Phantom vibrations are still surprisingly common

Have you ever reached into your pocket for your smartphone after feeling a vibration, only to find it is sound asleep with no calls, messages, or pending notifications? Congratulations, you have experienced phantom vibration. It’s a strange phenomenon that is believed to be more of a habit or a passing hallucination than a health problem. Still, it can be uncomfortable.

Nevertheless, we wanted to know from you if you had ever experienced phantom vibrations. So you asked.

Did you have phantom vibrations when your phone was in your pocket?

Results

More than 1,800 readers took part in our survey. The results show how widespread phantom vibrations are among our readers. More than four out of five respondents admit to having experienced phantom vibrations at least once before. Only 19.9% ​​of readers have not experienced the phenomenon.

Interestingly, in another survey we conducted earlier this month, only 14.8% of respondents use the silent profile on their devices. Almost 80% of the readers surveyed use either the sound profile or the vibration profile.

Although phantom vibration began long before the smartphone began, some sources attribute the phenomenon to our growing attachment to technology. However, it’s not a new thing. Pager users experienced something similar. When people were still using telephones, as the name suggests, “fear of the ring” was also the equivalent.

Even so, readers give their theories for the phenomenon and how it beats phantom vibrations below.

Here’s what you told us:

• CrossbredLemon: I’m pretty sure these are just standard muscle spasms that happen all over the body. It’s only if we now associate the feeling with phones vibrating instead of not even realizing it is happening.
• Varusal: Wasn’t it because of the muscle memory? So you always feel a vibration on the side that you have your phone on because the brain thinks it is normal for your muscles to vibrate from time to time.
• jevrock: It happens to my watch too lol.
• Montisaquadeis: No and probably because I don’t keep my phone vibrating so that my body hasn’t bothered by random vibrations in my pocket and I keep my phone in my breast pocket in my jackets or my back against my back anyway, if I don’t wear a jacket, so yes, no hip pockets for me personally.
• Evie: Yeah. Even though my phone is silent 99% of the time.
• Wongwatt: I turn off all system vibrations and use a flip case, so nothing for me.
• Marshall: If it’s not a spasm from inconsistent circulation, it’s a misinterpreted screen touch. If you have a pocket mode to turn off gestures or touch, use this.

That’s it for this survey! Thank you for your votes and comments. If you have any additional anecdotes about phantom vibrations or thoughts about the survey results, please drop them below.