A running (and ever expanding!) list of terms related to wireless mobile device use.

  • Cellfish, cellular phone selfish person: a person who is busy on their phone even when doing so is rude and inconsiderate of others around them (e.g.: talking on the phone while ordering at a restaurant)
  • Cellphone drift: the drifting of a motor vehicle when the driver pays more attention to the phone than to driving
  • Cellphone freak out: the brief frantic search that occurs when one thinks that they have lost their cellphone only to find it right in their pocket or hidden in the sofa cushion
  • Cellphone novel: a novel written on a cellphone with the intent of it being viewed on cellphone screens only, so chapters can be read with little to no scrolling
  • Cellphone Tai Chi: a series of movements while attempting to find cellphone reception, generally involves holding the cellphone in the air while simultaneously walking slowly in circles
  • Cell-phonitis: a psychosocial condition characterized by inability to stop using or turning off the cellphone
  • Cellular phone dermatitis: rash or an allergic reaction caused by direct contact with a component in the cellphone
  • CPST, cell phone standard time: the time that all cell phones have
  • Computer vision syndrome: eye and vision related problems that result from prolonged use of digital devices
  • FOMO, Fear of Missing Out: anxiety of not being included in an interesting or enjoyable activity that others might be experiencing
  • Hiding in your cellphone: an act of bypassing an awkward situation when around people one has nothing to say to by pretending to be busy with their cell phone (e.g.: in an elevator)
  • JOMO, Joy of Missing Out: joy of doing something without worrying about what others are doing or rushing to tell others about it on social media
  • Nomophobia, no-mobile-phobia: state of psychosocial illness characterized by a pathological fear of lack of access to a wireless mobile device
  • Phubbing: focusing on the phone while talking to a person whom the contents in the phone do not concern
  • Reinforcing spirals: algorithm-based content that is fed to a user as ‘personalized results’
  • Ringxiety: the false sensation of having received a call that leads to constantly checking the device (e.g.: when a cellphone rings in a crowd and everyone dives for theirs in case they miss a call)
  • Smartphone dead leg: the loss of feeling in the legs due to prolonged smartphone use while sitting down, in particular on the toilet
  • Smartphone pinky: when the pinky finger gets permanently deformed and painful from supporting the weight of the smartphone
  • Smartphone waterfall: when one person in a group checks their smartphone and incites a domino effect of everybody else checking their own phones, thus ending all live discussion
  • Smartphone withdrawal: when the smartphone suddenly dies and tech support ships a new battery which takes 3 days to get there and the phone still doesn’t work, leading you to wait 3 more days. You can't put up with it anymore, so you go buy a 'GO' phone just to be able to talk.
  • Texdiety: anxiety caused by the death of one’s phone battery while trying to respond to a text
  • Textaphrenia: the false sensation of having received a text message that leads to constantly checking the device
  • Textiety: the anxiety of receiving and responding immediately to text messages
  • Upward social comparison: comparing self with others on social media who are perceived to have perfect bodies and lives
  • WMD, Wireless Mobile Device: a portable device with wireless internet capability, such as a cellphone, tablet, laptop, and smartwatch

Don’t see a term that belongs in this list? Educate us at: connect@phreedom.net