Posted by scapevlocity
saw this in Mobile Burn: the Sydney Morning Herald:
"Australians are increasingly becoming so addicted to mobile phones they are suffering anxiety and self-esteem problems akin to substance abuse, a researcher says.
Brisbane-based consumer behaviour researcher Diana James said with Australia owning a collective 19 million mobiles, they had become a "huge part" of people's social lives.
So much so, excessive mobile users were experiencing personal problems ranging from agitation if forced to turn them off, to low self-esteem if they didn't receive calls or texts, she said.
"Like substance abuse, excessive use of mobile phones can lead to personal problems," said Ms James, from the Queensland University of Technology's School of Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations.
"Because they can provide immediate pleasure, if you're not careful mobile phones can become as much of an addiction as snacking on junk food or smoking.
"Without their phone, people feel like they are out of the loop."
Preliminary research among 80 Queensland residents from different backgrounds aged between 17 and 52 had found some were obsessed with their phones, becoming on edge if parted from them, she said.
"Some suffered withdrawal symptoms if they didn't receive calls or text messages, which could lead to anxiety and self-esteem problems," Ms James said.
"In some cases, some said they suffered sleep deprivation and even repetitive strain injury as they lay awake at night texting on their mobile."
She said while she conducted focus groups comprising university students, some "panicked" when asked to turn their phone off during discussion.
"They were afraid - they were quite agitated and were relieved when the session was over and they could turn their phone back on and check for messages," Ms James said.
"This isn't something just experienced by these students because I've looked at other pieces of research, international and national, that are evidence this is an extensive and growing area for investigation."
She said she hoped to attract 2,000 participants to her online survey at http://www.mobilesurvey.com.au by May 31 to further analyse the "emotional, psychological, financial and social impact" of skyrocketing mobile phone use across the nation.
Tell-tale signs of mobile phone addiction included irrational reactions when away from a mobile phone as well as huge bills, Ms James said."
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[ This Message was edited by: scapevlocity on 2006-04-09 01:33 ]
[ This Message was edited by: scapevlocity on 2006-04-09 02:06 ]
Posted by pinoy_plasma
hmmm, interesting. it has always been a mea culpa thingy for me, mobile phone use is a choice, a choice which has its assets but with liabilty as well. and nowadyas, everything can cause anxiety, eveything can cause addiction. but at the end of the day, it has always been and forever it will be, i think, a choice.
Posted by Ifedisky
Depends very much on the individuals definition of addiction.But I think there's an overwhelming dependance on mobile phones particularly the feature rich,multimedia phones.Take away GPRS from my phone and I'm dead+buried.Guess that's addiction?
Posted by masseur
I don't think I exhibit any of the psychological disorders or problems mentioned there but I can say without a doubt that I am most definitly a mobile junkie
I even brought 3 phones to oz with me this week! a K750, k-jam and V3
Posted by deluded
Yup, i gotta admit that i'm a mobile phone junkie, but not guilty of the symptoms though. I can live without a mobile phone, but it'll definitely make my life easier having one.
Posted by chili
Knowing Aussie sense of humor, i'm pretty sure some of those "subjects" were hamming it up with the "symptoms!"
Posted by victorh017
Well, this doesn't come as a surprise.
A while ago there was a thread here on esato in which they asked: "Do you turn your cell phone at night?" or something similar and like 95% of the people who participated say they didn't. That is definitely a sign of addicition, I don't see the point of being "available" 24/7.
And some of those guys claim to be married.... And I wondered, how can they achieve intimacy (and please understand that 'intimacy' is not only sex) with their spouses/kids if they have the need of being available to the 'exterior world' at all times???
Interesting article, and yes, this is getting serious.
Posted by carkitter
My wife and I agree - I'm a mobile phone junkie.
A week ago I misplaced my mobile phone and the anxiety I felt was incredible. I couldn't sleep, could'nt concentrate and became obsessed with trying to track it down which proved ultimately futile. Within 2 days I bought a replacement which allowed me to calm down.
