We've heard it a million times and it's nothing that we don't already know. Smartphones have changed the way we live, communicate and connect with the rest of the world. In many cases, cell phones have become a crutch. An addiction. Instead of simply being a way to communicate and stay connected, some have come to rely on their phones. So much, in fact, that they would rather give up things like shoes, exercise and sex for a week over their precious phone.
Coming from BGR, Telenav, the leaders in navigation software, surveyed 514 mobile phone users in the States to dig deeper into just how important our pocket-sized computers are to us and how they have affected our behavior. Accompanying the press release is an infographic (pictured here) that reveals the percentage of Americans that would rather give up various luxuries and essentials (hygienics included) over their smartphone. The results are … rather surprising:
- 70 percent would give up alcohol
- 63 percent would give up chocolate
- 55 percent would give up caffeine
- 54 percent would give up exercise
- 33 percent would give up sex
- 22 percent would give up their toothbrush
- 21 percent would give up shoes
- 20 percent would give up their computer
The infographic also breaks down some of these polls by mobile platform. Only 35 percent of iOS users feel that their phone reflects their sense of style while 43 percent of BlackBerry users and 50 percent of Android users feel that way. On the other hand, 21 percent and 15 percent of Android and BlackBerry users, respectively, check their phone at the dinner table while 34 percent of iOS users do. Only 26 percent of cell phone users actually admit to checking their phone at the dinner table, and six percent of those were feature phone users. Telenav's press release also revealed some interesting information about what smartphone users think about users of their own platform:
"While a strong majority of iPhone users (83%) thought other iPhone users would make the best romantic partners, and a strong majority of Android users (70%) selected other Android users, only 48% of BlackBerry users thought other BlackBerry users would make for the best romantic partners."
Personally, I use my phone for everything from keeping my schedule and tasks straight and shooting off a few emails every now and then to listening to music and playing games. Of course, I use my phone for every form of social media imaginable, too. It has become an extension of my body – losing it would almost feel as if I was losing a limb. But there is a point where I draw the line.
I understand the importance of cell phones; I write about them for a living and I eat, sleep and breathe mobile tech. But even I – a self-proclaimed addict to the nth degree – am not so attached to my phone that I would give up essentials like my computer, shoes and toothbrush. This just makes me wonder if people are seriously so addicted and attached to their phone that they would let their hygiene go to the wayside to not have to depart from their phone for seven days. Have we really gotten to this point already?
There is also a degree of dishonesty that must be considered here. It's easy enough to say, "Oh sure, I would give up wearing shoes over losing my phone for a week." But how hard would it be to actually do it? Between 18, 23 and 28 percent of BlackBerry, Android and iOS users, respectively, admitted that they would rather go a week without seeing their significant other over not using a phone. These people either have serious relationship problems, didn't think the question through or they need to be entered into a Smartphones Anonymous program.
What about you, readers? How important is your phone? Are you addicted? What would crazy things would you give up for a week to keep your phone? And would you prefer that a significant other uses a specific platform over another? Spill it in the comments below.
Image via Digital Trends
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