If you consider yourself addicted to your smartphone you’re not alone.
A new poll by Insights West and mobile agency iamota found that many of the half of B.C. adults that own a smartphone feel it’s important to their lives – and some even consider themselves addicted to their device. In extreme cases, the poll found that the dependence is interfering with their life and personal relationships.
The research revealed that young people between 18 to 34 were the most likely to spend more time on their phone, and be addicted to using it.
The average person polled reported spending almost two hours on their phone every day, but those who say they are addicted spend more than two-and-a-half hours glued to their screens. Sixty-two-per-cent of people surveyed checked their cell phone hourly, and the highly addicted six per cent checked more than every 10 minutes.
Insights West President Steve Mossop told CTV News that five per cent of the younger demographic polled felt their phones interfered with their lives, compared to three per cent of the older demographics.
He said smartphone addiction can play out in dangerous ways in people’s lives, pushing users into texting while driving and being distracted in their social and romantic lives.
The poll found most of those surveyed couldn’t bear the thought of being torn away from their device.
Faced with the possibility of being without it for just three days, the majority would prefer to give up Facebook, access to the internet and would even rather be stood up for a date.
“It’s really quite an overwhelming part of our every day daily lives,” Steve Mossop, president of Insights West said.
The top activities for smartphone users were making calls, texting, and checking emails. Also, these phones were overwhelmingly used for social media – more so than any other device including tablets and computers.
The survey also found mobile purchases are increasing. Half of people have made mobile purchases this year, compared to just nine per cent two years ago, Mossop said. Most of these purchases were made from apps, and 34 per cent of people use apps with authorized connections to their credit cards.
Some of the more common mobile purchases were parking, Starbucks coffee and movie tickets.
Mossop also said British Columbians have a higher mobile usage on average than people in the rest of the country.
“We’re slightly younger, have more of a tech industry and consulting industries here, and for people working in forestry and mining, there is a need for connections while in remote places,” Mossop said.
The online Insights West study surveyed 849 people over the age of 18 between July 1 to 4, including 540 smartphone users.
