Is It Time To Put Down The Smart Phone?

One day a person once asked me about people’s current obsession and dependency with their mobile phones and how I would define this technological generation. So, I simply asked them… ‘What is an alcoholic?’… They replied, stating it was a person who enjoyed or needed too much alcohol…

So, I rephrased their answer and said, ‘So in other words, a person who consumes alcohol beyond their capacity of self-control and is unable to give up alcohol freely is referred to as an alcoholic. But what’s interesting, in the time of our brief conversation, I’ve noticed that you can’t let go of your phone, that you have clutched in your right hand’.

Like it or not, the large majority of the population of smart phone users, are effectively alcoholics of technology. But before you criticise my bold and very direct statement, consider this one simple question… ‘How long could YOU manage without your smart phone?’

The beloved smart phone has been revolutionized since the heady days of the MacWorld Expo, and the legendary Steve Jobs introduced a game changer in 2007. Even years before, when Jobs referred to the personal computer as a ‘Bicycle of the Mind’, his ethos would finally be achieved with the launch of the iPhone and years later the iPad.

For instance, I’m sure many of you have undoubtedly heard the phrase ‘There's an app for that...’ far too often. And so, our smart phones have become the digital Swiss Army knife of the office, home and of course when we are on the move.

And it’s when we are on the move, you're likely to find people looking deep into their devices wherever you go. There is almost a zombified omnipresence, which was of course cleverly vilified by Microsoft years ago, in the attempt to bring us ‘a Windows Smart Phone to save us from our phones’. But sadly after a few false starts, it was never able to achieve the ‘iPhone Killer Status’ it so desperately wanted and ended up leaving us with the memory of the ‘Really?!’ meme.

Other mobile giants over the course of the last 15 years, have all attempted to re-invent and or re-imagine the phone, familiar names have come and gone, and have even gone back to yesteryear to provide us with smart phone alternatives… the unfortunately blunt ‘dumbphones’, the cool of the ‘retro phones’; where users can relive the nineties with re-released versions of the Nokia 3310, or the classic chic of the Motorola Razr phone.

Our mobile phones are never far away, and in this digital age, we have reached a pinnacle, where most of us can’t operate without them. So, how frequently do you use your phone? How many times a day do you swipe, utilize applications, check social media, send texts, or otherwise interact with your phone?

According to studies carried out this year, incredibly the average user picks up their phone 344 times… To put this into perspective that’s once every 4 minutes!

So, how did we get so captivated with the digital world our phones represent, who is really at fault here, and is it time to disconnect from the mindlessness it offers?

While the convenience is appealing, many people believe we've gotten too engrossed in our smartphones and their never-ending streams of notifications, social media, and emails, that we have become as the point I made at the beginning alcoholics of mobile phones. And I’m certainly not alone in this view. A growing body of research indicates that ‘Mobile Addiction’ is a real issue.

‘Nomophobia’ has been the name derived for a number of years to describe the fear of not being able to use your mobile phone.

And whilst mobile smart phones have become an indispensable component of modern life and have certainly leap frogged from their original intended design, aim and purpose decades ago, they are synonymously recognised not just as means of communication, but also a social network tool, personal organizer, online purchasing tool, calendar, alarm clock, mobile bank, and a detailed digital record of a person’s life. While they are undeniably useful, others argue that overreliance on digital devices may be a type of behavioural addiction and hence the derived terminology.

In reality, the word ‘nomophobia’ was developed very simply to explain the dread of being without your phone, but also not just losing, forgetting, or destroying it, but also being out of mobile phone contact. In recent years we have also been approached with other derived terms such as, ‘Off The Smart Phone Grid’ and the more popular, ‘Unplugged’, often being banded by influencers and celebrities on social media and during talk show interviews. The latter term, has become something of a celebrated day. ‘National Day of Unplugging’, held on the first Friday of March, begins a 24-hour period from sundown to sundown to disconnect, unwind, relax, and do activities other than use today's technology, devices, and social media. More recently it has become something of an international affair, with the ‘Global Day of Unplugging’, back on the 6th of August, its 3rd Annual day.

Now whilst it might be easier to point fingers at the technology giants, after all, we are in a constant flux of being reminded to update our software and upgrade to the latest hardware. But the reality is we have to look at ourselves and ask this very simple question. ‘Am I in control of this technology, this appendage of my life, or is it in control of me?’.

It is an increasing problem, in a world when and where being connected feels more crucial than ever. When individuals misplace their phone, run out of battery power, or are in a region with no cellular coverage, it can cause worry and anxiety—or even terror or panic. Even if you are not addicted, you might still have to fight with the distracting factors. But, let's face it, ditching your phone and going back to a landline telephone isn't exactly appealing. So, while many of us can’t just simply unplug, or consider the unthinkable, is there a middle ground solution?

One option, highlighted earlier, is a solution courtesy of the old favourites from decades before, where users are driven to towards a somewhat familiar shape, UI (User Interface) and UX (User Experience) with a twist. Indeed, manufacturers like Nokia, Motorola, and the newly appointed owners of Blackberry, are attempting to lure us away from the monolithic slabs of black glass, that we are accustomed to seeing when we decide to purchase or upgrade a smart phone. Going back to basic mobile phones appeals to many people because it provides easy access to communication tools without the compulsive tendencies of modern smartphones.

But Flip phones and Brick phones are more advanced than they were previously. Several so called ‘dumb phones’ are powered by KaiOS, a lightweight operating system that supports a limited number of apps and games such as WhatsApp, YouTube, and Google Maps. One significant difference is the battery life on these re-imagined phones. With talk time stretching almost a day and standby times stretching to the inconceivable, a whole month without charging.

Even if you don't want to live a distraction-free life with an old-fashioned dumb phone, the battery life is a significant selling and practical factor. That's why feature phones are still a popular choice for work locations, camping vacations, and other settings where charging isn't always easy.

So, when we do eventually find the time to put our phones down, there is still the tendency of anxiety, of not knowing who or what the latest pinged notification is from. This then brings about the drug addicted sensation of needing a hit by picking up the phone again. Many experts have stressed the significance of mindfulness in connecting with ourselves and the world around us, and yet our constant connection to technology means we are denying ourselves of this fundamental and vital habit.

For some of us, our capacity to focus has significantly deteriorated, which is reflected in our productivity. The advantages of disconnecting can result in a more optimistic attitude in many aspects of our lives, from our studies, jobs and social ties to our own personal aims and desires. When our productivity rises, we feel more contented and satisfied with our talents. Life becomes more meaningful and less superficial as a result.

In the end, we may all benefit from some digital breaks from time to time, even if we can’t pursue long term phases of being ‘unplugged’ or ‘off the smart phone grid’, we can certainly allocate, if only for 1 hour, a moment to switch off, not just for the sake of our productivity levels, then for our mental health too. Raising self-awareness or to be more conscious of how much you use and rely on technology and find small methods to filter it out, are definitely steps in the right direction. And once it becomes a habit, we begin to realise that we will live and lead better lives.

So, what are you waiting for? Put the phone down now, take a moment of release from the digital world, and immerse yourself in the beauty of the real one.