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What Is Technophobia?
Technophobia is surprisingly common.
Some experts believe that we all experience at least a small amount of nervousness when confronted with new technology.
Sam Diephuis / Stone / Getty Images
In today’s rapidly changing world, it can be easy to feel out of touch.
Yet there were reports of technophobia at least as early as the Industrial Revolution.
Symptoms of Technophobia
Technophobia can lead to symptoms of distress when confronting new technology.
If this fear is severe enough to be considered aspecific phobia, which is atype of anxiety disorder.
This can result inavoidance behaviorssuch as refusing to use computers, cell phones, ATMs, or other devices.
Such avoidance can sometimes make it difficult to function in daily life.
Diagnosis of Technophobia
Technophobia is described as abnormal anxiety or fear related to the effects of technology.
A specific phobia is defined as an intense fear of a specific object or situation.
It causes unreasonable and excessive fear that produces an immediate anxiety response.
It also leads to avoidance behaviors that backfire by increasing anxiety related to the object or situation.
Phobias can create serious limitations in a person’s ability to function in everyday life.
Causes of Technophobia
The fear of technology usually is not attributable to a single cause.
Instead, a variety of different factors may play a role.
Adults are generally somewhat slower to adopt new technologies, and some older adults may never embrace them.
Doomsday Scenarios
One of the more alarming situations related to fear of technology is a doomsday scenario.
These popular depictions of the modern apocalypse fueled by technology can contribute to the fear of new technologies.
And mark my words, AI is far more dangerous than nukes.
Bad Experience
Sometimes, when technology is new, it just seems like nothing works right.
You sit down at your sparkly new computer, and all kinds of strange things happen against your will.
You start to feel anxiety at the thought of learning how to use a new program or app.
Mass Hysteria
The Y2K scare is one example of howmass hysteriacontributed to fear of technology.
The theory was that the two-digit 00 year would cause the networks to crash.
Of course, January 1, 2000, came and went without incident.
Even those home computers that weren’t reprogrammed made it through with barely a hiccup.
Treatments are available that can reduce these feelings of fear and anxiety.
Such support can improve coping, reduce stress, and increase technology engagement.
For example, a person with technophobia would benefit from first learning how to operate a computer.
Then they might learn how to use a web net web client to visit websites.
Then they might learn how to use a cell phone.
However, it is becoming more challenging to function in society without using technology to some degree.
If you are concerned about exchanging your flip phone for a smartphone, you are not alone.
None of us are immune to these frustrations.
Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.Specific phobias.
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“Call a teenager… That’s what I do!”
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