Smartphone addiction. A call for help?
“Can you not put your smartphone down for one minute!” This was the cry from a good friend’s wife as he facilitated a Friday night quiz on Twitter for 300 people across the connected world. Does smartphone addiction place too much pressure on relationships?
Returning home from work, he had already been lured away from the basic responsibilities of fatherhood with ease. One hour later and the kids had been bathed and dinner made – as ordered via an app on the Apple iPhone 4S that had never left its lover’s palm since launch. Dinner was quickly consumed whilst the children played Angry Birds and were then put to bed. Pockets were tapped; iPhone left on kitchen table, repeat to yourself “it’s ok, you haven’t lost it. Stay calm. Now what?” It’s Friday night let’s watch a film. So it’s the film you have been looking forward to for ages. Settle down on the sofa and .. just check Facebook quickly. Two hours later, the film is over and you haven’t watched any of it. On the plus side you have 5 new friends on Facebook and have downloaded £20.00 worth of music.
Is this picture of smartphone addiction played out nightly across the world? After a hard day at work “Generation Always On” goes home and remains connected. Watch people when you next go out to the pub and observe frantic smartphone addicts doing the “pat down” as they try and locate their handset. Take some time off your phone next time you are out having dinner. Despite every intention not to gravitate back to their handsets as the night progresses, so many people find themselves slowly return their smartphone to the comfort of their palms. Stay connected, you might be missing something! OCD anyone? Now where did i leave my Blackberry Playbook tablet?
Smartphone addiction, how do you cope?
More and more self-help groups are springing up online to combat this modern disease. Over 41% of smartphone users admit to feelings of tragedy should something happen to their beloved device. How do you feel when you arrive for work in the morning without your handset? How would you fill that gaping “smartphone hole” in your life due to a damaged or lost smartphone? Modern questions, modern answers. You don’t cope – you reach for your tablet or 2nd handset.
Modern life isn’t rubbish, it’s just different. How we cope with technology and how much time we spend connected is always in our control (for now anyway). We are adaptable creatures living through a period of great innovation and technological advance. In the words of William Gibson, **“The future has already arrived. It’s just not evenly distributed yet.” **Now we have to learn to cope with it without compromising our relationships.
Can you relate to the above? Our Smartphone addiction infographic with UK stats, delves into some of the habits acquired by those at risk.