March 13, 2008 – The last ten years in the mobile world have seen an increase in the number of people who had access to the internet, with a jump from 38% of Americans online 1998 to 75% online today using websites such as Myspace and Facebook daily. As of February 2008, more than 230 million Americans were cell phone users with 83% claiming to take their cell phone with them everywhere they go. American consumers are presently more connected to the world around them than they have ever had the ability to be in the past. Because of this, we have all felt Disconnect Anxiety.

Disconnect anxiety refers to the feelings of disorientation and nervousness experienced by technology users when they are in a situation in which they are “disconnect.” In other words, these feelings occur when suffering users cannot connect to the internet for a period of time. According to one study, 68% of users reportedly experienced Disconnect Anxiety when they were disconnected.

There were four main reasons that surfaced as causes of Disconnect Anxiety in users. First, users felt that, when disconnected, their safety would be in danger since they would be unable to respond to an emergency quickly and easily. Secondly, they felt that their work would suffer wince their was the possibility of missing important information (such as promotions). Thirdly, users experienced Disconnect Anxiety because they felt they were being social deprived because they might miss important social events. Fourth, and last, users were worried because of the possibility of getting lost and being unable to find their way because they were without their cellular phone.

by Jeanna Lee

Source: srgnet