It used to be the case that if you were travelling on a flight, you’d pack a book or magazine. The same principle was applied to doing your business on the toilet, while simply engaging in conversation was expected of events like weddings, funerals and the aftermath of sex. Today however, it seems we’ve ditched conversation and books for one item we can’t go without: our phones. Whether it’s a social event or simply going to the toilet, our phones accompany us everywhere. To misplace our phone is to go into a state panic, frantically searching the house for it and hoping the silent vibrations might sound loudly from wherever it might be hiding.
As technology continues to advance and our phones come to house various apps that make books and magazines redundant, it makes sense that we might be drawn to them during times where boredom would have otherwise flourished. But according to a new study of 1,098 American adults by the games website Solitaired, our phone use is now pervasive: we use them all the time and everywhere.
The study sought to examine how and where people use smartphones to stave off boredom, fill time or simply find stimulation. People were asked what scenarios they most frequently use their phones out of boredom, and the results were shocking. It seems we’ve relegated safety to something abstract, with 88 per cent of people using their phones while walking on the sidewalk, 73 per cent while walking their dog, 42 per cent while crossing the street, and one in three while riding a bike or skating. It’s hardly surprising then, that 44 per cent of respondents have injured themselves while using their phones, either by falling or bumping into something.
60 per cent of people also admitted to using their phone at a religious service, 50 per cent at a wedding ceremony, and 31 per cent at a funeral or wake. And if you thought there might be some shred of dignity left in humanity, think again: 90 per cent of people regularly use their phones on the toilet and 75 per cent of people say they spend more time on the toilet than initially intended because they get distracted on their phone – yep, 53 per cent of people report their legs or butt going numb due to phone use on the toilet. If all that wasn’t enough, 31 per cent also admit to being distracted during sex due to phone notifications, with 40 per cent admitting to checking their phone immediately after having sex.
As for why we seem to be so drawn to our phones, 86 per cent of Americans said they want to avoid interacting with other people, while 61 per cent admitted to using their phones to avoid specific family members around the holidays. 91 per cent also acknowledged that they turned to their phones out of boredom, even when in a situation to socialise with others face-to-face.
If the thought of going to the toilet without a phone seems horrifying, you’re not alone. But perhaps you should be more mindful of how much time you’re spending sitting there, after all, spending too much time on the toilet could lead to piles, even if it’s just a result of playing solitaire or scrolling through the endless feed of TikTok.
