cyberphobia

American  

[sahy-ber-foh-bee-uh] / ˌsaɪ bərˈfoʊ bi ə /

noun

1. an irrational or disproportionate fear of digital technology, especially computers or the internet.

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cyberphobia British  

/ ˌsaɪbəˈfəʊbɪə /

noun

1. an irrational fear of computers

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Other Word Forms

• cyberphobe adjective
• cyberphobic adjective

Etymology

Origin of cyberphobia

First recorded in 1980–85; cyber- ( def. ) + -phobia

Explanation

If you have a cyberphobia, you're afraid of computers, new technology, or the Internet. A man who feels irrationally scared to use his new smartphone may suffer from cyberphobia. A phobia is an extreme, irrational fear, and cyberphobia is no different. While many people feel completely comfortable using computers, navigating the Internet, or installing applications on their phones, others find themselves terrified of these things — they have some degree of cyberphobia. The prevalence of technology in modern life has resulted in this new word, which combines cyber, a prefix used to mean "technology" or "the Internet" and phobia, from the Greek phobos, "fear or terror."