68% of Americans suffer disconnection anxiety, should probably go outside

Sure, we'll admit to a certain unhealthy super-fun fascination with gadgetry, but a new study out this month by the Solutions Research Group says that overall, we're borderline obsessed -- and that 68 percent of Americans in general feel anxious when not connected in one way or another. The study used research collected on almost 5,000 people over two years, and found that feelings of "disconnect anxiety" affected people of all ages, triggering sentiments like "dazed," "disoriented," "tense," "inadequate" and even "panic." Interestingly, however, the reasons for disconnect anxiety changed as subjects got older -- teens and young adults worried about social communications being cut off, while older adults mostly fretted over work and safety issues. The study is backed up by all kinds of humorously embarrassing data like the percentage of BlackBerry users who've sent a message in the bathroom (63%) and the average number of Facebook friends a 12-24 year old has (159) but what we found most surprising is that just 37% of laptop owners frequently use their machines in the bedroom. That seems awfully low to us -- what if you miss something while you're asleep?

[Warning: PDF link]

[WebOn @ Mar 12th 2008 1:44AM]

borderline?
I consider myself fully Obsessed thank you very much

[Totalfixation @ Mar 12th 2008 1:51AM]

here here.


For me if it dies, i go completely bonkers. Lucky i have multiple methods of connection, like iPhone, 3G tether, and also neighbor's access.

[webon @ Mar 12th 2008 1:58AM]

pirating neighbors wireless FTW

[andy @ Mar 12th 2008 10:24AM]

first commenter is for sure, at the top of this study.

[derX @ Mar 12th 2008 1:49AM]

I love studies that say I'm normal. I thought it was just me who felt uncomfortable when I forget my cell phone at home.

I've felt less uncomfortable in leaving my glasses home.

[StrangeBum @ Mar 12th 2008 9:18AM]

I couldn't agree with that more.

Today is a fine example, I am currently at work, and I have left my wallet on my desk at home. Aside from the initial 'Oh shi- I don't have my wallet' I feel fine. If I had left, oh say, my cellphone or my Zen at home it would be more like 'Hey guys..I have to run back home really quick, I left....something important there'

At which point, I would leave, regardless of what anyone says, to get my cellphone and/or other gadget.

I need my fix....if only there were someway to free-base the internet...

[deusinvictus @ Mar 12th 2008 10:29AM]

"I've felt less uncomfortable in leaving my glasses home."

Won't work for me I'm as blind as a bat. If I left my glasses at home I would end up disconnected from any gadgets I remember to bring with me simply because I couldn't see them. Not to mention the discomfort I would get from probably driving my car into someone's house thinking I was still on the road.

[TJ Johnson @ Mar 12th 2008 1:54AM]

So would I apply if I had a sudden need to choke an infant if I don't have my phone, PDA, laptop, and carrier pigeon with me at all times?

[sinai @ Mar 12th 2008 1:54AM]

or what do you read TO sleep?

[x e t r o n @ Mar 12th 2008 2:06AM]

i cannot digest food unless im having it staring at the screen but i think its plain addiction

[Turtle @ Mar 12th 2008 2:11AM]

I have not one but two Apple laptops and a Blackberry next to my pillow. The cats like the heat generated by the MacBook Pro, and my fiancee is just envious because there's no power outlet for her MacBook on HER side of the bed.

[souravgh @ Mar 12th 2008 3:08AM]

So, what u gonna name the baby?
Mac Mini?


Sorry, couldnt resist. rank me down.

[First Guy @ Mar 28th 2008 5:54AM]

FIRST!

[Ian @ Mar 12th 2008 3:56AM]

@ first guy... die already

[Ken @ Mar 12th 2008 2:16AM]

How many engadget entries have been made from the porcelain throne?

I guess 73%...NTTAWWT

[Nik Schubert @ Mar 12th 2008 2:56AM]

I use my mobile phone, and my laptop and iPod Touch OFTEN when in the bathroom let alone when lying in bed.

Wireless internet iz teh freedom. Nothin like takin a heavy grogan and readin up on my gadgetry. While texting my mate and listening to sum tunes which i could be doing on the laptop but just decide to nerd it up

[Sirius @ Mar 12th 2008 3:11AM]

"what we found most surprising is that just 37% of laptop owners frequently use their machines in the bedroom."

My laptop sits on my desk in my bedroom.. so I *always* use my laptop in my bedroom (except when I'm at uni)...

