Do you have an aversion to light? Do you experience anxiety in situations where checking your text messages is inappropriate? Some examples might include: while being married, in the act of passing a semi truck or perhaps during a job interview. If so, you may be one of the many who suffer from Social Media Addiction.
While this is a humorous take on our preoccupation with technology, a study by a British consumer research firm Intersperience found that separation from social media for even a short time – in this instance 24 hours, can be as harrowing as giving up smoking or drinking. As you will see, participants judged disconnection for even one day as ‘inconceivable.’ Perhaps the wildly popular trend of ‘end of days’ movies holds more terror now than ever. Implied in zombie attacks and the breakdown of society is the ultimate horror of a silent phone or computer.
Intersperience asked more than 1,000 British adults ages 18 to over 65 about their digital lives and restricted participants to get through a full day without using technology . The study found that over half of people felt “upset” when asked to not use any technology for 24 hours and 40 percent felt “lonely” when not engaging in activities such as social networking, emails, texting or watching their favorite TV channels.
A significant number “cheated” with television or radio which they didn’t regard as ‘technology.’ Others agreed to challenge but turned phones to silent alleging that being completely disconnected for even one day is ‘inconceivable.’