Take a minute and think about it. When did you last go a whole day or even a few hours without using your phone? Did you feel anxious or stressed out? The truth is we are slowly getting addicted to our smartphones without knowing it.
A survey by Deloitte revealed that 89% of respondents couldn’t go a day without using their mobile phones. About 30% of them said they check their phones within five minutes of waking up. That’s probably the same case with you and me, and it’s time to unplug from your mobile phone and have a digital detox.
Before smartphones, we had mobile phones mainly used for calls and texting. Their other complex capabilities were still simple things like setting a ringtone. Most interactions and entertainment options remained offline.
Then smartphones happened, a technological revolution that would come to change everything. With their advanced capabilities, almost everything we do online happens through smartphones. Recent data shows that the average user spends about 4 hours daily on their phone.
So, what activities take up most of our time when using smartphones?
Social Media
According to Global Web Index (GWI) data, the average person actively uses or visits 6.8 social media platforms monthly.
How many social apps do you have on your phone? Here’s a quick list of 10 social media apps: Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), Threads, TikTok, Snapchat, LinkedIn, Reddit, Discord, and Pinterest. There are still many more apps left.
These apps compete for your attention, so their algorithms are constantly updated to tailor content specifically for you and hook you in. Whether you’re scrolling through friends’ vacay posts, watching funny videos and memes, or sharing your thoughts and comments on topics, it’s easy to spend hours on social media apps without realizing it.
Switching from one app to another provides a different entertaining experience, and that’s why you might have several of them on your phone. If you check your phone usage, you can quickly see which social app takes up most of your time.
Messaging
If you aren’t scrolling through social feeds, chances are you are chatting in private chats or group chats. Messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Messenger, Signal, and Snapchat have changed the messaging experience through innovative features.
Instead of dull text messages, these apps have added emojis, photo and video sharing options, and audio and video call capabilities, which make connecting more interesting.
Users can set up profiles and post status updates about what’s on their minds, sparking conversations.
With messaging apps, users can chat with people from all over the world, breaking geographical barriers that existed before. Messaging apps are platforms with billions of downloads and take up most of the time among users.
Entertainment
What’s the first thing you do when you have extra time or are bored? You get on your phone to get entertained. That’s why you’ll find people on their phones when walking, standing in line, waiting for a bus, hanging out with friends, or seated in the restroom.
Besides social apps, there are other entertainment platforms that aim to end your boredom. YouTube is a great example; this video-content platform has millions of videos waiting to inform, educate, or make you laugh. For music, platforms like Spotify or Apple Music will have you listening to your favorite jams on end.
Another entertainment option that is now a billion-dollar industry is gaming. Smartphones changed the gaming landscape from Tetris and Snake to Candy Crush and Subway Surfers. For example, about four in ten people (39%) use mobile phones in the UK for gaming.
Games like PUBG Mobile, Hill Climb Racing, and those mentioned above have billions of downloads. Gaming on mobile is quite convenient, and you only need to pull out your phone, have an internet connection, and start gaming.
It’s why other gaming options, like online casinos, have adapted their platforms for mobile play. More online casinos in the UK are becoming mobile-friendly, allowing players to enjoy their favorite slots or table games on their phones.
The mobile gaming market is forecasted to grow to $340 billion by 2030.
Start Your Digital Detox
Starting your digital detox or unplugging from your phone doesn’t have to be a drastic change. Start small by putting your phone away for some minutes or hours.
Try cleaning up your phone as well and reduce the number of apps on your phone. Slowly, you’ll realize there’s more to life than in the confines of your pocket-friendly gadget.