I never turn my phone off, feel naked without it and am obsessed with finding a way to use EVERY feature. I am the only person I know of who sends Multimedia messages instead of txt.
I only buy feature packed premium phones which I must admit cost more than I can afford. I sometimes feel frustrated that others don't buy phones which can recieve PXT, MMS, Video PXT and Video calls from me.
My wife wants me to sign up for the online survey but it's for Aussies only.
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[ This Message was edited by: carkitter on 2006-04-09 06:24 ]
Posted by scapevlocity
don't take this as an offense, but... i don't know whether to take you seriously or to laugh hysterically.
if you'd allow the latter, i'd say you and your wife have a pretty good sense of humor.
though i must admit that i've never ever lost a phone in my entire history with mobile phones. i check periodically whether or not i still have it in my pocket. actually, most times i keep my hand in my pocket, with my phone clasped in my hand.
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selling:BRAND NEW: iPod video 30gb /
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Anghang!
[ This Message was edited by: scapevlocity on 2006-04-09 06:29 ]
Posted by deluded
Heh... I've been careful enough to avoid the agony of misplacing my phone. While i may be able to restrain myself when it comes to getting too obsessed with my phone, i think i'd definitely go crazy if i were to lose my phone. I think even more so than losing my wallet. And thats even though i always backup everything i have in my phone. Oh well, anyway, always, always backup.
Posted by carkitter
I didn't realise quite how mobile phones affected me 'til last week.
And yeah, the missus is A1.
Oh BTW, I don't own a MP3 player, digital camera, diary, address book or even a watch. I rely on my mobile to do all these things. Fortunately 99% of my info was backed up.
Posted by jasond
Agreeing with carkitter, that having everything on one device is an absolute godsend. I don't know myself since I put my diary on my phone! Not having to carry a black book of dates around with me to work and etc is fantastic.
I leave my phone on at night mainly because it's too annoying to turn it on, put in the PIN, and wait for any text messages to pipe through each and every morning. With the charger near my bed, there's no concern of battery depletion. If I lived with my girlfriend, this may be different, but right now everything is working for leaving my phone on over night, and keeping it on my person always, otherwise.
This is all of interest to me, however, and being Australian, I'll sign up for the survey and keep you folks posted.
Posted by j.musser
I knew I had a problem when I was shopping and thought I lost my phone. I immediately stopped what I was doing and the look on my face must have been pure horror due to an absolute stranger stopped by and asked if I needed help because I looked so frantic and distressed! When I found it in my purse the wave of sweet relief was ALMOST INTOXICATING.
Posted by Twometre
Iam so addicted to my phone such that I have very little friends where I live. At most when I want to talk to friends and laught I go to the internet. That is where most of my reliable friends are.
Posted by aldrinus
i am and i think will always be
Posted by crossmatched
yup. i am. in this day and age, everybody should be within reach..
Posted by razec
Since i entered the world of mobile phones 7 years ago, i've been very addicted to it. and i bet all of us here who constantly posts opinions etc. were mobile junkies too
Posted by tempus
I wouldn't say im a mobile phone junkie. Ive been known to have my phone off but with me for days much to the horror of some of my friends. It is a useful thing to have and it does make you feel wanted. I even have one friend who refuses to have a mobile phone! I don't think I could go that far.
Posted by Twometre
I wonder ho the married ones cope with the addiction in their marriage lives. Especially those that are used to chating
Posted by Davo_169
i lost my phone on the mountain last winter. It's just a pain in the ass when you lose your sim card and all the numbers you've collected. Luckily i rang it and some skier picked it up and i bought him a beer at the pub. It was lucky but i could probably live without my phone, i mean, i was at the pub
Im just going to point out now, that's the only time i will ever associate with a skier outside of verbal abuse after they cut me off and chop up the hill with their moguls...
Posted by Miss UK
lol are you lot serious?
