A recent study by Nomophobia.com reveals that 60% of Brazilians report anxiety when they are not with their cell phones. The survey also shows that 87% consider themselves dependent on their smartphones for their daily activities, which shows the central role of cell phones in the population’s lifestyle.
The survey, which interviewed more than 3,000 Latin Americans in six countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru) – 758 of whom were Brazilian – was commissioned by Nomophobia.com, an online portal dedicated to the topic of nomophobia. This term, coined in 2008, describes the fear of being disconnected from one’s cell phone and is an abbreviation of the English phrase “no mobile phone phobia”.
Smartphone use has been steadily increasing in Brazil, with 71% of respondents reporting owning a smartphone, while 27% said they own two. For 79%, their cell phones had not been used for the same purposes for five years, reflecting the constant evolution of technology that has brought countless possibilities for use.
For 85% of Brazilians, mobile phones facilitate financial transactions through mobile payments. In addition, 70% use their devices for entertainment, such as listening to music, watching movies and playing games, while 57% report that they contribute to education by providing distance learning. Finally, 30% reported having met their partner through social networks or dating apps.
Using smartphones in unusual places
The survey revealed some curious behaviors among Brazilians regarding smartphone use. 20% admitted to using their phones during religious events, 11% while riding a bike and 4% during sexual intercourse. The most common places for using their phones were: 81% in waiting rooms, 71% in restaurants and 67% on public transport.
Among those interviewed, 79% recognize their own excessive use of the phone, which has caused personal and/or professional problems for 35% of them and caused 13% to lose their jobs.
Nomophobia: contrasts in Latin America
The need to stay constantly connected, whether for work, social media or banking, is a strong trend across Latin America, but opinions still vary within the region. Latin American countries show contrasts in their responses.
As previously pointed out, in Brazil, the relationship with cell phones is more intense than in other countries, with 79% of Brazilians admitting to excessive use of mobile devices, compared to 63% in Mexico, 62% in Argentina and 57% in Peru, for example.
Cultural differences can influence these and other aspects, such as the use of transportation apps, which is more common in Brazil (65%) than in Argentina (41%). In addition, 51% of Brazilian respondents feel pressured to always have their phone with them at work, while only 41% of Argentines and 42% of Colombians agree with this statement.
Implications of nomophobia for user health
“Research shows that Latin Americans are increasingly dependent on their cell phones, which is worrying given the psychological and physical implications this has on populations,” said Patrick O’Neill, creator of Nomophobia.com and the term. “Anxiety related to not having a phone is increasing globally, and this research shows that Brazil and Latin America are no exception.”
For 71% of Brazilian respondents, not having a phone is like being lost, followed by 55% of Chileans and 54% of Mexicans. In this context, 66% of respondents in Latin America (and in Brazil, 74%) reported checking their phones throughout the day, even without receiving any notifications, reinforcing the idea of a phone-centric lifestyle.
Other relevant data on nomophobia in Brazil and Latin America:
• In Brazil, 12% believe they suffer from nomophobia, with the highest ratio among Latin countries: Argentina, Colombia and Mexico with 6% each, Chile with 8% and Peru with 9%;
• 76% of Brazilians look at their cell phones as soon as they wake up;
• For 80%, using their cell phone is the last thing they do before going to sleep;
• Not being able to communicate with friends and family (77%) and being unable to access their bank account (64%) are the two main reasons why Brazilians feel anxious about their cell phones.
• Regarding selfies, 5% of Brazilians said they had already taken one at a wake or funeral, 8% at an accident scene and 10% during an emergency situation.
• Brazilians also said they get irritated when other people use their phones in certain situations. The most mentioned were: when driving (68%), during religious events (51%) and during sexual relations (50%).
