Cell phone addiction

Emotionally attached to your cell phone and skipping meals to pay for it? Your cell phone addiction is out of control and it's time for an intervention.

Forget fast food, video games and reality TV. The worst plague sweeping the world these days is smartphone addiction. You’ve seen the worst affected skittering in alleyways, awake in bed at night, and in movie theaters, with the glow of backlit LCDs lighting up their maniacal faces. They’re addicts. Any you may be one of them.

Think you it may be more than a slight affinity for texting? Here are the top ten signs you’re addicted to your smartphone.

(And we’re all a little guilty.)


ey22yfbw10. You’ve spent more on accessories than on your phone.

It started out with something harmless like a car charger, but then you stepped up to the car FM transmitter, armband, a different case for each day of the week, spare batteries, screen protectors, a stereo Bluetooth adapter, wireless speakerphone, and even a dock powered by tube amps. You realize that it’s just a phone, not a kid, right? And that none of it will work when you inevitably upgrade to the next version six months from now?


hi29hikl9. You have 30 different apps installed. And use them all.

We’ve all gone through app-installing binges where we’ve installed some questionable stuff on our cell phones. Two weeks later, we either figure out it’s garbage and delete it, or leave it to stagnate. But those of you still checking on your digital iPhorest trees, using car locater to find your Camry down the block every morning, and thumbing through digital copies of the U.S. Constitution during heated political debates are the real nuts.


l2ahsk0a8. You have alarms telling you when to do everything in your life.

Business meetings, doctor’s appointments, and group meetups. All valid events to put in your phone. Have an alarm for putting out the trash on Wednesday night? You’re in way too deep, buddy. When you need your phone to prod you through every step of the day, it might as well be your respirator or dialysis machine.


ofaoanhz7. You read about your phone on your phone.

Not content to dream about your phone, fondle it in your pocket all day long, and relish every chance to use it, you actually invest time in finding out more about it, while using it. You read through the latest TUAW posts on your iPhone, or threads on the Crackberry forums from your Bold. Your phone is no longer a means to an end, it is the end.


ywrimnu16. You’ve cut back on necessities to afford your $100 a month cell phone bill.

OK, lunch is pretty important. But $5 a day adds up to like $150 a month, and that can totally pay your phone bill if you just switch to Jell-O and ramen noodles for a while. Or maybe you could just start hopping the turnstile instead of paying for a subway pass. Or move to a cheaper apartment. Or carry a balance on that credit card…

Does this logic sound familiar?

