According to a recent research published in the International Journal of Information and Communication Technology, using Internet when travelling became a habit for people with the consequence that losing connection during travels brings to sudden anxiety and nervousness.

The study was conducted by Hui-Jen Yang and Yun-Long Lay of the National Chin-Yi University of Technology, in Taichung, Taiwan, who explain that with the spread of smartphones and the increase use of the mobile technologies, people tend to rely more and more on the different apps and features available on these electronic devices when travelling. Examples are hotel confirmations, car hire, travel arrangements, map checking, communications with friends, family and colleagues, and live photo/video sharing on social media. The researchers suggest that youths and more informed people in general, are more likely to present a “smart phone web-dependence”. Furthermore, this seems to have a direct correlation with the arising of “smart phone web-dependence anxiety” during travels, when there is no access to fast and reliable Internet connection. A theory called ‘attachment theory’ suggests that some people have the psychological tendency to feel safe and secure when close to another person. They gain safety when that person is around, but then they get anxious when that person is absent. An example of this idea is given by children and parents who get anxious when they lose sight of each other in the crowd. The current study suggests that such theory can be also applied to people and smartphones, even though people are obviously the only ones subject to it. The researcher provide a final conclusion, suggesting that the study can be useful to understand the psychology behind our interaction with communications and information technology, a field that is in continue evolution and will therefore require further investigation when related to people. It is also suggest that providers could limit the issue and the creation of anxiety by providing fast and effective, as well as accessible and low-cost, internet access to their users.

Written by: Pietro Paolo Frigenti

Journal Reference: Yang, H-J. and Lay, Y-L. Factors affecting smart phone web-dependence anxiety for the travellers. Int. J. Information and Communication Technology, 2016