Do you have a technology phobia?

We are slowly becoming a technology-based society, we see it hundreds of times a day. Alarms wake us up daily, we ask Alexa to play our favourite songs and we arrange meetings with friends on our smartphones. In a world where the first robot to human marriage is expected before 2050, and well over 2.5 billion people own a smartphone, fears over technology are expected. Keep reading to find out the 5 most common technology fears.

​1)    Technophobia/ Fear of all tech

​Technophobia is the irrational fear of all technology and machines. This phobia may be so extreme for some because they believe technology will be the downfall of humanity. They fear that one-day robots will become so advanced that they will eventually dominate humans if not wipe them out. Fear of hackers taking confidential information could cause some to stay away from smartphones, etc completely.

2)    Cyberphobia/ Fear of Computers
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Cyberphobia is very similar to Technophobia, the difference being that it is a fear specific to computers. There are several reasons that could cause the phobia such as, a loss of control. Many people fear going out of their comfort zone and new technology requires just that. They may ultimately fear making a huge mistake at work due to a lack of technological understanding however this is very unlikely as there are precautions wired into the computer to prevent mistakes from becoming permanent. Cyberphobia tends to affect older generations.

3)    Telephonophobia/ Fear of talking on the phone

Surprisingly, this fear affects millennials the most, even though, they spend the most time on their phones. Telephonophobia is related to Glossophobia in the sense that they are both based on a fear of speaking to an individual or a group. Some may find speaking on the phone more anxiety filled than public speaking because there is no way of assessing body language and facial expressions. There is also the fact that there isn’t much time to think about what needs to be said and if a question is asked that wasn’t expected, it throws people off.

 4)Nomophobia/ Fear of not having a phone

This phobia again is seen mainly in the younger generations as they have grown dependant on phones. Smartphones are the source of information and contact with family and friends through social media such as Instagram, Twitter and WhatsApp. They may experience FOMO (fear of missing out) if they don’t have their phone for even half a day. So much happens on the social media in just a day so not having access to it will leave someone with nomophobia anxious. They may also feel less safe without apps like google maps which means they can find a route to their destination in a matter of seconds.
 
5)Nointernetophobia/ No internet access

This fear is very similar to nomophobia but isn’t just limited to the phone. Having no internet access on any appliance can be a concern for many as they depend on it for information and entertainment.  Someone with this phobia may fear being bored or worry about unseen emails that are extremely important.


​As technology advances every year, there will likely be a rise in these phobias and new tech-related phobias may show up in people. Technology can make our lives a lot easier but too much of it can also take away our independence to a certain extent and harm us in the long run. Balance is the key to technology intake. Working through this phobia is a lot easier than you probably think it would be and there is no need to be ashamed if you do have one of these issues. As you know eventually it will get harder to avoid technology so treating your phobia now is advised.

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