Showing 41 comments

  1. Dependenta de Smartphone | La taifas despre oameni, locuri, intamplari at 1:34am 29th April 2012 [...] excesiva a telefonului duce la probleme cu partenerul de viata si la stres emotional. Potrivit digitaltrends.com, exista o lista de simptome in functie de care iti poti da seama daca esti dependent sau nu de [...]
  2. #363 iExplorer, Prosoft Data Rescue, T-Mobile Data Plans, Lily Tomlin, Clarify Sale, XBMC Media Center | Nosillacast at 7:50pm 22nd April 2012 [...] Lily Tomlin as Ernestine the Operator (YouTube), T-Mobile Prepaid, Engadget: Unlock your iPhone, Top Ten Signs of Cell Phone Addiction, Are you a “Smartphone” Addict ?. Clarify from Bluemango Learning on sale for 25% off [...]
  3. Put Down Your Phone! | REPORTING FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD at 3:05pm 1st March 2012 [...] are the top ten signs that you’re addicted to your phone, taken from digitaltrends.com: 1. You use it in the [...]
  4. Nomophobia on the rise: do you fear being without your mobile phone? at 1:27am 17th February 2012 [...] To find out if you’re hopelessly addicted to your mobile device, check out our Top 10 Signs of Cell Phone Addiction page here. [...]
  5. Nomophobia on the rise: do you fear being without your mobile phone? | Daily Tech News at 11:25pm 16th February 2012 [...] To find out if you’re hopelessly dependant to your mobile device, check out our Top 10 Signs of Cell Phone Addiction page here. [...]
  6. Are You A Compulsive Phone-Checker? | The Droid Lawyer™ at 9:01am 8th February 2012 [...] Mokey wrote this post that gives a good run-down on some of the signs of cell phone addiction. It’s important to [...]
  7. Kurt Williams at 12:43pm 5th February 2012 Phone addiction... There's an app for that http://bit.ly/y8CfYt
  8. guest at 5:44pm 29th March 2011 My husband is addicted. On the phone 24_7
  9. adamfreeman29 at 2:25am 28th March 2011 Brilliant! Thanks for letting me know about mobile phone addiction. The above given 10 points are very true for rapid mobile phone users. So, this kind of addiction is based upon the technology by which the phone is incorporated. Any how, mobile phone users should take care of their health from hazards like nervous disorders, tumors and other problems caused by the mobile phone radiations.
  10. National Day of Unplugging urges 24 hours of tech abstinence at 3:18pm 4th March 2011 [...] you think about cutting off access to your precious iPhone or BlackBerry, there are those of us liable to break into a dead sweat.So why do it? Well there are plenty of studies that say a timeout from gadgets is good for you – [...]
  11. EBEN at 7:22am 13th November 2010 CELLPHONE ARE LIKE THE SECOND BRAIN!!
  12. geremias a. at 11:40am 8th November 2010 Geremias Aguilar 1. phones are a popular product because of its technology. 2.yes i do think they can be addicted to their phones. 3.turn off your phone when have to. 4.yes ther should be times when u should turn it off like when at a funeral.
  13. melissa at 11:36am 8th November 2010 i think it can be a compulsive disorder. and it is annoying when theyre texting and your trying to talk to them. its really rude and feels like theyre ignoring you. i think you should text when your not with a friend or a guest. it is like a escape from reality. you cant even focus in the real world.
    1. Mr. Hueyopa at 3:30pm 8th November 2010 This is very insightful. Thank you.
  14. Jerry Velasco at 11:36am 8th November 2010 well when i first got my phone like last year i was all over just filling up my contacts list so i can text random people stupid things and i would not put it down at all. now like the only time i touch my phone is when i pick it up to put it in my pants to go to school thats it people get over there addictions after a while
  15. raul vasquez at 11:35am 8th November 2010 i think that it is a popular service because everyone wants to be cool. Yes they can be addicted to their cell phones because they cant live without it. I think their should be a limit of how long you can use it. Yes during important dinners or meetings. I think that cell phones are useful but harmful at the same time.
  16. Mr. Hueyopa at 9:12am 8th November 2010 LEMA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS' COMMENTS
    1. Mr. Hueyopa at 9:17am 8th November 2010 Why are mobile phones such a popular product/service? Do you think someone can be addicted to his or her mobile phone? What do you think are appropriate social rules or expectations for mobile phone use? Are there times when mobile phones should be turned off, And if so, what makes these occasions different?
      1. monica espinoza at 11:38am 8th November 2010 yes i think someone can be addicted to their cellphones because they'er always txting or talking on the phone
      2. marianegrete at 11:38am 8th November 2010 Maria Negrete They are a popular product/service because many people use it or actually need it.Yes i think people can be addicted to their mobiles phone. do not use it when u do not need it . I think is disrespectful. No i don't think they should be turned of just put it in silence because you mitgh have an emergency call
      3. kimbo x) at 11:38am 8th November 2010 Mobile phone are a popular because u can talk to poeple that are far away or where u dont see them
      4. nelly at 11:40am 8th November 2010 they're productive because u can talk to anyone. yes someone can be addicted to a phone. for work,essays or school related things. anywhere besides driving ,funerals or places u need to respect like church..
