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Free Smartphone Addiction Test (SAS-SV)

Measure your problematic smartphone use with the SAS-SV. Free, anonymous, instant results.

The SAS-SV - developed by Kwon et al. (2013), used widely in digital wellbeing research

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Smartphone Addiction Scale - Short Version (SAS-SV)

The SAS-SV (Kwon et al. 2013) is a 10-item self-report measure of problematic smartphone use. It captures the key features of behavioural addiction - daily-life disturbance, withdrawal, tolerance, loss of control - adapted to smartphone behaviour. Scores from 10-60 fall into three bands: normal use, at risk, and likely addiction (≥32).

  • 10 clinically validated items measuring problematic smartphone use
  • Takes about 3 minutes to complete
  • 100% free and anonymous - no email or account required
  • Instant results with practical digital-wellbeing recommendations
  • Most widely used short-form smartphone addiction measure
  • Phone overuse often masks depression, anxiety or loneliness

About the online SAS-SV

The SAS-SV measures problematic smartphone use across daily-life disturbance, withdrawal, tolerance and loss of control. It's not about screen time alone - it's about whether your phone use is starting to work against you.

This free version uses the standard 10-item SAS-SV. You answer how strongly you agree or disagree with each statement, and you get a total score from 10 to 60 plus a severity band.

Time

3 minutes

Items

10 items

Score

10-60 (3 bands)

Validation

Kwon, 2013

Important: Smartphone addiction is not a formal diagnosis but problematic phone use is a well-studied behavioural pattern. If your score is high, consider whether you're also experiencing depression, anxiety or loneliness - addressing those usually helps.

Why take the SAS-SV?

Brief and well-validated

10 items, used in hundreds of digital-wellbeing studies

Instant, anonymous result

No email, no waiting, no account

Practical recommendations

App-limit settings, phone-free zones, NHS Talking Therapies signposting

Track changes over time

Useful when trying to change phone habits

Sample items from the SAS-SV

Daily-life impact

Missing planned activities because of smartphone use.

Withdrawal

Feeling impatient and fretful when not holding my smartphone.

Loss of control

Using my smartphone longer than I had intended.

Social feedback

The people around me tell me that I use my smartphone too much.

Frequently asked questions

What is the SAS-SV?+
The Smartphone Addiction Scale - Short Version (SAS-SV) is a 10-item questionnaire developed by Kwon et al. (2013) at the Catholic University of Daegu. It is the most widely used short-form measure of problematic smartphone use in research.
How long does the test take?+
About 3 minutes. The 10 items ask how strongly you agree or disagree with each statement on a 6-point scale.
Is the test free and anonymous?+
Yes - 100% free and anonymous. No name, email or any personal details required.
How is the SAS-SV score interpreted?+
Scores range from 10 to 60. We use a unified cut-off: 10-21 = normal use, 22-31 = at risk, 32-60 = likely addiction. The original validation by Kwon et al. used gender-specific cut-offs (≥31 for males, ≥33 for females); the unified cut-off matches the more conservative threshold and aligns with several follow-up studies.
What should I do if my score is high?+
Behavioural strategies (notifications off, app limits via iOS Screen Time / Android Digital Wellbeing, phone-free zones) are highly effective first steps. If your phone use is masking depression, anxiety or loneliness, address those too - your GP can refer you to NHS Talking Therapies for CBT.
Is "smartphone addiction" a medical diagnosis?+
Not formally - it is not in the DSM-5 or ICD-11 as a standalone disorder. But problematic smartphone use overlaps with several recognised conditions (gambling disorder, attention deficits, anxiety) and is widely studied as a behavioural pattern worth treating.

Ready to take the SAS-SV?

3 minutes. Anonymous. Free.

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