BY NICHOLAS BEJELIS SELLSTATE ACHIEVERS REALTY
“ If someone from the 1950s suddenly appeared today , what would be the most difficult thing to explain to them about our world ? The answer ? I possess a device , in my pocket that is capable of accessing the entirety of information known to man . I use it to look at pictures of cats and get into arguments with strangers .” This was an excerpt from the online forum Reddit demonstrating the significance of mobile technology . In 90 % of American adults ’ hands / pockets / purses lies this device with virtually unlimited capabilities . You can watch live TV with a subscription streaming service . You can check on a live camera feed or close your garage door from across the world with home automation . You can swipe right in hopes to find true love . You can even search and find your next house on the Internet . Oh , and you can actually make calls with these things too . But like Spiderman ’ s great Uncle Ben said , “ with great power comes great responsibility .”
So what ‘ great responsibility ,’ or what ‘ downside ’ is there to possessing and utilizing this magical device ? In a single word , nomophobia . Nomophobia is the fear of being out of mobile phone contact and losing connection with the outside world . Yes , it ’ s a real thing . Don ’ t think so ? The average person checks their cellphone 110 times a day and 50 % of Americans use their phones right before they go to bed , and when they wake up , they more than likely grab their phone and check it before they get up to go to the bathroom . One in three mobile owners would rather give up sex than their phones . While these ridiculous , albeit true , statistics might not be applicable to you , maybe the following questions do apply . Do you seem to lose track of time when on your cell phone ? Do you text , email , tweet , or surf the Internet while driving or doing other similar activities that requires your focused attention and concentration ? When you eat meals , is your cell phone always part of the table place setting ? Do you sleep with your smartphone on or under your pillow or next to your bed regularly ? If you answered yes to any of these questions , then according to Psycheguides . com , you may be addicted without even realizing it .
20 RPCRA . ORG | MAR / APR 2017