Put your phone down. Ready… set…go!

Did you do it? Did you put your phone down? Realistically, no because you are probably reading this article on your smartphone. However, if you were alone sitting in a room full of people, could you sit there contently watching your surroundings? Or would you feel the need to reconnect yourself with the world so you do not feel “alone” in that room full of strangers?

Technology, specifically the smartphone, has improved and spread over the past 2 decades and managed to implant itself in every part of our lives. But why? Why do we feel the need to constantly feel attached to that little box that lights up when poked at? Why do we feel anxiety when our phone runs out of battery when we are in a waiting room? Because we have developed a dependency on our phones to keep us from feeling alone and have started to use them as a tool to reduce anxiety.

Think back to the example in the beginning; you are sitting in a crowded room, yet somehow you feel alone. What do you do? You pick up your phone, or third appendage, and reconnect yourself; BAM you are no longer panicking. By turning on your phone and looking at your numerous social networking feeds, you are able to feel connected and no longer alone. We given phones the ability to reduce our anxiety in uncomfortable situations. The moment we feel stress or tension in a situation, super-smartphone is there to your rescue!

Although phones–and the applications that come with smartphones–give us the opportunity to connect more globally than ever thought possible 2 decades ago, they are causing a strange psychological effect: FOMO (the Fear of Missing Out). While on our mobile devices, we ensure ourselves that we are not left out of what the rest of the world is doing. You know exactly when Aunt Kara got engaged, about the most recent presidential debate and even when your friend went to the bathroom. Seriously though, God forbid Sarah buys a new dress without you knowing #rude. Dr. John M Grohol, psychologist who researches mental health, claims that people are “in the grip of the FOMO addiction–the fear of missing out on something more interesting, exciting or better than what we’re currently doing.” When separated from social media, people become more anxious because they fear life is passing them by and they simply must (always) be a part of it so c’mon, #saynotoFOMO.

In order to prevent this horrible feeling, people–specifically teens–will constantly check their feeds. People will actually disrupt their real lives in order to update themselves on the virtual world. Dr. Gohol says that, “teens and adults text while driving because the possibility of a social connection is more important than their own lives.” FOMO strikes again. Humans today cannot stand feeling secluded; it is just too stressful and anxiety ridden. We must be in “the know” at all times and feel a part of something bigger than what we are doing in the “here and now”.

In today’s technology era, we are so #blessed to have the ability to stay constantly connected with the world we live in. Yet, we are beginning to see the psychological side-effects of smartphones; FOMO and the unwanted feeling of “aloneness”. So, the next time you are in a crowded room with strangers or walking across campus feeling like the most awkward human to ever roam the planet, resist that urge to pull that sucker out. Although you (feel like) you are missing something in the virtual world which you can scroll back to later, you may actually miss experiencing something even bigger in the real world. So, fellow smartphone addicts, say no to FOMO and engage in the real world around you so you don’t miss out.

Check out Louis C.K and how he feels about cell phones:

For more information, watch Dr. Michael Sinclair (psychologist) discuss the psychological impact of Social Media.