Fone Free Feb encourages people to take a break from their mobile devices

Fone Free Feb is, like Dry July and Ocsober, encouraging Aussies to give up something for a month. In this case it’s smartphones. The charity is encouraging people to sign up and put down their phones for intermittent periods during the month of February, describing it as an opportunity to “stop, think and dream.” The 2013 Telstra smartphone index revealed Australia is one of the most connected countries in the world when it comes to mobile devices, and it’s having a real impact on their mental health.

The Australian nonprofit organization Fone Free Feb is aiming to untether people from their smartphones for at least a short time. The charity is encouraging people to sign a pledge to put down their phones for intermittent periods during the month of February. Australia is one of the most connected countries on the planet when it comes to mobile devices, according to the 2013 Telstra smartphone index. The perpetual need to keep in touch can cause serious health and social issues, according to some global research statistics. One of these issues is a new syndrome called “phantom vibration anxiety” where users answer their phones they thought were ringing when in fact they were not.