We asked people WHY they were so engrossed in their mobile. Here’s what they said ...
it’s a familiar sight: people who’d rather stare at a mobile than look around or have a conversation. But what is so mesmerising? HARRY WALLOP spoke to people in Manchester and London to find out exactly what they are doing on their mobile phones.
IT’S A HABIT — I WISH IT WASN’T
SArAh MeekS, 37, a housing officer from hertfordshire, and kerry Oldman, 40, who works in retail and comes from essex, are lying on the grass in hyde Park.
Sarah is so addicted to her phone, she’s using a portable charger so it doesn’t run out of juice. ‘I’m on Facebook,’ she says, ‘seeing what’s going on in the world.’
So what is going on in the world? ‘Not a great deal. People eating cake.’
kerry says: ‘I was on WhatsApp. Phones have ruined a day out like today. I probably spend half the time on my phone, rather than enjoying the park properly.’
Sarah adds: ‘It’s a habit. I wish it wasn’t. It’s like we’re more interested in other people’s lives than our own.’
MUM WILL TEXT US FROM DOWNSTAIRS
MOTher Janet Jolliffe, 55, a school cook, and daughter Amanda Wrigglesworth, 36, a travel agent, are outside a bar in Crown Square, Manchester.
Janet, who barely looks up from her phone, is playing Pokémon Go.
Amanda says: ‘She’s completely addicted to her phone. I told her off when I found out she’d downloaded Pokémon. I said: “We’ll never see you again.”’
Janet says: ‘Before Pokémon, it was Candy Crush or Facebook. I quite like games.’
Amanda: ‘My younger sister and my daughter can sit in the same room as us and text us, and Mum often texts us from downstairs.’
Janet: ‘Well, she doesn’t listen to me when I shout up to her.’
LUNCH AND SELFIES WITH A FRIEND
JACqUI ClArke-WIllIAMS, 45, and Samantha Bowden, 45 both mothers-of-three (pictured below), are on a day out from hertfordshire. Over lunch, Jacqui is uploading a picture of Samantha and a selfie onto Facebook.
Samantha says: ‘So far I’ve used my phone for directions, taking pictures, social media, to Google something and to contact my son.’
Jacqui says: ‘I hate the whole phone thing at dinner or at lunch. And if I’m out with my partner, we never have phones. But with friends, it’s different.
I’VE IMPOSED A BEDTIME BAN
ChrIS MOTTrAM, 62, a retired IT director, wife Caroline, 52, son Andrew, 32, and daughter Alex ross, 29, with baby lilly, are on a day out from Devon. Alex is looking at Facebook. ‘I was looking at photos of a wedding where I was a bridesmaid. Now that I have a baby, my phone is glued to me. It has all sorts of useful apps for the baby. My husband is a total addict. I’ve now banned mobile phones in the evening — and from the bedroom.’
Chris says: ‘I turn off the WiFi at home when our nieces come to stay because they can’t put the phones down at mealtimes.’
EVERYONE IN OUR OFFICE IS HOOKED
SArAh ClIFFe, 50, from Cheadle, who works for a pharmacy, is walking through a Manchester park, staring intently at her mobile phone. She says: ‘It’s actually my daughter’s Pokémon Go account, but it’s my phone. ‘She asks me to catch Pokémon while I am in town, because there aren’t as many down in South Manchester. ‘Do I like it? Do I heck! everyone in our office is addicted.’
I’D GET A LOT MORE DONE WITHOUT IT
TAMSIN STeWArD, 26, who works in fashion, and Victoria Goggin, 22, a receptionist, are from Basildon, essex. Tamsin says: ‘We do have a massive phone addiction. I was just looking on the internet for a restaurant to have lunch.’
Victoria says she was on Instagram: ‘There was nothing on it, really, just photos of people on holiday, making me jealous. I could never ever give up my phone. I’d get so bored.’
Tamsin: ‘I have given up my phone for the weekend once. I got so much more done.’
EVEN WATCHING TV, I’M ON INSTAGRAM
ACCOUNTANTS Alison Chave, 30, and laura ross, 31, friends from edinburgh, are having a drink in central Manchester.
Alison says: ‘A friend messaged me on Facebook and said: “I hope you enjoy rainy Manchester.” And because it was so sunny, I sent her this picture of us in the sun!’
laura says: ‘I find it hard to get through an episode of anything on TV without thinking: “What’s going on on Instagram?”’
THREE GENERATIONS SITTING IN SILENCE
kATh FOrreST, 68, daughter Dawn hill, 48 and granddaughter Georgina lane, 26, from Derby, are in london shopping. All three are sitting in silence over lunch, looking at their phones.
Dawn says: ‘We’re trying to find the right shop. This is more productive than walking around aimlessly.’
kath says: ‘I’m a novice. I was on Facebook. It’s about the only thing I can do. It takes me hours just to turn it on.’
Georgina says: ‘I use my phone for everything.’
I’D NEVER LEAVE THE HOUSE WITHOUT IT
kerrY leWIS, 39, husband Neil, 31, and children Mitchell, nine, and keira, eight, from Gloucestershire, are on a day out in london. kerry is taking pictures outside Buckingham Palace, while Neil is scrolling through Facebook.
Neil says: ‘I go on it when I’m bored. If I am in a queue, I’ll look at it, or even at the till.’
kerry says: ‘I’d never leave the house without my phone.’
I ask the children if their mother spends too long on the phone. ‘Yes!’ they both reply.
Mitchell says: ‘She spends the whole time on Facebook — even when she’s watching TV.’
Neil says: ‘I’ve been in the house and she’s messaged me, while she’s also in the house. We did try to ban all screens for one night a week. It didn’t work.’
PLAYING POKÉMON GO ... FOR 3 HOURS
AlTrINChAM Grammar School students Alex robertson, 17, and Jacob Farrelly, 17, are sitting on a bench in St John’s Gardens playing Pokémon Go. It is only midday but they have already been playing for three hours.
Jacob says: ‘Sometimes we speak to each other. But you can just sit here and catch Pokémon.’
Alex says: ‘During the summer holidays, I’ve spent more time on the phone during the day, than not on the phone.’