Claims iPhone 11 triggering trypophobia in some people

It’s full of cool new features and mod cons, but some people have come out in sweats due to the new iPhone 11. It’s bringing on a fear few people have even heard of.

The new iPhone has lots of snazzy features. There’s its extra strong glass so you can fret less about accidentally shattering the screen; a faster chip and extended battery life.

It’s the newfangled triple-camera system with ultra-wide, wide and telephoto camera lenses that’s getting the most attention. But for some people, that attention is for reasons other than a desire for crisper snaps.

Some people have claimed the new phone is triggering their deep seated phobias.

That’s right — the new iPhone is turning people into anxious wrecks.

A particularly prone person has said should they see a new iPhone 11 when they’re out and about they could have an attack right there and then. From functional human being to blubbering, shaking mess in just moments.

This image, of Apple CEO Tim Cook launching the iPhone 11, could send come people into a cold sweat. Picture: Josh Edelson/AFP.

So many holes in such a small space. Picture: Josh Edelson/AFP.

And what phobia is this. The famous modern malady of FOMO — fear of missing out on Apple’s newest product? Radio waves out to get them? Nope, it’s the trypophobes that are up in arms.

In case you hadn’t got the memo, trypophobia is a fear of holes. Not like big scary holes, wells and the like — that’s fair enough to not want to fall down a well.

But, rather, multiple repeating patterns of holes. Like in bee hives, certain fruits or seed pods.

Stop laughing, it’s a thing, OK?

Twitter has been abuzz with concerned citizens worried the three circular lenses on the reverse of the new phone will trigger their hole fear and send a shudder down their spines.

“Three cameras on the new iPhone triggers my trypophobia. I can’t have people walking around with those cameras,” said one on social media.

“The clusters, the horror,” said another.

if this is real, people with trypophobia are going to have a rough time #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/LWPJQA83Z8

— jo (@hannesmai_er) September 10, 2019

I've had really bad trypophobia for years now and seeing pics of the new iPhone 11 all over my timeline makes me want to set everything on fire..stop pic.twitter.com/E1ucM9eeQy

— Em Harriss (@EmHarriss) September 10, 2019

The iPhone 11 leaks triggers my trypophobia. 🙈 #ApppleLaunchingEvent pic.twitter.com/3VclNSZAYt

— donbosconovitch (@donbosconovitch) September 10, 2019

3 cameras on the new iPhone actually triggers my trypophobia. I can’t have people walking around me with those cameras every day 🥺🤢

— hot pumpkin princess eva gutowski (@lifeaseva) September 10, 2019

Those new camera’s trigger my trypophobia and it’s no joke 🤢 #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/qaaGfHR03j

— 김남준 🎉 (@HappyBday_RM) September 10, 2019

As you can imagine, opening up about one’s really rather odd phobia online has also opened them up to some incredulity.

“Give me a god damn break,” and “Grip … get one,” were two of the kinder reactions.

So is trypophobia even a thing? Well, it depends. Officially it’s not a mental disorder. But that doesn’t stop plenty of people from finding looking at lots of little holes anxiety inducing.

Classically, the seed pod of the lotus flower — with its many holes each containing a seed — has been peak gross for trypophobes. But any pattern of holes or similar can bring it on. Think of spiders and their eight eyes scattered about their forehead.

Indeed, this is why some researchers believe trypophobia exists. It’s buried deep in our subconscious to dislike things with recurring patterns as they often indicate danger.

So that could be a poisonous frog with a patterned body that resembles holes, or the many eyes of a creepy creature lurking in the crevices and nooks after dark.

The seed pod of the lotus flower. A trypophobe’s worst nightmare.

Nothing to fear. Picture: Minibeasts/Alan Henderson Minibeasts.

Researchers at the UK’s University of Essex found up to one-in-five Brits were repulsed by the sight of clusters of holes.

“One part of the brain sees, say a seed pod of a flower. But another part of the brain says I’ve done spectral analysis and that’s a poisonous animal, you need to be careful,” Essex’s Dr Geoff Cole told the BBC in 2013.

“It doesn’t matter that our rational side knows, the fact is the other side of the brain is winning.”

Dr Cole said it was similar to the fear of flying. Rationally people know plane travel is incredibly safe but the fear is overwhelming.

One person on Twitter decided to do nothing to help the plight of the poor trypophobes. They altered an image of the iPhone 11 to have not three but many, many holes all over the back cover. Holey money.

A digitally altered image of a new iPhone 11 with many, many holes.