How mobiles are eating our mealtime chat
THE majority of Britons cannot make it through dinner at home without checking their phone, such is our addiction to new technology, research has found.
According to the YouGov report, 55 per cent of those surveyed said they checked their phone during a meal, while 53 per cent said they look at their phone even when dining out.
More than half – 54 per cent – said they could not go more than two days without their device before it bothered them.
Both Google and Apple have responded to the growing debate about the impact of mobile phone use on public health by introducing usage tracking tools and screen time-limiting features in an effort to improve “digital wellbeing”.
National campaigns such as Scroll Free September have also been introduced in an attempt to help cut down mobile use.
The research was carried out to mark YouGov’s partnership with the new The Future Starts Here exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum, which examines Britain’s increasing addiction to mobile devices.
Russell Feldman, director of digital, media and technology research at YouGov, said: “It will have escaped no one’s notice that smartphones are taking over our lives. Across the land the sight of heads bowed over small screens is now ubiquitous.
“But what our research shows is just how attached to our mobile phones we really are – and perhaps without even realising it.”
The research also indicated that two out of three mobile phone users check their phones while in bed, despite sleep issues having been linked to phone screens.
Mr Feldman added: “We can only speculate on the impact this is having in terms of our relationships with colleagues, friends and even close family.
“Our survey suggests traditional conversations are being discarded, in favour of checking our latest email, notification or message.”