5 Real Tech Phobias

The word phobia usually springs to mind fear of heights or flying, however anything can trigger a phobic reaction – even tech devices such as computers and phones!

Extensive use of technology in our daily lives has resulted in some new names being given for these tech-related phobias. Although tech phobias do not have official clinical terms, they can still exist.

We’ve listed 5 tech phobias

Technophobia

Technophobia is the fear of technology and using technological devices.

It means being concerned about the effects of technological developments on society or the environment.

• Resisting any automatic processes
• Being reluctant to change to new computer systems
• Disapproving technological implementations

Some physical symptoms of technophobia can include breathlessness, anger, feeling dizzy, having heart palpitations and feeling isolated from reality.

Nomophobia

This is the fear of being without a mobile device.

The term is an abbreviation for “no-mobile-phone phobia”, which was coined during a study carried out in 2010 by the UK Post Office who commissioned a UK-based research organisation to look at anxieties suffered by mobile phone users.

This phobia creates fear or anxious feelings when your phone isn’t available. Particular fears include things such as losing reception, running out of battery and misplacing your phone.

If you’re glued to your mobile phone and feel as though you cannot be without it then you may be able to relate to this phobia.

Cyberphobia

Some people fear computers or working on computers. Symptoms of cyberphobia (which is a form of technophobia) include feeling nervous or fearful of anything computer-related.

Cyberphobia can come in different forms and can vary from those who consider computers to be invasive to others who have a fear and/or inability to learn about new technologies.

Some other symptoms of cyberphobia can include:

• Avoiding computers and other technology
• Failure to complete computerised duties
• Excessive sweating
• Nausea
• Shaking
• Heart palpitations
• Feeling breathless

Telephonophobia

This is reluctance or fear of making or receiving phone calls and is considered to be a type of social phobia or social anxiety. Like with other fears and phobias, there is a wide scale of severity.

Sufferers may have no problem communicating in person, but have difficulty doing so over the telephone. Fear of using the phone may be linked with nervousness that there might be misunderstanding by one party or not being able to respond appropriately in the conversation.

These uncertainties are often associated with the absence of body language, and the individual fearing a loss of their sense of control.

A variety of symptoms can be seen in someone suffering from telephone phobia, many of which are shared with anxiety.

Symptoms may include:

• Nervous stomach
• Sweaty palms
• Rapid heartbeat
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Dry mouth
• Trembling

Selfiephobia

Believe it or not this is a personal issue for many which continues to grow. Taking “selfies” has become fairly popular in recent years, subsequently it’s no shock that selfiephobia has arisen (which is disliking how you look in a photo). Being selfiephobic has various reasons, including not thinking you’re photogenic, to a simple call for attention. Although it has not been verified by professionals, this term has been flying around the web.