A third of us are addicted to mobile phones

1 in 3 Brits are addicted to checking their mobile phones or know someone who is, new research has found.

The study into the mobile phone habits of 1,000 Brits by hosting company 34SP.com, discovered a third of respondents ‘couldn’t live without their mobile phone’, and 1 in 10 spend over five hours every day checking their device.

A further 57% use their phone whilst socialising with friends, and 59% use it whilst socialising with family – which seems to be having a negative impact – the study found 1 in 5 have argued with friends for being distracted by their mobile phone.

Shockingly, 40% stated they have even used their mobile phone to avoid conversing, and 33% admit their mobile phone makes them a less sociable person.

Over 50% said their device is the first thing they check in the morning, and 43% said their phone is the last thing they check before they go to bed. Multiple reports have emerged in recent years about the detrimental effects of mobile phones on sleep, so these statistics are concerning.

Daniel Foster, co-founder and technical director at 34SP.com, said: “It’s no secret that mobile phone usage is on the up, especially with new technologies like Apple Pay emerging, which means we can use the devices for more things than ever before. But it’s shocking to see how much of an impact they’re having on our everyday lives.

“The fact that people are admitting they avoid communicating with one another in order to use their mobile phone is extremely worrying.

“The mobile world is bringing about great opportunities for us all to stay connected no matter where we are, which undoubtedly has it’s bonuses, but the way it is effecting real human interaction is bringing us dangerously close to becoming a society that doesn’t communicate properly.”

The study also found 1 in 4 will even go out of their way to find WIFI in a public place.