Ask any teen what they would never leave the house without; it is most likely their cell phone. 77 percent of teens said they felt “uncomfortable” or “lost” if they forget their phone when they leave the house, according to Fox News.

“I hate to admit, but I would be so lost without my cell phone. I never realized how much I use it for navigation, texting and even calling. Nobody does until they lose or forget their phone – it’s like being cut from the social media world,” said junior Ellie Willson.

An information-science professor Sergio Chaparro wanted to test out just how deeply cell phones had insinuated themselves into the lives of his students at Rutgers University in New Jersey. He gave them a seemingly simple homework assignment: to turn off their cell phones for 72 hours. Of the 220 students with cell phones, only three could bring themselves to complete the assignment. Chaparro concluded from his experiment that people who can-not function without their cell phone “have a real addiction, just like any other drug or alcohol addiction”.

The increasing dependence comes as more Americans ditch their iPods, cameras, maps and address books in favor of the myriad of capabilities of a smartphone. After all, companies have rolled out thousands of applications that do everything from track your heart rate to guide you through the streets of New York City.

“It is kind of sad how much people, especially teens, rely on their cell phones, but we don’t really know any other way – it’s just how our society is,” said freshman Sam Sustacek.

While smartphones have made life easier for some, psychologists say the love of them is becoming more like an addiction, creating consequences that range from minor, teenagers who communicate in three-letter acronyms like, LOL and BRB to major car accidents caused by people who text while driving.

For some, the anxious feeling that they might miss something has caused them to slumber next to their smartphones. More than a third of U.S. teens – 35 percent – now own a smartphone, according to the Pew Research Center. Two-thirds of them sleep with their phones right next to their beds.

“To teenagers, having your phone next to your bed isn’t that weird. I have mine charging on my nightstand and adults think its ridiculous that we have to have our phone right next to us when we sleep. I personally use it as my alarm and right after I wake up I can check my e-mails or new Facebook notifications,” said senior Hannah Lyrek.

Trouble sleeping isn’t the only problem smartphone junkies exhibit. Some people are willing to do almost anything to feed their addiction —— including spending more money for the data plans than they can afford.
According to J.D. Power and Associates, the average smartphone user spends about $107 each month for wireless access —— more than the average household pays for electricity each month.

Allie Hirschberg is the Business Manager of The Spartan Speaks.