This document discusses addiction to cell phones and constant connectivity. It notes that while phones allow constant connection, overuse can lead to addiction with detrimental effects. Statistics show that many people fear being separated from their phone and some experience anxiety without it. This phenomenon is known as nomophobia, or the fear of being without a mobile device. Nomophobia can escalate into problems similar to drug and alcohol addictions, causing stress, anxiety and feelings of isolation when away from one's phone. As phone usage increases rapidly, cell phone addiction is expected to become an even larger problem in the future.

1. Addiction to
Connection
A narrative by
Natalie Laing
image: stuck in customs (Flickr)

2. constantly connected
Cellphones
have allowed people to remain
to the world around them
image: Grafixar (moregueFile)

3. But at what point does the
benefit
of
connectivity
image: a ̂–ºMiloâ–º (Flickr)

4. become outweighed
by the
detriment
of ADDICTION?
image: Bayat (Flickr)

5. 66%
of people fear being
separated from their
cellphone
image: maestropastelero (Flickr)

6. of people with
iPhones would
rather give up
brushing their
teeth for a week
than their phone
40%
image: alles-schlumpf (Flickr)

7. of people would rather
give up sex than their
phones
33%
image: mohammadali (Flickr)

8. 75%
of people use
their phones
while in the
bathroom
image: jonas_k (Flickr)

9. the
conclusion
led to by these
statistics is called ...
image: suttonhoo (Flickr)

10. Nomophobia
“the fear of being out of mobile phone contact”
image: Tal777 (Flickr)

11. Nomophobia
can
escalate
resulting in problems similar to that of
drug or alcohol addictions
image: Tom Haymes (Flickr)

12. stress
anxiety
confusion
loneliness
isolation
causing
image: bruckerrib (Flickr)

13. Addiction has become so severe that some
people experience symptoms similar to
“Phantom Limb” Syndrome
when they are without their phone
image: miss pupik (Flickr)

14. There is no longer any
excuse
for missing a
text message
call
or email
image: romainguy (Flickr)

15. “If you don’t pick up a girl’s phone call and you’re dating her
-- my god expect to buy flowers for her”
image: Jose Luis Mieza Photography (Flickr)

16. The growth in cell-phone phone service
subscribers just further supports the
trend. In just 2 years the number
of cell phone users in the US has
increased by 800% to 225
million.
image: Glow Plug (Flickr)

17. “They’re not just a consumer tool,
eroding
our personal relationships.”
but are used as a status symbol.
They are
image: Sri Lankan Photos (Flickr)

18. The
technology
meant to bring people
together
image: connection chiceaux (Flickr)

19. has actually
torn
many apart
image: Aayesha Siddiqui (Flickr)

20. and with the
speed
at which cell phone usage is
growing
image: Tc Morgan (Flickr)

21. cellphone addiction is bound to become an even
BIGGER
problem in the future
image: ecstaticist (Flickr)

22. so take a moment...
image: marcp_dmoz (Flickr)

23. put down your cellphone...
image: TheeErin (Flickr)

24. and enjoy the NOW.
image: szeke (Flickr)

25. All Photos (except photo 2) are licensed under Creative Commons licensed
content for noncommercial use requiring attribution and share alike distribution.
Photo 2 is a morgueFile free photo.
Sources
http://www.forbes.com/2008/06/15/cellphone-addict-iphone-tech-wireless08-
cx_wt0616addict.html
http://metro.co.uk/2013/03/21/one-in-ten-people-addicted-to-their-smartphone-3553168/
http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/smartphone-addiction-takes-hold-
over-ame/240002477
http://www.socialnomics.net/2012/12/10/how-your-addiction-to-your-smart-phone-affects-your-
daily-routine/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/08/nomophobia-cell-phone-addictio_n_1500670.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/9714616/Mobile-phone-addiction-ruining-
relationships.html