Back to Blog [Radio Interview on CNA938] Always Online: The Struggle of Singapore’s Smartphone Obsession
September 10, 2025
[Radio Interview on CNA938] Always Online: The Struggle of Singapore’s Smartphone Obsession

CNA938, SINGAPORE, 10 SEPTEMBER 2025 – Always Online: The Struggle of Singapore’s Smartphone Obsession

From March 2026, South Korea will ban mobile phones and digital devices in classrooms nationwide, a bold step to tackle rising concerns about social media and smartphone addiction among youth. The move highlights a global conversation on digital dependence – […]

CNA938, SINGAPORE, 10 SEPTEMBER 2025 – Always Online: The Struggle of Singapore’s Smartphone Obsession

From March 2026, South Korea will ban mobile phones and digital devices in classrooms nationwide, a bold step to tackle rising concerns about social media and smartphone addiction among youth. The move highlights a global conversation on digital dependence – and raises an important question: What is the smartphone addiction situation like in Singapore?

In a recent interview on CNA938’s The Morning Report with Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman, Tom Maniatis, Senior Addictions Therapist at Promises Healthcare, shares his expert insights on the challenges of smartphone overuse, how it affects mental health and daily functioning, and what can be done to manage this growing issue.

🔊 Listen to the full interview here: CNA938 – Always Online: The Struggle of Singapore’s Smartphone Obsession

Tom Maniatis - Promises Healthcare
Tom Maniatis
Senior Addiction Psychotherapist

Tom Maniatis has over 20 years of experience in concurrent addiction and mental health treatment delivery, a Senior Addictions Psychotherapist at Promises Healthcare in Singapore, specializing in the targeted treatment of complex behavioral and substance dependencies. Recognized for his clinical expertise in navigating modern psychological challenges, he provides evidence-based interventions for gaming and internet addiction, substance abuse, deep-rooted trauma, and ADHD.Recovery requires more than simply treating symptoms; it demands addressing the underlying distress. Tom brings a fiercely non-judgmental, person-centered approach to his practice, understanding that addiction and behavioral struggles are often intertwined with burnout, unresolved trauma, or strained family dynamics. By integrating proven therapeutic frameworks, including trauma-informed care and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), he creates a psychologically safe environment where clients can confront core issues without shame.Working extensively with struggling adolescents, high-stress professionals, and distressed family units, Tom focuses on practical, long-term outcomes. He helps clients dismantle destructive cycles, develop resilient emotional regulation strategies, and rebuild fractured relationships.Consulting fluently in both English and Greek, Tom partners with his clients to provide the sustainable, real-world tools they need to reclaim agency over their mental health and move forward with clarity and purpose.