Students hooked on cell phones.

(From The Korea Herald)

By Chang Yeojean Does anyone in Korea not have a cell phone? Look around - in subways, taxis, cars, restaurants, on the road, anywhere - and most everybody is busy talking into a cell phone and ignoring the bustle and demands of everyday life.

It's an addiction that's causing stress among particularly the younger generation.

A survey by the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital of 340 high school students in Pulgok High School found about two-thirds possessed cell phones.

About 29 percent had addictive symptoms bordering on paranoia. About 60 percent were constantly worried whenever their mobiles were turned off, feeling someone could have sent a text message without setting off the warning bell.

Kim Bo-mi, 14, a junior high school student, hallucinated that her phone was vibrating or ringing even when she did not have it with her. And, when she has it clutched in her hand, "I keep fiddling with my phone even when there is no phone call." She checks for new messages or calls every minute. She sends about 20 or more text messages a day, even though her fingers often hurt.

Excessive messaging can cause pain in the shoulders and the thumb and fingers. Called Text Message Injury (TMI), it's a blood circulation problem caused by pressing buttons rapidly on a small space. The symptoms are similar to RSI, repetitive stress (or strain) injury, from which millions who use computers or do repetitive motions suffer.