ARE STUDENTS BECOMING SLAVES OF TECHNOLOGY?

Mobile phones have become a necessary commodity. Right from the simple phone to smart phones each have some feature that attracts the crowd. People have become so used to mobile phones that it is difficult for them to imagine staying without it. Anxiousness, anxiety, stress, depression are some of the consequences of not using mobile phones. Nomophobia has become an emerging psychological disorder. The objective of the study is to determine the dependence of mobile phone on college students in Mumbai, India. Data was collected in two parts. One in the form of a questionnaire and second collecting experience from participants refrained from using mobile phones for 24 hours. The study population of 500 students was considered out of which 47% were males and 53% females. 62% participants use mobile phones for more than 4 hours; 69% feel lonely when not using mobile phones and 57% are at a risk of developing Nomophobia. Study is indicative of dependence of Nomophobia on youth. Further studies need to be performed to explore psychological aspects of Nomophobia. Research was further carried ahead with a small group of students and it was found that the students miss their mobile phones and use alternate gadgets to access the internet or social media.