Nomophobia, Fear Of Being Without A Mobile Phone, On The Rise: Survey Says

Nomophobia is on the rise. In a recent study by SecurEnvoy, 67 percent of respondents are afraid of losing or being without their mobile phones, up from 53 percent in the prior survey four years ago. In fact, 41 percent are so worried, they own two or more phones.

Women (70 percent) are more worried than men (61 percent) about being without a phone, but that could be because men are more likely to have multiple phones than women (47 percent compared to 36 percent). It's not surprising that people ages 18 to 24 are most nomophobic (77 percent).

Why it matters to your business: The study confirms how much consumers are addicted to their phones -- and that spells opportunity. People are spending more and more time tweeting, checking in and yes, shopping on the go. So it's an important reminder to double down on your mobile strategy, making sure your website is optimized for mobile viewing, determining whether you need an app and identifying ways to incorporate Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and other social media.

Comments

[wlwhite]

01:53 PM on 04/12/2012

I have a great Android App on my daughter's smartphone called Parental Time Control. It has NO monthly fees! Check it out! I can control her usage on her phone before she becomes addicted & has Nomophobia! Here is the direct link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.phone.lock&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5waG9uZS5sb2NrIl0.

[wlwhite]

04:47 PM on 04/11/2012

I have a great Android App on my daughter's smartphone. It is called Parental Time Control. I select the times of day and days of week her phone is available for her to use. there are NO monthly fees. Here is the direct link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.phone.lock&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5waG9uZS5sb2NrIl0.
It makes me a better parent.

[blindskeeter]

07:22 AM on 03/25/2012

I had a job for 6 years and was provided with a cell phone. When I was dismissed at about 3 in the afternoon the ride home without my phone was agonizing. Forget that I lost the best job in the world literally. A job where I was not even required to show up and made 30G a year for about 15 min of real work a day. (When I did go in I would pour a cup of coffee and drink and finish it on the way home. )By 7 that evening I had another phone. I bought a trac phone and weined myself off of it. Now my cell is for emergencies only, but was considering dumping my landline for a cell but Ive had the landline number for 42 years. By the way. My sprint always dropped calls. My trac phone has never dropped a call in 5 yrs.

[Al Schrader]

06:50 AM on 03/25/2012

I invented the first practical self-powered cell phone. It works on the same principle as self powered wrist watches. No more missed calls or dropped-out calls because of battery issues.
Verizon will be the first to have this new phone technology because we are in the licensing phase right now. Ask at the Verizon counter for the Schrader Technology model...Alfred-

[blindskeeter]

07:24 AM on 03/25/2012

Al Gore invented the internet

[bdgrizcp]

06:38 AM on 03/25/2012

I have to have one for work (I'm always on call) but the only thing I'd do differently if I weren't on call is turn it off now and again and let voicemail take over. Also, try and find a payphone these days. I no longer have a home phone (landline) so the portable is it. Having been on call for my entire working career I can only say the cell phone is the greatest thing ever. Has anyone seen a phone book lately? Used to be huge--two volumes for Broward County FL that, at the peak some years ago were full sized and 5 inches thick. Just got this year's version--smaller in size and only 1-3/4" thick, less than a third the weight. Great for trees, I guess.

[G D]

06:27 AM on 03/25/2012

I think I would be more fearful of enjoying my life without one. Unfortunately my job requires that I have one!!

[homeimps]

06:10 AM on 03/25/2012

It's amazing how quickly people have forgotten we used to live without cellphones. Funny thing is, even though almost everyone has one of these things practically velcroed to their ears, I still find that an amazing number of people either don't bother setting up their voicemailboxes or let them get and stay so full I still can't leave them a message. And that even when I can, they don't bother getting back to me. I know cellphones are a must for people in business, but a lot of others need to think about how they use them and whether or not the plans they have are really worth paying for.

[Rochelle MacDonald]

03:52 AM on 03/26/2012

I don't check my voicemail anymore because everyone contacts me via text message. I don't think I have my voice mail set up on either of my cell phones.

[Amie Nogrady]

05:16 AM on 03/25/2012

Ugh. I believe I just came down with Huffaphobia... the irrational fear that some very odd study reported by the Huffington Post will kill off my brain cells, one by one.

[pammiethekid]

10:29 AM on 03/25/2012

f and f. :)

[carmelcone]

04:22 AM on 03/25/2012

FEAR of being without a phone? What have we become that something this trivial now has a medical term? Pathetic! I misplace my phone on occasion and the only downside is that others are asking why I wasn't available. I honestly welcomed the peace and quiet!

[Victoria Institutions]

04:04 AM on 03/25/2012

These are natural feelings. However to insert panic into a natural feeling by using a Phobia Terminology, is quite bad

[bdgrizcp]

06:55 AM on 03/25/2012

I agree. As a sufferer of coulrophobia (lifelong) I can so easily emphasize with these--who'm I kidding? You lose your phone, what a hassle. The problem is, hardly anyone bothers to memorize phone numbers anymore, so your phone directory is vital to everyday survival. Sort of. Please don't send in the clowns. Or Santa. I think I have a fear of costumes or disguises. Maybe. Clowns for sure! And mimes. Definitely mimes.

[thetxsndn]

03:35 PM on 03/25/2012

PHEW ! I'm right there with you on the clostrophobia thing. Makes me shudder just thinking about it. Nomophobia....not so much. MIne is in the drawer where it's been for about 5 yrs. I am too old for a leash & if someone wants to talk to me they can email, come over or call on my land line....lol.

[Annette Hammond]

03:15 AM on 03/25/2012

Get REAL! For Petes sake!

[parrotnorth]

02:53 AM on 03/25/2012

I keep my cell phone right next to my Glock. I'll use the phone first unless the bad guy can't waite 4 or 5 minutes. In todays society plan for the worst, but you better be able to take care of yourself.

[mcinnisja]

05:44 AM on 03/25/2012

How sad.

[kimhoulian]

02:40 PM on 03/25/2012

you should move

[BEATRIX KIDDO]

01:06 AM on 03/25/2012

Nomophobia is on the rise. In a recent study by SecurEnvoy, 67 percent of respondents are afraid of losing or being without their mobile phones,

I wonder who these respondants are? Did they poll people in line at Verizon/sprint etc....what a goofy story!

[scbeachgirl1]

01:05 AM on 03/25/2012

PLEASE...get a life!!!!!!!...my Dad was a rep for a company 40 yeara ago and ...if you youngins can imagine...actually used a telephone to contact his next appointment. That meant stopping at a gas station or phone booth...I know you haven't a clue what that was... to confirm. Fear of not having a cell phone is absurd. Try talking to some one live...it really isn't so bad and you may learn some social skills!!!

[blackhawk87]

03:03 AM on 03/25/2012

Exactly.

[bdgrizcp]

06:58 AM on 03/25/2012

Being on call for my entire career I once had a fear of not being able to find a phone booth, which was fixed by getting a cell phone. Since by then there were hardly any phone booths. Or pay phones.

[pslcitizen]

12:42 AM on 03/25/2012

lol Get therapy or better yet, get over yourselves.