Smartphone Jargon

In recent years, more and more abbreviations and terms have appeared. You probably know FOMO. You may also know the abbreviation for the fear of being without your phone – nomophobia. But what about Phubbing? Sounds familiar, but do you know exactly what it means? Dive into the list below and find out which smartphone jargon you already speak and which you may never have heard!
Term Meaning
AI Dopamine Hack
Algorithms that make you addicted to your feed
Ad Tech Tracking
Be invisibly tracked for ads
Addictive Design
Designing apps and platforms that make you consciously addicted.
App Dependency
Strong reliance on apps for daily functioning.
App Fatigue
Fatigue from using too many different apps.
App Looping
Continuously switch between the same apps
Attention Fragmentation
Loss of concentration due to continuous distraction from apps and notifications.
Battery Anxiety
Worry about draining your battery quickly.
Blue Light Insomnia
Poor sleep due to screen use in the evening
Breadcrumbing
Giving someone false hope through vague messages
Term Meaning
Checking Loop
Constantly refreshing apps for no reason
Clout Chasing
Doing things purely for online attention
Cold Turkey Mode
Completely quit an app at once
Continuous Partial Attention
Constantly checking your smartphone, even for no reason.
Cyberflashing
Unsolicited sending of explicit photos
Dark Patterns
Psychological tricks to keep you on apps longer
Digital Decluttering
Consciously clean and simplify your phone
Digital Dependency
Excessive dependence on digital technology.
Digital Detox
Taking a break from digital devices for mental well-being.
Digital Footprint
The online traces you leave behind through your digital activities.
Term Meaning
Digital Hoarding
Store everything on your phone without ever organizing
Digital Narcissism
Excessive sharing of personal information for validation.
Digital Overload
Being overwhelmed by the constant flow of digital information.
Digital Socialization
Maintaining social contacts through digital channels.
Digital Well-Being
A healthy balance in the use of digital devices.
Doomscrolling
Obsessive negative news keep scrolling
Dopamine Detox
Consciously reduce smartphone use to counteract dopamine addiction.
Dopamine Loop
Addiction to small rewards through your phone
Double Screening
Use two screens at the same time (e.g. TV + mobile )
Endless Scrolling
Infinite scrolling without purpose
Term Meaning
FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)
Fear of missing important information or events.
Filter Bubble
See only content that confirms your worldview
Gamification Trap
Apps that use addictive game elements
Ghosting
Suddenly breaking off contact without explanation
Gray Screening
Turning your screen black and white to reduce temptation
Hyperconnectivity
Being continuously connected to multiple digital devices.
Infinite Scrolling
Infinite scrolling through content without interruption
Information Overload
Overload due to too much information via your smartphone.
Insta-Brain
Attention problems due to short content consumption
Instant Gratification Syndrome
Addiction to instant rewards through smartphone use.
Term Meaning
JOMO (Joy of Missing Out)
Enjoy offline moments without the pressure of being online.
Micro-Bingeing
Short but frequent online sessions
Mindful Scrolling
Using social media without addiction
Mindless Scrolling
The unconscious and aimless scrolling on social media.
Mobile Anxiety
General restlessness or anxiety due to constant smartphone connectivity.
No-Wifi Weekend
A weekend without internet to reset
Nomophobia
Fear of being without a smartphone.
Notification Fatigue
Being overwhelmed by too many notifications
Nudging
Being unconsciously influenced by clever interface tricks
Online Disinhibition Effect
Saying things online that you would never do offline
Term Meaning
Orbiting
Avoiding someone, but still following them on social media
Over-Connectivity
The feeling of always having to be’ on ' by your smartphone.
Over-Notification Syndrome
Stress from continuous notifications from apps and messages.
Phone Separation Anxiety
Anxiety or stress when leaving or losing your phone.
Phone Stress Syndrome
Stress caused by constant smartphone use and dependence.
Phubbing
Ignoring someone by looking at your phone
Push-Free Living
Turn off all notifications for rest
Screen Addiction
Addiction to digital screens, especially smartphones.
Screen Fatigue
Fatigue from prolonged use of digital screens.
Screen Time Stress
Stress caused by excessive screen use.
Term Meaning
Sexting
Sending sexually explicit messages
Sextortion
Blackmail with nude photos or videos
Sleep Deprivation Syndrome
Worse sleep due to screen use just before bedtime.
Slot Machine Effect
The addiction to endless scrolling/swiping
Smartphone Addiction
Excessive and uncontrolled use of your smartphone.
Smartphone Snacking
Constantly checking your phone for short, useless interactions.
Smombie (Smartphone + Zombie)
People who walk on their phones without looking
Snapchat Dysmorphia
The desire to change your appearance through filter use.
Snapstreak Stress
Fear of breaking a Snapchat streak
Social Media Detox
Temporarily quit social media
Term Meaning
Social Media Envy
Jealousy by comparing your life to that of others on social media.
Swipe Fatigue
Getting tired of endless swiping on dating apps
Tech Neck
Pain in the neck from looking at your smartphone for a long time.
Tech-Savvy Fatigue
Fatigue from being constantly busy with technology.
Technoference
Disruption of personal relationships by technology.
Text Neck
Pain in the neck due to frequent typing messages on your phone.
Textpectation
Anxiously waiting for a message
Tinder Fatigue / Dating App Fatigue
Exhaustion from the endless swiping and shallow interactions on dating apps.
Unread Anxiety
Stress from unread messages
Vamping
staying awake at night due to smartphone use
Term Meaning
Virtual Echo Chamber
Only be exposed to opinions that confirm your own beliefs.
Virtual Reality Escape
Escaping the real world by completely immersing yourself in a digital environment.
Vortexing
It unintentionally lingers in your phone for hours.
Zombie Browsing
Aimlessly scrolling without actually reading anything