      5. kevin martinz at 11:43am 8th November 2010 kevin martinez because people want to be cool yes i do think so i know some people in case of an emergency like if your in a funeral
  17. RyeGrog at 10:57am 13th October 2010 I think that Ted Kaczynski was right about how technology has dominated ours lives. He was just wrong about killing people. He could have made a great impact by using his Harvard Education by having seminars at universities on the subject. He could have used the Ghandi approach and might have changed the world for the better.
  18. Princessa Lastina G at 6:09pm 22nd July 2010 Well, I believe I have an addiction to my G1. I set alarms to call people, to shower each morning n night. I wake up at night always reaching for it n end up playing games or searching Google at like 5 am EVERY morning about a question or thought from my dreams. Don't go back to sleep for another hour. I'm constantly checking it, even if there's no alarm of a missed call or message.. all day I'm researching random thoughts on Google or playing bejeweled n whatnot. And when I leave it at home, I feel faint n scared n nervous all day. And all the time I research my phone or the latest Android phones. I think I may be addicted. In fact, I'm researching phone addiction ON MY PHONE. I don't even use computers anymore
  19. laprinc at 2:09pm 22nd July 2010 Well, I believe I have an addiction to my G1. I set alarms to call people, to shower each morning n night. I wake up at night always reaching for it n end up playing games or searching Google at like 5 am EVERY morning about a question or thought from my dreams. Don't go back to sleep for another hour. I'm constantly checking it, even if there's no alarm of a missed call or message.. all day I'm researching random thoughts on Google or playing bejeweled n whatnot. And when I leave it at home, I feel faint n scared n nervous all day. And all the time I research my phone or the latest Android phones. I think I may be addicted. In fact, I'm researching phone addiction ON MY PHONE. I don't even use computers anymore
    1. FunkyGirl at 4:20pm 28th October 2010 I share your pain. I'm up till late at night reading news stories and researching random things, promising myself I'll get an early night- it never materialises!!!
  20. Mike at 9:47am 8th July 2010 My co- worker can't put his phone down at all, he stands outside smoking his pipe and looks at his phone all nite, and he's 55 years old, play games and looks at nude women, he's try to contact people from days long gone,he's divorced, and owes the IRS money,and still goes over to his e- wives house to take care of a15 year old son with autism,plus gets a lot of crap from the mother - in.- law. Maybe this phone is his little security Blanket and can't let go for any reason. He does his job, but Will you stop with this madness! I have a 3G I- pad but I'm not on it as much as my co- worker. Put the phone down! There's more to life then cell phones and I-pads.
  21. fred at 7:02pm 29th June 2010 Well, this all very interesting, but I feel that . . .oh wait a minute, I'll get back to you, I've got to take this call.
  22. sakshi bansal at 9:54am 6th June 2010 sum1 plz temme hw 2 get rid off wid dis damn addiction.....!!
    plz reply.....
    1. Finky at 4:17pm 28th October 2010 Start learning how to spell properly and read some books is one suggestion.
  23. hard disk recovery at 5:11am 2nd June 2010 People who are addicted to cellphone keep checking their messages and calls without getting alert.
  24. ANON at 6:15am 8th February 2010 no you are false he speaks the truth . THE INTERNET HAS SPOKEN
  25. Rehab Clinics at 4:35pm 2nd February 2010 @obamanon that is false! Do your research before you comment!
  26. obamanon at 10:47pm 25th January 2010 Narconon is Scientology propaganda, it does not work, and it hurts people, and something can be done about it.
  27. dang at 8:12pm 25th January 2010 None of this is relevant to the article. Keep it on track please
  28. Anonymous at 7:43pm 25th January 2010 Narconon is just Scientology bullshit wrapped in a different package.
  29. Name at 3:20pm 25th January 2010 Hi ubentira, cana vile,brainwashing cult like Scientology and it's front groups like Narconon cure my
    addiction to thraash metal?
  30. Xenu at 3:10pm 25th January 2010 LOL!!!! Why YES, yes it is Sharon! Looks like the Cult of $cientology has it's goons desperately patrolling the net to shill for their front groups by targeting ANY articles that mention the keyword "addiction."
    With all the conviction of FRAUD in France, the numerous lawsuits from former members, some suicides, a recent MURDER of an employee by a high level $cientology REVEREND William "Rex" Fowler, and so much other bad press against them, I guess they feel like it's all they can do to try and keep their silly little "stats" up.
    What a Sad and Pathetic nasty little CULT.
  31. Sharon at 2:24pm 25th January 2010 ubentira - is that the same narconon that's really a front group for Scientology?
  32. ubentira at 11:52am 25th January 2010 Hmm never heard of a smartphone addiction, but i guess anything is possible these days , anyway treatments for such problems should be instated in narconon northern California centers and all over the world
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