Thursday, April 20, 2006

Mobile users 'like drug addicts'

According to this article, Australians are becoming so addicted to mobile phones they are suffering anxiety and self-esteem problems akin to substance abuse, a researcher has found.

With Australians owning 19 million mobiles, they had become a "huge part" of people's social lives, Brisbane-based consumer researcher Diana James, from Queensland University of Technology's School of Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations, said yesterday.

But excessive users were experiencing personal problems ranging from agitation if forced to turn their phone off, to low self-esteem if they didn't receive calls or texts, she said.

"Like substance abuse, excessive use of mobile phones can lead to personal problems," Ms James said.

"Because they can provide immediate pleasure, if you're not careful mobile phones can become as much of an addiction as snacking on junk food or smoking.

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