Nomophobia is the irrational fear of leaving the house without a mobile phone The term is an abbreviation of the English expression “no-mobile-phone phobia”
Parents complain that their teens have noses stuck to their phones, but perhaps they should examine their own habits, as a study published by the “Pew Research Center” says that two-thirds of parents are concerned about the amount of time that their teenage children pass in front of the screens, while more than a third expressed concern about their own time doing the same.
Big tech companies face mounting criticism about the addictive nature of their gadgets, the relentless notifications, and other capabilities created to keep people glued to their device screens.
More than half of teens say they often or sometimes find their parents or other caregivers distracted when they try to talk to them. The study indicates that the relationship of adolescents with their cell phones is sometimes “hyperconnected” and indicates that almost three-quarters review their messages as soon as they get up. Parents do the same, albeit at a lower rate, at 57%.
Many teens are trying to do something about it: 52% say they have reduced the time they spend on their cell phones, and 57% say they have done the same with social media.
Experts explain that parents play a crucial role in their children’s habits and that setting a good example is part of it. “Teens often don’t do what we tell them, but what we do,” says Donald Shifrin, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington, who was not involved in the “Pew” study. “Parents are the door through which children walk on their way to the world.”