By now, most people have heard the term ‘crackberry’, referring to the addiction which comes along with owning a Blackberry. Now that other companies have joined the smartphone bandwagon, there is a new term for smartphone addicts. Smartphoniacs, a new turn of phrase for the next wave of global technological addiction. Video game addicts may have started the tech addiction trend, but today it is the great smartphone ‘pandemic’ of the new millennium. Anywhere and everywhere you are these days; someone is checking emails, texting, browsing, or tweeting.
Not since the invention of the television has the world changed their lifestyle habits as much as with the invention of the smartphone. It has been said that by 2012, 500 million people worldwide will be using a smartphone. From that 500 million people, 10 of users will become addicted in this new information age. Psychologists and trades people alike have tried to find the reason some may become addicted and others not. At this time, it seems to be described as an anxiety driven social disconnection, or basically, the fear of missing something, anything, if you are not connected. All around the world, there are people who at this very moment are feeling the deep seeded need to connect. In a recent American poll, 42 of teens can text with their eyes closed. In fact, last year a 15 year old girl in the United States was given the prestigious honor of being the fastest texter in the country – they give awards for that now. She texted 500 times a day, and was awarded a $50,000 grand prize. Actual phone calls have dropped in recent years, apparently people of this new information age would rather text or email instead of talk.
Smartphones have become a social status symbol which makes it even harder to quit. There were approximately 139.3 million smartphones sold around the world last year. In the U.S. alone, people report using their smartphones more now than they did 3 months ago. With stats like these, there seems to be a worldwide ‘pandemic’ occurring. Experts at Rutgers University state that smartphone addiction is on the rise at an alarming rate. It is an addiction as hard to quit as drugs. Up to 49 of users asked, say they keep their phone next to their beds so they can listen for messages even while they sleep. If that’s not addiction, what is? Whatever your ‘trigger’ phantom rings, having 5 or more email accounts, having to check your inbox incessantly, having over 30 different apps installed, having alarms telling when it’s time to do anything, or simply reading about your phone, on your phone – you may have an addiction.
If you find yourself falling into any of the above categories, there is help. It didn’t take long for the Dr. Phil’s of the world to jump in and offer helpful advice to any smartphoniac. There are SA (smartphone addict) groups cropping up all over the world, as well as many other tech addiction groups, due to the growing need. You are not alone in your quest for connection freedom. As tech trends dictate, in time the price of owning and being connected by a smartphone will cost less. Thus, leading more people down that long dark road of addiction. Will you be next?
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