I heard some interesting factoids the other day related to our collective addiction to our communication devices, in particular, our cell phones. According to a survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, 83% of us Americans would be more bored without our cell phones. That’s right, we’ve finally admitted that we use our phones as toys and games more than for the original ‘emergency calls’ and ‘need to stay in touch’ we claimed at the time we started using them. Among cell phone owners, accessing the Internet from a cell phone has increased over 50% from just a year ago. Fifty-five percent of cell phone owners who have Internet on their phones go online from their phones every day.
Forty percent of the respondents did report that their phone came in handy in a true emergency situation; I know I’ve used mine for that flat tire and to have a friend talk me in when lost trying to find an unfamiliar location. Other research shows that there are now over 25% of households in the United States that no longer have a landline phone, only a cell phone. While I know many people who have totally cut the cord, I’m just not quite ready. I did switch to VoIP with my cable provider; I know, I know — why not just go the distance?
The ready availability of Web access through better service and the enticement of those darned ‘free’ apps have done it to us all. Yes, there are still a few folks who will only use a cell phone for an emergency, who rarely place a call using it, and who would never consider adding a data plan, let alone use it, but their numbers are dwindling rapidly. Forget that BINGO stereotype — Grandma has discovered Angry Birds, and she’s having a really good time.
A.C. Nielsen reports that smartphone ownership is up in Q2 2011 over Q3 2010 in most every age demo other than age 13–17 (guess Mom and Dad finally figured out just how much that smartphone was costing each month). Folks age 35+ have increased smartphone ownership by 7.5% from Q2 2011.
The Pew study also pointed out that over a quarter (27%) of respondents stated they couldn’t do, or had difficulty with doing, something without their phone. Smartphone owners were more likely to use their phone for activities other than making calls than non-smartphone owners. Makes sense — why have a smartphone if you’re not going to have some fun with it Tweeting, recording, and/or watching videos and playing games?
A recent article in the New York Times provided suggestions for an alternative group of apps that assist with meditation and sleep enhancement. I’m seriously thinking of downloading a few of those to see if they will calm our new kitten who thinks 2:00 am is a really good time to play. I caught her on my Facebook page the other day, and now there’s no keeping her from my computer; I hope she doesn’t figure out my phone has Facebook too.
