The fear of the 21st century: Nomophobia
Nomophobia, abbreviated from “No Mobile Phone Phobia” is when a person experiences fear or anxiety about not having mobile phone connectivity. The term was introduced in 2008, by the UK Post Office. It might seem unknown to many people but it’s a widespread phenomenon in today’s modern world. A Nomophobe person experiences intense anxiety when they accidentally get separated from their smartphone. People having digital dependency are prone to being Nomophobe. This is a complex disease involving both physical and psychological aspects. Nomophobia is particularly seen in adolescents and young adults.
Excessive use of mobile phones might make a person mobile addict leading him to be depressed, anxious, and unsocial after a certain time. This new term, Nomophobia adds another fear for mobile addicts. A cross-sectional study was done by Al Mamun and others on several university students to understand Nomophobia among the young generation in Bangladesh. The study sheds light on the fact that 9.4% of the students had mild nomophobia, 56.1% had moderate nomophobia, and 34.5% had severe nomophobia. The data were collected in 2022 involving 585 participants through a comprehensive survey. The focus topics were, socio-demography, behavioral health, academic performance, mobile addiction, social media addiction, insomnia, nomophobia, and depression. The average nomophobia score was 88.55 out of 140. It was also found that Nomophobia is associated with smart device addiction, social media addiction, depression, and insomnia.
A survey in the UK, by Chang, revealed that 99.2 people have Nomophobia. They feel anxiety and fear whenever they are away from their phone. Smartphone is being used globally by most people not only as a communication tool but as a tool for entertainment, identity building, etc. But the widespread use is creating some problems as well. Excessively using mobile phones might lead to phone addiction and when they are away from it, they have anxiety, breathing problems, trembling, sweating, irregular heartbeats, etc.
The constant restlessness about separation from their smartphones leads people to become mentally unstable. When someone feels panicky about being without their mobile phones, it may affect their respiratory system. The fear of missing out on social interactions, trends, Instagram updates, or important information can make someone feel uneasy restless, and anxious at last. This anxiety caused by nomophobia sometimes leads to shallow or rapid breathing, shortness of breath, or difficulty in breathing. The psychological stress gradually takes a strong form of physical problems like trembling, shaking, sweating, etc. Although the symptoms vary from person to person, everyone with Nomophobia goes through similar problems making their life difficult.
It’s normal to have a certain level of attachment with mobile phones but when the fear of being without phones or losing internet access goes beyond the normal levels, it should be addressed. There can be many reasons for Nomophobia.
First of all, people are too dependent on smartphones. They want to stay connected to the world all the time and smartphones are a gateway for connecting, socializing, networking, exchanging information, entertainment, etc. Technology is evolving every day leading people to be more dependent on smartphones. The use of maps, number identification, web search, social media, etc. have been ingrained in daily life because of their versatility. The very thought of being away from all the facilities scares people.
Secondly, the fear of being left out of essential connectivity raises the question of social validation and the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO). FOMO is the fear of missing things out which is another aspect of Nomophobia. The social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, etc. have created a different world of social culture. This culture promotes staying updated, knowing trends, reacting to others, and sharing content to socialize.
Thirdly, the mobile phone doesn’t only help to stay connected with others, it also serves as an extension of one’s personality and identity. Personal information, contact numbers, emails, photos, and even confidential data are stored on a mobile device. Moreover, students work on phones and have classes, and professionals are also dependent on mobile phones for their tasks, information, meetings, etc. The fear of losing all the essential data, and personal information intensifies nomophobia.
Finally, Staying connected online and using mobile for several day-to-day works gives a sense of security and comfort. People want to stay connected to family and friends while working and connected to work while spending personal time. Moreover, mobile phones can help identify fraud. Online reviews about products or services keep people away from fraud.
A survey at Ohio State University with 317 students unveiled that the majority of their students believed that mobile phones give them a sense of safety, especially at night. Another survey in the same university finds out that 40% of students among 305 feel encouraged to venture into new unknown areas when they have their smartphones in their hands. Without a mobile phone, they would not normally go to those places. Not being able to do a lot of things without a mobile phone on hand can induce Nomophobia.
Leno and Steel gave a few suggestions to cure Nomophobia. Having self-relaxation by taking a break, leaving the phone at home while going out to roam around or to store or attend events, using watches, calendars, etc. as an alternative for schedule planning, exploring hobbies that don’t require a phone, and educating one’s self about Nomophobia can help to reduce phone dependency and get out of the problem.
Although any specific cure for Nomophobia doesn’t exist, taking therapy and bringing behavioral change can reduce the condition. The therapy might include cognitive behavior therapy, exposure therapy, or a combination of several therapies. The therapy starts with small steps like confronting the fear or leaving the phone in another room. In extreme situations, a Nomophobe might have to take meditation to reduce anxiety and depression. Gradually the fear of being without a mobile phone comes under control.
Someone might have Nomophobia without even realizing it. To get rid of this new fear of the 21st century, it is very important to understand it. The interplay between psychological, technological, and social factors is involved in this phenomenon. As a smartphone comes in handy in every situation of life-shaping our way of living, it might also bring life-threatening phenomena like mobile addiction, health hazards, and Nomophobia. Having control over the habit of technology dependency has become essential. Nomophobia created an urge to reevaluate our involvement and relationship with smartphones, technology, and virtual and real life.
Disclaimer: This article is solely intended for academic purposes. All the data and information are based on the available sources on the website at the time of writing and may not be entirely accurate or up to date. The author holds no responsibility for any error or use of the information contained herein.
Author: Fahmida Khanom