GeneralSmartphone-loss anxiety caused by storing valuable data on our phones

Smartphone-loss anxiety caused by storing valuable data on our phones

We spend so much time with our handsets on our person, smartphone-loss anxiety is a real thing now or at least, that’s what a new study is saying. It’s not just the thought of losing otherwise permanent connectivity to the world which bothers us here though.

For most people, their mobile phone is an extension of themselves and even says a lot about their personality as well as cultural upbringing. A Pennsylvania State University research report had revealed a worrying trend of consumers increasingly identifying their phones as part of themselves instead of what they actually are, merely tools for communication.

Phone In Hand

A study by Zhiling Tu, Yufei Yuan and Norm Archer from McMaster University which was published in the International Journal of Mobile Communications, talks about how portable gadgets are becoming so powerful, people are willingly using them to store valuable information including business contacts, photos, bank details, company information, utility bills and much more.

Also see: Just 10 minutes without a smartphone around can raise anxiety levels

There are various security measures people can take to prevent mischief makers from stealing such important data. But a lot of users are apparently not aware of anti-theft tools or are unwilling to employ them. Smartphone-loss anxiety is likely to hit victims really hard when they’ve been reluctant to take precautions against the possibility of losing their devices.

The McMaster University researchers have highlighted one major point which probably applies to many of us – smartphone users often prefer to stay in denial than imagine the notion of getting separated from their gadgets.

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