I could go for days without switching mine on infact it does my headin ive so many pals ringing me or texting me it's just nice to have a quiet moment until you switch it on and people say where are you why don't you reply
or you get some stupid company trying to sell you something!
the prob when you start using your mobile as your main phone is that it does your headin
Posted by Bonovox
Im a big big junkie me its an addiction alright. Since the early days when i had my first analoge phone on Vodafone i have been hooked. Sad but i dont care ya gotta have your pleasures in life and this is one as well as the other half. I upgrade my phone normally every 3 to 4 months. But one thing does drive me mad is i have a very dear friend and she calls me all the time. Problem is sometimes i just want sometime to myself or maybe just want some peace or watch tv and she calls me at the most awkward moments sometimes. Now if i dont answer she wants to know why if i turn it off she thinks im avoiding her and then when we talk i cant get a word in edge ways and she goes on and on and on till i wish i never answered the bloody phone. I do love her though but she talks too much and sometimes i just wish she did NOT ring me. So ya cant win really with mobiles. People say WHY DID YOU SWITCH YER PHONE OFF or WHY YOU NOT ANSWERING. Sometimes i say the phone was not off i say i was browsing the net lol
Posted by Residentevil
Turn off your mobile, switch on your life
Whatever happened to face to face conversations?
I love my mobile, as it is my only phone, but I can be without it for hours.
Posted by j.musser
Wow I liked that "Turn off your mobile,switch on your life" as stated by Residentevil. Spoken like a true guru! Profound phone wisdom!
[ This Message was edited by: j.musser on 2008-05-08 01:09 ]
Posted by deluded
@Residentevil, I'm with you on that one! Much as I love my phone, I still prefer meeting up with my friends and having nice long chats, face-to-face. Nothing can replace that for me.
Posted by Davo_169
i guaruntee 95 percent of us are internet junkies
Posted by whizkidd
I'm a mixed bag. An internet cum mobile junkie. Why? Most of the time, i'm online through my phone.
Posted by Bonovox
Yes i do have a life but sometimes when people say they cant see you all they do is call you.
Posted by GUCCI.011
Yep,i'm most definetly addicted to my phone. If im not out with friends or family or not at school im on my phone, although i can live without it.
Posted by j.musser
None of my other phones did what my SE phones do. I dont think alot of peoples do so they have a boring phone to look at. That makes it hard for people to understand the addictive behavior of the phone junkie. Why we're constantly gazing at the screen or obsessed with themes.
Posted by himlims_nl
yes i'm an addict.
don't leave home without, and feel bad when i's on repair or around.
got 3 contracts, 5 phones i use on regular basis.
and exploid nearly every option/feature there available
Posted by JiSm
Yep. Im a definate junkie. I own a multitude of phones (mostly newish) and have 1 number. I get every type of accessory I can for it. I have no car but I own a BT portable carkit and BT headset. I have an ipod yet I own 2 different types of speakers for my phone and 2 seperate upgraded sets of headphones for my phone. I had a 1 gb card nearly full but didnt need anymore on it and bought a 4gb one. My watch is even connected to my phone. I was at a concert of my favourite band a phone got stolen from my pocket just as they came onstage so I left to tell security and call orange to order a new one (Insurance) and spent the whole night chasing it (as my watch was picking it up) not really thinking that anyone one of these hundreds of people in a 10 metre radius could have it, and missed all but 1 song. I think I blame the fact that I work in for a phone company for my obsession with phones.... or maybe thats why I work for a phone company??? Hmmm But in saying this, any of my gizmos (eg: PSP, NDS, PS3, Wii, Laptop, phones,) all have every accessory I can find. I think "Scouts" taught me to "Be prepared" - Yea, its their fault. haha.
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[ This Message was edited by: JiSm on 2008-05-21 09:26 ]
Posted by himlims_nl
curious; what do you do for livin'
Posted by JiSm
Work in a phone shop! haha
Posted by Twometre
I think most of the posters in this thread are phone junkies
Posted by j.musser
I wish there was a SE store here in Daytona Beach. I would get an second job sooo fast! Must work for phones!