Nomophobia

1573 Words4 Pages

As time progresses, many changes develop in society. For instance, fashions change, tastes change, habits change, and norms change as well. One of the biggest changes that has taken place over the years is the increase in dependency on technology and cell phones. According to an article, dated from from 2000 to 2004, there has been a 50% increase in the use of cell phones, ranging from 40 million to 60 million (Shuvra Mahmud). That was ten years ago, so the changes now must have increased even more. Similar to the increase in cell phone usage, there has also been an increase in the belief and diagnosis of nomophobia, the fear of being without a person’s cell phone. Although some scholars have argued that nomophobia is merely a high engagement of cell phone usage, various studies suggests that nomophobia is an actual phobia and that company advertisements are a probable cause for it. The prefix “nomo” refers to no mobile, “phobia” refers to the having a fear, and so ultimately nomophobia means the fear of not having a cell phone. According to various researchers, nomophobia is a rising illness. In a survey of approximately 3800 people, the researchers found out that 9 out of 10 people suffered from nomophobia. Nomophobia has a wide variety of symptoms, some of which include: fear of being away from a cell phone, fear of cell phone battery dying and preventing a person from using his/her cell phone, fear of going somewhere without his/her cell phone, etc. Another common sign of nomophobia is constantly wanting to charge the battery to ensure that a person has means of a working cell phone at all times. As a result a person can suffer from sleep deprivation and even have a lack of social skills. Furthermore, nomophobia can make a per... ... middle of paper ... ...ted disorder." Dr. Mario Lehenbauer-Baum. N.p., 09 Mar 2014. Web. 28 Mar. 2014. Michael, Peter, and Felicity Sheppard. "Nomophobia, the fear of not having a mobile phone, hits record numbers." The Sunday Mail. 02 Jun 2013: n. page. Web. 13 Mar. 2014. Monty, Scott. "When less is more: can marketers learn digital restraint? We need to know when to stop says Ford's digital communications chief." Guardian. 12 Jan 2014: n. page. Web. 13 Mar. 2014. "Nomophobia Treatment Cell Phone Anxieties."Morningside Recovery. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Mar 2014. Sahin, Sevil, et al. "Evaluation Of Mobile Phone Addiction Level And Sleep Quality In University Students." Pakistan Journal Of Medical Sciences 29.4 (2013): 913-918. Academic Search Complete. Web. 13 Mar. 2014. "The Talker: 'Nomophobia' - fear of being without your phone." Fox 5 News. 28 Sep 2012: n. page. Web. 14 Mar. 2014.

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