According to the Worthington Herald, experts in the UK recently identified a new phobia. Nomo-phobia has been defined as a phobia of being out of mobile phone contact. According to the statistics given in the article, 24% of people in Horsham, UK never switch off their phones. The article compares being out of phone contact to other phobias such as dentist phobia.

While I find the article interesting, I have trouble accepting nomo-phobia as a legitimate new phobia. Perhaps our always-connected generation does experience some anxiety when out of contact, but scientifically controlled research would have to be performed before I would be ready to call this an actual phobia. What do you think? Is this a legitimate new phobia for today’s generation or just a commentary on our tendency to stay connected? Comments are welcome.