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Financial Problems Aren't Affecting Gadget Addiction

by Dan Reilly on March 11, 2009 at 08:24 AM

Most Americans are saying "Screw the economy, I'm keeping my gadgets," according to Fox News. Despite hard times, most folks aren't giving up their music downloads or smartphones. In fact, they're spending nearly as much as they ever have.

According to the article, a poll by research firm Forrester showed that 80-percent of respondents said they wouldn't alter their video game purchasing, while 84-percent won't stop downloading music. In regards to the same products, 12- and 9-percent would make fewer purchases while 9- and 8-percent will make more. The article also points out that in the first fiscal quarter of 2009, Apple has sold 4.4 million iPhones for at least $199 a pop, with a $70-a-month service plan.

One analyst says this is because people suffer from what's called "disconnect anxiety" -- that crappy feeling you get when you're away from your gadgets for too long. He also says that people these days view the Internet as a necessity, just like electricity and water (although we've never gone without showering or let our food rot because we couldn't get on Gmail). For us, it just seems that folks don't want to give up something that's guaranteed to bring them happiness. [From: FOXNews]

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Tags: addiction, apple, economy, iphone, music, recession, video games, videogames

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