Understanding Nomophobia Among Digital Natives: Characteristics and Challenges

Digital native generation is born during the digital era and know-how to use technology especially smartphone at an early age. Smartphones play a vital role in the increase of having nomophobia as this device offers many capabilities that it has become a daily essential. Digital natives and millennials generation have access to or owns at least one smartphone with access to the internet ‘Nomophobia’ is a growing concern as seen among digital natives and the millennial generation. The study examines the definitions, characteristics, as well as patterns of nomophobia among digital natives and millennials. The methods of the study were qualitative approach by interviewing respondents’ mostly digital native and millennials generation. Then, a text mining analytics from respondents’ conversation on the topics of nomophobia was extracted to find common patterns and correlations. The study revealed that nomophobia and digital natives become anxious when they do not have their smartphones with them. Digital native with nomophobia has been exposed to the smartphone and tend to rely on these technologies more than anything else. Keywords: Smartphone, Nomophobia, Millennial generation, Digital Native, Smartphone Habits