What is “nomophobia” and how is it linked to the blackout of WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook | Recommendations to avoid the disorder

The blackout of WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram recorded on Monday once again highlighted a disturbance that has increased in recent years: the nomophobia (non-mobile-phone-phobia), defined as el fear or extreme anxiety of an irrational nature that arises from a person when they stay for a period of time unable to use his cell phone.

According to the most popular hypothesis among experts, this fear can arise due to four main factors: inability to communicate with others, Connection lost, inability to access information and give up comfort.

If a person goes out on the street without their cell phone and when they realize that they are starting to feel overwhelmed or to experience fear or paralysis, they might be facing nomophobic behavior. Likewise, if these symptoms are present when you cannot instantly consult the various notifications (calls, social networks, messages, etc.) that arrive on the mobile phone.

It is also an indication of nomophobic behavior to feel happy if the cell phone battery is at 100% and start to feel anxiety when it goes down or panic when entering areas without data coverage. nor Wi-Fi.

What difficulties does nomophobia bring?

Unlike addiction, nomophobia can be thought of as a more extreme fear that ends in interfere with and interfere with the daily life of the person: A recent review of studies shows that nomophobia negatively affects the individual personality, self-esteem, stress and academic performance.

It is also often associated with other mental disorders such as social phobia, hyperactivity or depression.

In addition, it can lead to worst eating habits, nail decrease in rest time, Social isolation, lower performance both in studies and at work and greater distraction.

People who suffer from nomophobia also tend to develop the carpal tunnel syndrome, for the Excessive pressure on the median nerve of the wrist which allows sensation and movement to parts of the hand.

Who are most susceptible to nomophobia?

The group most likely to suffer from this type of disorder is that of children and adolescents, since they grew up in a technological society surrounded by different devices at their disposal.

A survey by the International University of La Rioja (UNIR) which analyzed 108 scientific studies on this problem published from 2010 to 2019 added to the kind as variable and detected a greater presence of nomophobia in women.

recommendations

To prevent this problem from affecting physical and mental well-being, it is necessary to develop educational programs from an early age that are committed to the rational use of mobile devices. This implies the need to implement adequate digital competence and critical awareness regarding the use of information and communication technologies.

In turn, a self-analysis of the daily time spent using the mobile phone. In this sense, the purposes of their use must also be assessed. Recommendations also include:

• Uninstall some apps that the person sees as a waste of their time.
• Do not use the cell phone during meals.
• Deactivate the notifications.
• Establish precise times to consult it.
• Do not look at it during conversations, meals, or shared leisure time.
• Do not use it as an alarm clock, as it can interfere with the sleep cycle.
• Take it out of the room.