BlackBerry phones conquered USA for one simple reason: the then new generation, released into the market in 2002, allowed the work force to access their email 24 hours a day. For added comfort the headsets have extended key pad, similar to that of a computer, which thanks to little keys can be operated with one thumb. It wasn’t long before Americans nick-named the phones CrackBerry (from highly addictive version of cocaine).
Constant access to email turned out to be as much of a blessing as a curse. The users started regularly wake up in the middle of the night to check their inbox. BlackBerry wouldn’t leave them on holidays, family dinners, hospitals, air planes and parks. Soon enough army of Manhattan’s shrinks started to treat the BlackBerry addiction like any other medical condition. Addicted users often need therapy or even a detox, similar to that prescribed in case of drug addiction. Otherwise they appear incapable of not checking their email – constantly.
Development of communication technologies, pressures of competitive markets and growing consumer demands are listed as most prominent reasons for evolution of what the British call 24-hour society, consisting of people who are constantly at work. It might be an ideal state of affairs from the point of view of free-market economy, but British government quickly realised that results invisible at first glance might be rather expensive.
In November last year the Department of Work and Pensions published a list of 480 reasons, for which adults in Britain are awarded incapacity benefit. Every years these benefits cost the government over 7,5 billion pounds. Stress and tiredness are also on this list and cost: 50 000 people incapable of working because of stress, receives sum total of 122 million pounds, another 250 000 do not work due to stress and tiredness relate illnesses (which costs another 600 million pounds).
Of course stress and tiredness don’t result solely form constant access to one’s email account. The addiction to Internet in general is globally recognized as a clinical illness, which tends to have rather sorry and socially costly consequences. In South Korea, world’s biggest market for broadband Internet, a case study on Internet users revealed rather gloomy results. Ten of participants died due to blood clogs, which they developed during long hours spend sitting still in front of computer, another one was murdered as a result of conflict over an online game. Additionally doctors point out widely spread problems resulting from over-use of energetic drinks, psychological issues related to social isolation, trouble with eye sight, migraines.
The addiction takes its tool not only on adults, but also – more often than not – on children. Government of South Korea estimates that around 210 000 of them suffer from addiction and require treatment, 80% of which will need medications and almost 25% – hospitalization.
The Brits treat problems of 24-hour society very seriously. In 2005 Parliamentary Commission for Science and Technology published a rapport on causes and results of constant work. The Independent and Guardian dedicated many a pages to pondering over its negative influence on health and society. As for any practical results of this growing concern – the Brits keep on waiting, nervously checking their email accounts.
This column was originally written for and published in BCC Magazine, a business monthly published in Poland. Previous column, “Internet in the pocket”, is available here.