Australia's Addiction: Have you heard of Nomophobia?

MORE than a quarter of Australians have admitted they wouldn't feel like themselves if they didn't have their smartphone with them.

According to a survey commissioned for the launch of Huawei's new wearable phone device, 28 per cent of Aussies said leaving their smartphone can ruin their day while 26 per cent said they'd find it hard to function at all without it.

Nearly everyone surveyed, 96 per cent, said they carry their smart phone at all times and more than a third feel disconnected from the world when separated from their devices. 

Nomophobia
noun  no·mo·pho·bia \ nō-mə-ˈfō-bē-ə\
Definition: the fear of being without access to a working mobile phone*

The study claims nomophobia is a strong force in Australia, whether we like it or not.

Australians are so reliant on their phones to keep them organised that while 45 per cent said without one they'd be late to meet their partner, 34 per cent said they'd even be late to a first date.

Other key findings in the report include:

In relationships

• Almost one in four (24 per cent) admit that their phone has caused an argument between themselves and their partner
• 29 per cent admit that their phone often distracts them from their partner/kids/friends

At work

• Almost a quarter of us (24%) don't feel as smart without our phones to turn to for information
• 26 per cent feel less effective at their jobs
• A third of Aussies (37 per cent) would be late for work to make sure they had their phone on them (if they left it at home)

The research was commissioned to mark the launch of the Huawei Watch 2 (pronounced 'wah-way')- the first 4G sim-enabled wearable in Australia, capable of making calls, receiving messages and connecting to the Internet independent of a smartphone.

The watch is available exclusively in Vodafone stores now, RRP $599.