The average Brit checks their phone 10,000 times a year, study finds
We live in a digital world, but has our dependency on our phones gone overboard?
Nowadays, everywhere you go you’ll come across people with their eyes glued to their phones, swiping on Bumble or perusing Twitter for the latest trends.
However, it may be time to assess whether our addiction to our smartphones has gone a step too far.
According to a survey, the average Brit checks their phone 28 times a day. That’s at least once an hour… and more than 10,000 times a year.
It’s undeniable that many of us would struggle to live without our smartphones.
“Our smart devices have become an essential part of modern life, and checking them regularly is second nature for more users,” says Greg Tatton-Brown, spokesperson for online casino Casumo.com.
“However, the instances of compulsive checking are much higher than we would have imagined, showing our phones are as much a habit as they are an aide to our busy lifestyles and an immediate source of entertainment, from wherever we are.”
As many as a third of smartphone users would confess to having a smartphone addiction, although it’s likely many more do without realising it.
Tanya Goodin, author of OFF, explained the futility of our incessant need to constantly check our phones.
“A lot of the repetitive and compulsive phone-checking we do isn’t actually adding any value to our lives,” she says.
“We’re like captive lab rats, responding to the bells and whistles software designers increasingly build in to make their apps addictive.
“It’s no wonder we find it hard to put our devices down when sophisticated neuroscience and ‘persuasive tech’ is hijacking our brains to make us want more.”
If you’re starting to feel as though your smartphone is draining your energy and concentration, a digital detox may be just what you need to feel revitalised.
“A short period of digital detox, being temporarily without screens, can improve the quality of your sleep, your focus and concentration and reduce stress,” Goodin advises.
“A recent study in Denmark found that coming off just Facebook completely for a week significantly boosted the happiness of the group that tried it.”
Breaking a habit is far easier said than done. However, reducing the amount of time you spend with your eyes stuck on a screen could do you a whole lot of good.
Comments
Share your thoughts and debate the big issues
Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our Community Guidelines.
You can find our Community Guidelines in full here.
-
Newest first
-
Oldest first
-
Most liked
{{/moreThanOne}}Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our Community Guidelines.
You can find our Community Guidelines in full here.
-
Newest first
-
Oldest first
-
Most liked
{{/moreThanOne_p}}Follow comments
Vote
Report Comment
Subscribe to Independent Minds to debate the big issues
Want to discuss real-world problems, be involved in the most engaging discussions and hear from the journalists? Try Independent Minds free for 1 month.
Already registered? Log inReport Comment
Delete Comment
Subscribe to Independent Minds to debate the big issues
Want to discuss real-world problems, be involved in the most engaging discussions and hear from the journalists? Try Independent Minds free for 1 month.
Already registered? Log inAbout The Independent commenting
Independent Minds Comments can be posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Minds. It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss real-world solutions, and more. Our journalists will try to respond by joining the threads when they can to create a true meeting of independent minds. The most insightful comments on all subjects will be published daily in dedicated articles. You can also choose to be emailed when someone replies to your comment.
The existing Open Comments threads will continue to exist for those who do not subscribe to Independent Minds. Due to the sheer scale of this comment community, we are not able to give each post the same level of attention, but we have preserved this area in the interests of open debate. Please continue to respect all commenters and create constructive debates.