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Daily Authority: 😨 Yes, no-mobile-phone-phobia is a thing

Do you own your smartphone, or does your smartphone own you? Let's discuss.
By
November 14, 2022
Best Smartphones 4 EOY 2020
Robert Triggs / Android Authority

😶 Good day all, and welcome to the Daily Authority! It’s a new week, and I’m kicking mine off with one thumping headache. But not to worry, things can only get better from here!

Our main story this week is about “nomophobia,” specifically the fear of living without a smartphone.

Screen on, brain off?

iPhone 13 Pro review in hand facing the sky
Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority

Our reliance on our mobile devices isn’t a big issue, but being terrified of not holding one in your hand is something that should be addressed. Like addictive substances, phones have some surprising negative effects when used excessively. We only want the best for you. Here are our tips for battling nomophobia and phone addiction.

So what is nomophobia?

  • We all know how useful smartphones are for everything from calculating grocery totals to recording moments through photos and keeping in touch with loved ones.
  • However, it becomes a problem when our lives are governed entirely by them.
  • Some studies highlight just how reliant we are on these little black mirrors.
  • The average smartphone user unlocks their device 150 times a day.
  • More worryingly, one in five people would prefer going without shoes for a week than without their phones.
  • “The nature of addiction involves an inability to control usage, a compulsion to use without being conscious of it, and persistence to continue using despite harmful consequences to oneself and others.”
  • Simply put, this is nomophobia.

Why is phone addiction a bad thing?

  • Addiction is a crippling condition.
  • According to some research, phone addiction can actually alter brain chemistry.
  • This may include disruption of a neurotransmitter called GABA which produces a sense of calm or euphoria.
  • Additionally, some studies have noted a loss of Grey Matter in the brain.
  • It’s a part of the central nervous system that controls movement, memory, and emotion.
  • There are other less apparent symptoms, like a lack of general awareness of our surroundings.

How you can combat phone addiction

  • Not all is lost, though.
  • Phone addiction can be remedied, and nomophobia can be controlled.
  • The Android Authority team has decades of cumulative smartphone usage experience, so here’s a few tips for battling these issues.
  • For starters, we recommend limiting notifications.
  • This is a simple step that will encourage you to pick your phone up less often.
  • Going hand-in-hand with this, be sure to take deliberate breaks.
  • It’s not easy to actively disconnect in our connected world, but you should practice ignoring your phone when with friends or family.
  • Some AA members have noticed that placing the phone in another room before heading off for bed improves their sleep.
  • You might also want to avoid some of the most addictive Android games, if you find yourself sinking more time into mobile gaming than you’d like.
  • Finally, our last tip is to be conscious of your usage, but not chastise yourself. Tools like Google’s Digital Wellbeing can really help.
  • “I used to use my phone far more than I do now. But the more you define boundaries, the easier it gets not to pick your phone up compulsively.”

Roundup

📷 Google’s best vs Apple’s finest: We pit the Pixel 7 Pro against the iPhone 14 Pro Max in our most anticipated camera shootout yet (Android Authority).

👩‍⚕️ Just in time for the holidays: Google Meet is a great tool for diagnosing phone problems on your family’s and friends’ phones (Android Authority).

💵 Mid-range phones might be better buys than flagships right now. Why? We’ve got a few reasons (Android Authority).

🗳️ Vote in our latest poll: Which dead smartphone brand would you resurrect? (Android Authority).

🎃 Someone got a hold of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and shot a few pics. Here’s how it compares to the Pixel 7 Pro and the S22 Ultra (Android Authority).

🔤 Here’s a great little read about the duties and demands of the Wordle editor at The New York Times. And yes, it’s a real job (Ars Technica).

🍎 Do you know where the iPhone is made? We trace the device’s journey from components to final assembly (Android Authority).

🌊 From the sea to the sky: Blue space therapy is the new holy grail of mindfulness (BBC).

Monday Meme

The Twitter drama shows no signs of slowing. It’s never been harder to tell real accounts from fake ones, thanks to the complete mess that is verification on the platform. Whether in jest or protest, several users have now created fake “blue tick” accounts parading as official figures.

Our Ryan McNeal rounded up some of those imposter tweets over the weekend, including some from a bunch of fake Popes, a dubious LeBron, and an imitation Tesla. Reddit users added a few more to the pile.

Have a great week!

Andy Walker, Editor.