- If short videos and endless scrolling are the worry, take the Brain Rot Test.
Each takes a few minutes, and you can take more than one.
How Accurate Are These Tests?
These are screening questionnaires, not diagnoses. A screen sorts your answers into a range that suggests whether a closer look is worth it. Only a clinician can diagnose a condition, and for most technology habits there’s no official diagnosis to give.
| Test | Questions | What it’s based on |
|---|---|---|
| Smartphone Compulsion Test | 15 | Developed by Dr. David Greenfield at the Center for Internet and Technology Addiction. Studies of problematic smartphone use define it in widely varying ways, and it isn’t an official diagnosis.[1] |
| Social Media Addiction Test | 6 | The six items of the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, published in 2016, answered yes or no instead of on the scale’s original five-point range.[2] |
| Video Game Addiction Test | 17 | Built on the DSM-5 research criteria for internet gaming disorder, plus some added items. The World Health Organization’s ICD-11 lists gaming disorder as a diagnosis.[3][4] |
| Porn Addiction Test | 12 | A screening questionnaire used by the clinic, not a published, validated scale |
| Technology Addiction Test | 11 | A screening questionnaire used by the clinic, not a published, validated scale |
| Digital Distraction Test | 12 | A screening questionnaire used by the clinic, not a published, validated scale |
| Brain Rot Test | 12 | A new screening questionnaire, not a published, validated scale. “Brain rot” is a popular term, not a medical diagnosis. |
Each result page explains what your range means, what to watch for and what to try next.
What Happens With Your Answers
Your answers are scored as soon as you finish, and your result appears right away. Each test asks for your email address and sends your results there. Every email has a one-click unsubscribe. Results emails for the porn assessment never name it in the subject line or preview text.
Taking a Test for Someone You’re Worried About
You can take any of these tests about someone else. If you answer for a child or partner, base your answers on what you’ve seen, and treat the result as a way to start a conversation, not a verdict to hand them.
For a child, the best next step is usually your pediatrician, who can look at sleep, mood and attention alongside screen use. Our guide to screen time by age explains what pediatricians recommend at each stage.
Three checks are written for parents rather than for the person using the device. Each asks 12 yes-or-no questions and emails you the result:
- Screen Time Check: how screens fit into your child’s day, from bedtime to family meals
- Online Safety Check: how easy it would be for a stranger to reach your child
- Game Danger Check: the rating, settings and chat in the game your child plays most
After the Test
- Read your result page all the way through. It’s written for your range, with steps for this week and this month.
- If your result is high, or the steps don’t hold, talk to a professional. The therapist directory lists clinicians who treat technology and behavioral addiction by state, and the get help page covers every option.
- If you or someone you love is in crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 988, any time.[5]
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these addiction tests free?
Yes. All seven are free.
Can an online test diagnose an addiction?
No. These are screening questionnaires. They can tell you whether a pattern is worth a closer look, but only a clinician can diagnose a condition.
Which test is best for phone addiction?
The Smartphone Compulsion Test, Dr. David Greenfield’s 15-question screener for compulsive phone use. If the problem spans your phone, computer and games, try the Technology Addiction Test as well.
Can I take a test for my child?
Yes. Answer based on what you’ve seen, then bring the result to your child’s pediatrician rather than presenting it to your child as a verdict.
Do I have to give my email?
Yes. Each test asks for your email address and sends your results there. Every email has a one-click unsubscribe.
Sources
- Sohn, S., Rees, P., Wildridge, B., Kalk, N. J., & Carter, B. (2019). Prevalence of problematic smartphone usage and associated mental health outcomes amongst children and young people: A systematic review, meta-analysis and GRADE of the evidence. BMC Psychiatry, 19, 356.
- Andreassen, C. S., Billieux, J., Griffiths, M. D., Kuss, D. J., Demetrovics, Z., Mazzoni, E., & Pallesen, S. (2016). The relationship between addictive use of social media and video games and symptoms of psychiatric disorders: A large-scale cross-sectional study. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 30(2), 252-262.
- Bottel, L., Brand, M., Dieris-Hirche, J., Pape, M., Herpertz, S., & te Wildt, B. T. (2023). Predictive power of the DSM-5 criteria for internet use disorder: A CHAID decision-tree analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 14.
- World Health Organization. (2025). ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics: 6C51 Gaming disorder.
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. (n.d.). 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.