Mobile phones are as addictive as smoking
Mobile phones can be as addictive as smoking or junk food, warn experts. Many of us are becoming alarmingly dependent on our mobiles, even suffering repetitive strain injury from constant texting. In extreme cases, it can be as bad as being hooked on nicotine. Australian researchers are carrying out the first study into mobile phone addiction and say preliminary data already suggests some owners are obsessive about their phones. Diana James, of Queensland University of Technology, found many students became anxious and agitated if they were parted from their mobiles. Some even panicked when simply asked to turn them off for a short discussion. 'They were afraid - they were quite agitated,' she said.
'Students were quite relieved when the session was over and they could turn their phone back on and check for messages.' From speaking to the students, she also found some suffered sleep deprivation and even RSI from lying awake at night texting. '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,' she warned. Miss James said not all of those who heavily use their mobile will become addicted but users should ask themselves whether their phone leads to any emotional, social and physical stress. Danger signs include running up huge bills and reacting irrationally if you lose or forget your phone. Miss James, a researcher in consumer behavior, is conducting an online study with mobile phone users in Australia throughout April and May to measure how much phone addiction exists. 'I think it is critical that we can help people realize their level of dependency and ultimately help them to do something about it,' she said. 'I want to develop a scale that can measure addiction so that people can assess themselves. 'Mobile phone addiction is going to surpass Internet addiction because at least you can walk away from your computer. 'Our dependency on mobiles means most people are never without them. Like substance abuse, excessive use of mobile phones can lead to personal problems.' Other experts have previously warned of addictions to mobile phones. Professor Mark Griffiths, of Nottingham Trent University, said some users experience a 'high' when they hear a message bleep. 'I believe that technology addictions do exist and this could include being addicted to using your mobile phone,' he said. Recent research suggested up to 90 per cent of 15-24 year-olds in Ireland own a mobile phone, while female students under 24 are the biggest users. Across all age groups more than 80 per cent own a mobile phone. Last year, a survey also suggested that mobile phones make us more unreliable and disorganized. A poll by Intel found nearly one in
five users admitted being sloppy about timekeeping because they had the 'safety net' of a mobile phone to warn others they were running late. Some people would rather buy a top-up than food. For instance one study showed how a young girl called Caroline Ward needed counseling to help overcome her mobile addiction. She earned just about 150euro a fortnight as a trainee beauty therapist but was spending about 100euro of it on top-up cards for her phone. Caroline, 19, admitted sometimes going hungry just so she could keep texting and chatting with friends. She was making up to 20 calls a day and sending around 50 text messages to her friends and family. She admitted that most of the time they were merely to 'ask how they were'. She also liked to download the latest ring tones to her phone. Caroline was first given a phone when she was 12 or 13 by her parents Gilly and Graham and was so pleased with it that she began phoning all her friends. Soon she was spending her entire pocket money on top-up cards. Eventually, she became protective of her phone and would not let anyone take it from her. 'When I hear my phone beeping with a text message I am all smiles,' she said. 'But when I don't have any credit left I become depressed.' After realizing how dependent she had become on her phone, she sought help from her GP. 'I know it sounds like a silly addiction, but it is real to me,' she said. 'If I was down to my last 10 euro I am more likely to buy a top-up card than food.' Her doctor advised she put the phone on silent mode, place it in a cupboard and try to forget about it. When that failed to work, he referred her to a mental health counselor.
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