In today’s world, smartphone addiction also known as “nomophobia” is a very real thing and is particularly prevalent among the younger generation. Countries such as China and the US have taken steps to curb such addiction, however, it remains a challenge.
While most of us simply won’t be able to survive without a smartphone nowadays. a woman in southwestern China has won 10,000 yuan (RM6,186) from a competition for abstaining from mobile phone use for eight hours while exhibiting no signs of anxiety.
According to the South China Morning Post, the contest took place at a shopping centre in Chongqing municipality on November 29.
Ten contestants, selected from 100 applicants, were invited to the mall to participate in the competition, which required them to spend eight hours on a designated new bed.
Before the contest, they had to surrender their mobile phones and were prohibited from using any other electronic devices.
They were also required to adhere to a bed restriction rule, which allowed them to leave the bed for toilet breaks, but limited them to a maximum of five minutes each time while drinks and meals were provided, and participants were instructed to consume them in bed.
In addition to being prohibited from using their mobile phones, competitors were not allowed to fall into a deep sleep or exhibit anxiety. They wore wrist straps to monitor their sleep quality and anxiety levels.
For illustration purpose only
Most contestants spent their time reading books or simply resting with their eyes closed.
After verification by event officials, a woman surnamed Dong was declared the champion, achieving a comprehensive score of 88.99 out of 100. The organisers noted that she spent the longest time in bed, did not experience deep sleep, and displayed the lowest level of anxiety.
The prizewinner donned pyjamas for the competition, which earned her the nickname āpyjama sisterā on mainland social media as she went viral for her win. It was also reported that she is a sales manager at a finance firm who in her spare time, typically tutors her child and rarely browses her mobile phone.
What do you think of her win? Let us know in the comments.
