Over half of modern day fears are tech-related, study finds

26 October 2023 , 23:10

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Smashing your phone screen is one of the top three modern day fears (Image: Oscar Wong/Getty Images)

Brits have revealed their top 20 modern-day fears, including being stuck in a lift, missing a flight – and dropping their phone and smashing the screen.

Sending a text to the wrong person, and having work deleted from their computer before they could hit “Save”, are other things that terrify people today.

And nearly half (45%) said it would be a nightmare to be without their phone for even one day, with 42% experiencing “nomophobia” – the fear of being without their phone in general.

In fact, the research, of 2,000 adults, found that 13 out of the top 20 modern fears were to do with tech – as having no phone signal or service, and messaging the wrong group chat, are other things that leave people in a cold sweat.

Over a quarter of those polled (27%) often fear running out of mobile data – and one in five are more scared of being “ghosted” on a dating app, than they are of actual ghosts, ahead of Halloween.

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The research was commissioned by Sky Mobile, and found that some of the things Brits would sooner do than go without their phone for a week include swimming with sharks (14%), or holding a tarantula (23%).

Over half of modern day fears are tech-related, study finds

But getting stuck in an elevator tops the list (Andriano Cz/Getty Images)

And while people are still scared of heights (38%), spiders (31%), and roller coasters (24%), a fifth believe things in the list of modern fears are scarier than these traditional horrors.

It also emerged that Brits spend an average of 14 hours using it per week, relying on it for things like staying in touch with friends and family, online banking, directions, and reading the news – and three in ten often carry around a charging cable, just in case the battery runs out.

Around the same amount (29%) believe their biggest fears have changed in the last five years, according to the figures.

Paul Sweeney, for Sky Mobile, which offers 99% network coverage and Piggybank data rollover each month, said: “We use our phones for everything, from keeping on top of life admin, to staying connected to our loved ones – so it’s no wonder that being left without data and losing phone signal can seem scary to Brits.”

Sky Mobile is working with expert psychologist, Linda Papadopoulos, to offer advice for self-confessed nomophobes this Halloween.

Linda said: “It’s no surprise to me that over half of the fears in the research are tech-related. These fears are a product of how much we rely on our tech, and how, for many of us, it’s key to not only our work, but our social lives and identities.

“The reason that we're less afraid of being bitten by sharks than losing our phones speaks to how entwined our phones have become with our day-to-day lives. We feel that so much of our lives are bound up with our technology, and we can’t see a way forward without it.

“From connecting with friends to engaging with colleagues, from dealing with boredom to planning and creating, our phones are no longer just phones, but, in a sense, digital prostheses – so it can seem terrifying to think of not having this tech at our fingertips.”

LINDA PAPADOPOULOS’ TOP TIPS FOR HOW TO COMBAT NOMOPHOBIA:

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Get your tech right – Ensure you’re researching the right handset and network provider for you, that will prove it is dependable, reliable, and will work when you need it.
Always keep your phone in the same place around the house or at the office – We're creatures of habit for a reason, because it alleviates stress to be on autopilot.
Preparation is key – Remember to back up important data and information so it can be retrieved from other devices, and to keep your own data and information safe, so you aren’t at risk if you do lose your phone.
Try not to catastrophise – Make sure you moderate your dependency by remembering important phone numbers, connecting with people and your surroundings in the real world, and making a conscious effort to be without your phone at times throughout the day.

TOP 20 MODERN DAY FEARS: