‘Nomophobia’ on the rise in NI as a growing number feel anxious without their mobile phone

Northern Ireland is becoming a ‘Smartphone society’ with almost two thirds of adults now owning at least one device

SMARTPHONE users in Northern Ireland are becoming increasingly dependent on their devices and regularly experience feelings of anxiety and fear when separated from them, according to local company Jumping Jack™.

A recent report from Ofcom* found that almost two thirds of adults in Northern Ireland now own a Smartphone and that this figure is rising rapidly, particularly as they are now the most popular way to access the Internet.

Further research has revealed that over half of adults in the UK now admit that they worry about being out of mobile phone contact**, while the average person checks their Smartphone more than 200 times a day***.

Richard Johnston, Product Manager for Jumping Jack™ emergency chargers said: “Smartphones have become an integral part of our daily lives and for many the thought of not being able to use theirs creates genuine fear and concern.

“This anxiety has been dubbed ‘nomophobia’, or ‘no mobile phone phobia’ and it describes the fear of being out of mobile phone contact. Whether you are out of battery, out of signal or you’ve just forgotten to bring your phone with you, many of us struggle to go without checking our phones for more than an hour.”

A number of incidents this year highlight the lengths some people are prepared to go to so they can stay connected.

In London, a man was arrested for abstracting electricity when he charged his phone using a socket on a train carriage, while in New York a theatre-goer climbed on stage and tried to charge his phone in a fake socket, just moments before a Broadway play commenced.

Richard added: “It’s amazing to see how far some people will go to charge their phone once nomophobia sets in, and while these are perhaps two of the more extreme examples, we’ve all been in that situation where you need to make that call or send that text and your battery is flat.

“That’s one of the main reasons that we launched our Jumping Jack™ emergency chargers. They can charge phones and almost any other electronic devices faster than conventional plug-in cables and you can take them with you when you’re on the move, so it’s easier than ever to stay connected.

“You can even jump-start cars with up to a 3.0 litre engine capacity†, so although it’s only a small device it packs a really powerful punch.”

For more information on Jumping Jack™ www.thejumpingjack.com

*Ofcom, 2015, Communications Market Report

**SecurEnvoy, 2012, Nomophobia report

***Tecmark, 2014, Average user picks up their Smartphone 221 times a day