Should mobile devices be considered the new it drug?

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By: Johanna Azis

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A drug is something used to otherwise enhance physical or mental well-being often with an addictive quality

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In the past decade society among the masses has become addicted to their own personal hand held companion. For example…

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4 239 956 PEOPLE are having a cell phone conversation any given SECOND in the world.

Source: Ray DeRenzo: CMO, MobiTV, Inc.

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That is equivalent to approximately 250 million a MINUTE.

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And about 150 billion conversations an HOUR.

According to psychiatrist Lauren D. LaPorta, MD -

“Cell phone addictions presents characteristics and complications similar to those of other addictive disorders.”

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Do you feel uneasy, stressed, or restless when your cell phone isn’t in your back pocket or is unplugged?

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And it’s no wonder that currently 5 Billion text messages are sent per day considering

that…

The majority of people would answer YES!

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91% of Americans

used a mobile

phone in 2010

Source: Ray DeRenzo: CMO, MobiTV, Inc.

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The majority of whom cannot resist the temptation of connecting with the outside world during school or business hours.

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47 % of Teens say their social lives would end without text messagingSource: McVan new media “Teens’ Cell Phone Habits”

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15% of Americans have interrupted sex to answer a cell phone call.

Source: Linda Indvik How the World Is Using Cellphones [INFOGRAPHIC]

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Cell phones became the third most addictive substance in modern life in the year 2006.

Source: John Markmam, “Cell Phones are the new Cigarettes”

And now with the introduction of new mobile devices such as ipads and other tablets the numbers of users and ways to use the device are only increasing…

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For instance mobile apps have become one of the largest markets withmobile social networking apps increased by 240% between 2009 and 2010

Source: Ray DeRenzo: CMO, MobiTV, Inc.

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More data was consumed on mobile phones than actual phone conversations in the past year.Source: Matt Warman, Consumer Technology Editor,, “Data bigger than voice on mobile networks”

It is expected that by the year 2013 mobile web users will pass the 1 billion mark Image by: jonycunhaSource: Ray DeRenzo: CMO, MobiTV, Inc.

And in 2014 the primary internet connection around the world will be via mobile phones.

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Source: Ray DeRenzo: CMO, MobiTV, Inc.

But like all addictions there are serious health consequences with constant use of mobile devices…

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16% of young cell phone users have received threatening text

messages from their peersSource: GBC Tecjh Video News, “Statistics and Cell Phones”

Texting while driving increases the risks for accidents 23 times.

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Source: Jennifer Guevin “Study: Texting while driving increases crash risk 23-fold”

“In just the past couple of years, the cell phone has challenged individuals, employers, manufacturers and therapists in ways its inventors in the late 1940s never imagined.” – Jon Markman

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The average young adult

aged 22 to 35 has 2.70 mobile

devices on them at all

time.Source: Q1 Mobile Workforce Report

Do these small devices have the power to take over our

lives…and one day the world?

Image by: NASA

Image by: Pink Sherbet Photography

Aware of it or not, society

IS addicted to their mobile devices.

Are you?

Image by: Gonzalo Merat

C re d its

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