Am I full time anxious? o.O
(Yea ok fine I'm probably addicted..)

[ClaMs @ Mar 12th 2008 3:22AM]

The percentage of people using their notebooks in the loo surely decreased with the high amount of overheating machines. My MacBook Pro is a case in point. I wouldn't want to come out of the bathroom with a burnt lap.

That's why they're not called "laptops" anymore but "notebooks". :)

[IndiaTech @ Mar 12th 2008 3:23AM]

"what we found most surprising is that just 37% of laptop owners frequently use their machines in the bedroom."

That's because the rest 63% have girlfriend / boyfriend / wife / husband / blow up dolls to satisfy their carnal instincts.

[R0B3RT @ Mar 12th 2008 4:20AM]

Or they just never make it to bed cause there up all night.

[David @ Mar 12th 2008 6:19AM]

Yes I in that 63% of the blackberry users. I almost never let the blackberry go...(ALMOST).

[Kurian @ Mar 12th 2008 8:19AM]

Nothing like playing Raw Vs Smackdown 2007 on your PSP while taking a dump.

[Velik @ Mar 12th 2008 9:00AM]

That sounds so weird to me, I feel anxiety when I'm in public or around other ppl... because I hate ppl... because they suck the big one :)

2nd, ppl who take any activity into the bathroom for entertainment are the founding filth that pollute our society with germs. what do I mean? I mean,
Mr.X: "Hey man, check out my blackberry/newspaper/psp, I just wiped my ass with it",
Mr.Y: "Oh yeah, mmmmm, smells good".
Mr.Y: "Wait... yeah theres not really enough germs on it".
Mr.X: "Thats Ok, here let me rub my scrotum all over it.... zip..... Here ya go"
Mr.Y: "Oh thats much better thanks"

^_^

[Cindy Sue Causey @ Mar 12th 2008 11:51AM]

Took getting up at 5:00am to catch local transportation system to library for my own fix today.. :giggle, wink:

[Elliott @ Mar 12th 2008 9:59AM]

I am never with out my MSN direct watch.

[Kiseki @ Mar 12th 2008 12:29PM]

This reminds of the Borgs (i.e. Voyager). "resistance is futile... you must assimilate..." LOL

[pAT @ Mar 12th 2008 12:15PM]

I can't wait until Pfizer comes out with a pill for this! No, seriously, I can't wait.

[Boynamedsue @ Mar 12th 2008 1:02PM]

i suffered a form of this when my blackberry was stolen. I borrowed a fossilized nokia, but couldn't afford to replace it with a smartphone for several months.

Everytime the nokia rang it was a reminder of my shame. I stopped taking the phone with me, just because it depressed me. I stopped checking voicemails.

And then suddenly I crossed a threshold where i realized you can operate fairly well without a cell phone. It was an epiphany moment that was immediately crushed with my tax return, which resulted in the purchase and hacking of an iphone.

[Rick @ Mar 12th 2008 6:34PM]

When we lost power last hurricane season, cable of course went out with it. Power came back on a few hours later, but no internet. So, for 4 days I had no interent, no email, etc (I worked from home then) I freaked, I hated it, so I'm a statistic for disconnect disorders.

[engadgetier @ Mar 12th 2008 4:21PM]

I cant go anywhere without my iphone, it is my lifeline to the world. Sad thing is that my phone is faster than my PC........

[Broo @ Mar 14th 2008 6:32PM]

the numbers in this sound kind of off to me...

75% of the US has internet in 2008, 'translating to 180 million users'. This would make the US population about 240 million. (180mil / 0.75 = 240mil)

The next paragraph goes on to state that there are 230 million cell phone users in the US; so 95.8% of US residents have a cell phone? (and who are the 10 million people that do not have cell phones and how can Cingular/Sprint/Verizon contact them?)

[Synergistic @ Mar 27th 2008 12:32PM]

I really experienced this the first time when I was 13 and went to Australia and New Zealand for 3 weeks. I got my first computer at 8, I'm now 24.

The trick is the same as getting off of caffeine. Do it seriously once, go through the pain of it, and then you can be at least less addicted.

[Jack @ Jun 3rd 2008 11:28PM]

Having new friends and visitors for your Facebook page can be difficult, since there are 68 mill other people having a Facebook page.
In freehappydating.com
you will have a link to your page, when you join the site. It's all free and people will find you and your page easier.
Dick