Psychologists have warned about nomophobia

The first warnings about nomophobia were given two years ago, when psychologists identified Facebook and mobile phone addictions. 

The syndrome has become more evident recently. Students at Tran Van Giau and Tran Khai Nguyen High Schools in Binh Thanh district in HCM City conducted research on nomophobia and found a high number of students suffering from the syndrome.

The research project was shortlisted for the finals of the city’s scientific research competition for high school students.

Tran Thi Ha My, a member of the group of researchers, said that My and her friends wanted to study the issue after they saw many friends at the school with symptoms.

“Using mobile phone during lessons is prohibited as our school. But my classmates still use phones in an underhanded way,” My said.

When teachers catch students using mobile phones during lesson hours, they tend to seize the phones to prevent students from repeating mistakes. 

Students implore teachers to give mobile phones back to them because they ‘cannot live without their mobile phones’.

“If they (students) cannot get mobile phone back, they will sweat and cannot behave and learn as usual. They try every possible means to reuse the mobile phones. This is alarming,” My said.

A high school teacher in Hanoi confirmed that nomophobia exists among high school students in Hanoi. 

“Students now tend to stay busy with mobile phones in their hands. They feel harassed if they cannot hold mobile phones,” he said. “Mobile phones and Facebook have become inseparable. Using mobile phones takes a lot of daily time of students.”

“People once thought Facebook was harmless for students. But what happens in reality can shows the opposite situation. The same scenario will happen with mobile phones,” he said.

The teacher supports prohibiting students from using mobile phones in schools. 

However, it remains a controversial issue. 

Some parents agree that students must not use a mobile phone during study, but wonder how they would contact children if students are not allowed to bring the phone to school. 

Dan Tri newspaper quoted the deputy director of the Hanoi education department as saying that the agency is considering prohibiting the use of mobile phones during class sessions.

Surveys also found that Vietnamese in general become addicted to mobile phones because of the telecommunication fee and phone price decreases.

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