Nowadays, mobile phones are inseparable from our lives. This is not because people today are less attentive to the world around them or spend less time on what's directly in front of them. Rather, mobile phones have become an integrated part of daily life, serving as a vault for personal belongings and information. Additionally, work culture has shifted to require us to carry phones more often, whether for work communication or gathering information to keep pace with global trends. It is noticeable that, aside from the fear of losing a wallet, losing a phone has become a major concern—perhaps even more significant than losing a wallet.
Carrying a mobile phone all the time highlights the increasingly inseparable relationship between humans and technology, known as Smartphone Dependency. According to DataReportal in 2025, Thailand's population of about 71 million has 99.5 million mobile connections, equating to 139% mobile connections per capita. Internet users make up 91.2% of the population, and social media users account for 71.1%. Despite a population decline this year, mobile phone, internet, and social media usage continue to rise steadily.
As mentioned, Smartphone Dependency isn't solely due to entertainment consumption. Mobile phones serve many purposes: as maps for navigation, tools for financial management and spending, sources for global news, platforms for remote shopping, libraries for online books, emergency devices for help requests, and more. Society has shaped the perception that phone use is essential, and life without one would be difficult—though not impossible.
Most people have likely experienced standing still and feeling their phone vibrate in their pocket, only to find no phone there when checking. This is called Phantom Vibration Syndrome, where the brain expects a phone notification and mistakenly interprets muscle twitches or clothing friction as vibrations. This shows we have become beings in a constant 'always on' state, just like the phones we carry. Moreover, we tend to feel tension whenever notifications appear on computers or phones, even before knowing their content.
Devi Sridhar, a mental health researcher, wrote in The Guardian that the human brain was not originally designed to cope with the instant speed or virtual communication of today. Historically, humans communicated face-to-face within small social groups of fewer than 150 people. Many anthropologists agree that this number is optimal for maintaining strong and quality social relationships. Beyond language, humans also learn from facial expressions and body language.
However, technology has removed many dimensions of getting to know others. We no longer rely solely on voice accents or gestures but on endless short text messages. This communication lacks depth, is prone to misunderstandings, and causes more stress than face-to-face conversations. A 2022 study from Brandeis University comparing communication methods and stress levels found that texting is most strongly associated with stress and negative feelings, while face-to-face meetings are the best communication method.
In earlier days, messages were sent without much concern about when they would be read; simply sending was enough. Previously, message exchanges resembled letter writing, often taking nearly a month for a full response. Today, messaging is urgent, second only to phone calls. With a few taps, messages are sent in seconds. Moreover, tech companies have added features like read receipts or "read" statuses, allowing users to see each other's message activity.
The introduction of read receipts increases communication stress. Neurologically, ignored or delayed responses activate brain regions associated with physical pain, especially the Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC) and Anterior Insula Cortex (AIC). This is called social pain—when the brain reacts to social exclusion or rejection, such as conversations ending abruptly without explanation, known among younger people as ghosting.
Previously, humans evolved to live in small, manageable social groups. Sridhar explains that ghosting—disappearing from conversations or someone's life—is difficult in such groups since moving away is not simple. Today, the human brain responds to unresolved conversations or unexplained notifications with stress, increased blood pressure, elevated heart rate, and a drive to restore relationships and seek explanations. Without such explanations, the brain cannot return to a normal state.
This explanation applies to all forms of conversational limbo—messages sent but unread, or read without reply—leading to micro-rejection. These small rejections particularly affect individuals with low self-esteem.
On the other hand, some dislike ghosting and avoid disappearing because they know they are being observed socially. Such people feel pressured to respond, especially when their online status is visible or when they accidentally read others' messages showing "read." They feel compelled to reply immediately, even if unwilling, fearing silence might be seen as rudeness. This pressure extends to other incoming messages and notifications, including emails.
Whether waiting for a reply or deciding whether to respond, these cycles occur daily, leading to cognitive fatigue and emotional exhaustion. This may explain why, despite easy connectivity today, people often feel lonely and stressed. Humans are trying to adapt to the rapid pace of the modern world.
By this point, many understand why reducing screen time is common, even if it is not a perfect solution. Notifications and messages are unpredictable daily events. We must understand the phenomenon between humans and technology and the evolutionary challenge of adapting to rapid modern communication. Thus, the resulting fatigue or burnout is not our fault but a biological mismatch accompanying us.