Most college students are functionally unable to be without their media links, according to a new study conducted by the International Center for Media & the Public Agenda (ICMPA).
The study, titled “24 Hours: Unplugged,” asked 200 students at the University of Maryland, College Park to abstain from using all media — including cell phones, iPods, TV, car radio, magazines, newspapers and computers — for 24 hours, according to the blog A Day Without Media.
Among many notable findings, the study revealed that most students used literal terms of addition to characterize their dependence on media. Phrases used to describe their reactions included “in withdrawal,” “frantically,” “craving,” “very anxious,” “extremely antsy” and “jittery.”
“I clearly am addicted and the dependency is sickening,” said one student in the study. “I feel like most people these days are in a similar situation, for between having a Blackberry, a laptop, a television, and an iPod, people have become unable to shed their media skin.”
In addition, students agreed that going without media was the same as going without their friends and family. Of all the media technologies, most students felt lost without their cell phones or the ability to text, tweet and Facebook.