Mobile Obsession
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Editorial . . . . . . . .
Lately, smartphone use has increased manifold, especially among teens and young people, resulting in a new obsession known as nomophobia. Nomophobia is a short form for “no-mobile-phone phobia,” which is defined as “the fear of being without a smartphone or being unable to use it.” During a 2008 survey commissioned by YouGov, a UK-based research agency, the UK Post coined the term., to analyse mobile phone users’ worries. Over 53% of mobile phone users grow concerned when they “lose their phone, run out of battery or credit, or have no network service.”
According to the report, 58 percent of men and 47 percent of women suffer from nomphobia, while another 9% are disturbed when their phones are turned off. If you feel concerned when you know you’ll lose service for a few hours; or thoughts of being without phone bring distress, it’s conceivable you have nomophobia, Anxiety, respiratory changes, shaking, perspiration, agitation, confusion, and tachycardia are all signs and symptoms of Nomophobia in the absence of phones. Nomophobics have a tendency of being constantly connected to social media. They can’t stop checking their phones; they don’t want to miss a single notification. Some people even suffer from phantom syndrome, in which they believe their phones are ringing or buzzing when they are not.
All of this is due to the result of a cell phone obsession. Their productivity and relationship quality suffer as a result. Phubbing is another major problem that has arisen as a result of internet addiction. Phubbing is a term that combines the terms “phone” and “snubbing.” The term was coined in 2012 as part of a campaign organised by Adrian Mills, the director of advertising agency MacCann Group, who challenged lexicographers, novelists, and poets to come up with a new name to represent the behaviour of ignoring others in favour of your phone.
Alex High, a MacCann intern, coined the term “phubbing.” MacCann Group responded by launching the “No phubbing campaign” to increase awareness of the problem. Snubbing or neglecting someone in a social environment by staring at your phone instead of paying attention to them is known as phubbing.
Even when others are in the mood to address serious issues, it is not uncommon to see people glued to their phones. Others are now offended, causing emotional discomfort. According to analysis and research report, people who phub (also known as “phubbers”) engage in the following unwanted behaviours: looking at their mobile phones in the middle of a conversation, keeping their phones close by even during in-person encounters, and interrupting a real-life conversation to attend phone conversations. It’s sheer critical to understand that Phubbers don’t make emergency calls or react to emergency emails or texts on their phones.
They keep themselves entertained by going through their social media feeds and updates, sharing selfies or images/photos of their meals or activities, contacting friends, or playing online games. Although phubbing appears to be a quite pretty innocent activity, it is an inconvenient aspect of modern digital life that has been shown to affect our relationships. One example of how technology is at odds with human interaction is phubbing. “Although phubbing connects you, ostensibly, with someone through social media or texting, it actually can immensely and seriously disturb your present-moment, in-person connections,” says Emma Seppala, a psychologist at Stanford and Yale universities and author of “The happiness tracks.” Another study of the same nature indicated that phubbing jeopardises four “basic needs” – belonging, self-esteem, meaningful existence, and control – by making phubbed people feel alienated and branded.
It’s past time for us to acknowledge the harmful consequences of phubbing and take steps to improve our social relationships and interactions. Because of our immersion in the electronic world, our loved ones often feel forgotten and unwelcome. We must understand that not every pop-up, notification, feed and text is vital to our survival. Let us not become mechanical in our dealings with people, especially with our loved ones.
Let us treat others with respect, and a dignified manner and spend meaningful time with them. Let us make every effort to be physically, emotionally, and psychologically present with the person with whom we are conversing. Let us make others feel appreciated. Let’s put down our phones and enjoy the view and conversation.
