We all are seeing it every day, people staring at their cell phones, texting, calling, and posting statuses. Recently, a staggering report confirmed that texting while driving is now responsible for more teen deaths than drunk driving and now it has been officially confirmed by an Australian study that 9 out of 10 people under 30 years old experience some form of nomophobia or the fear of not having their cell phone. A study by Baylor and Seton Hall Universities that have concluded similar results and determined that college aged individuals are the heaviest cell phone users and will check their phones up to 60 times a day and send / receive an average of 109.5 text messages a day.
Although cell phones do have a great deal of positive attributes, what penalties are being paid for this form of instant communication of the modern age? Cell phones are interfering with our lives; many people will stop whatever it is they are doing to instantly reply to a text regardless of where they are or what they are doing; driving, working, or having a face to face conversation takes second place to looking at the screen when a notification comes in. Could this be addiction?
Take a look at the traditional symptoms of addiction according to the Mayo Clinic website and as you see the word ‘drug,’ replace it with ‘cell phone’
- Feeling that you have to use the drug regularly – this can be daily or even several times a day
- Failing in your attempts to stop using the drug
- Making certain that you maintain a supply of the drug
- Spending money on the drug, even though you can’t afford it
- Doing things to obtain the drug that you normally wouldn’t do, such as stealing
- Feeling that you need the drug to deal with your problems
- Driving or doing other risky activities when you’re under the influence of the drug
- Focusing more and more time and energy on getting and using the drug
How did you do? How many symptoms of addiction do you have? Cell phone addiction is a very real problem that needs to be taken seriously and it is recommended that if you show signs of addiction to seek help.
Sources:
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/mind-tapas/201212/hanging-cell-phone-addiction
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-06-02/telecom/39690242_1_mobile-phone-cisco-five-people
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/drug-addiction/DS00183/DSECTION=symptoms
Some other articles by Paula Kiskaden
Texting and Driving is Killing Our Teens
Bacon Addiction
Paranormal Investigations and Religious Beliefs