Some people, according to a recent poll, are so addicted to their cell phones that they use them while having sex, while at church, on a dinner date and — at some peril to the phone– while in the shower. The survey also found that 72% adults say they’re within 5 feet of their phone the majority of the time.
Jumio, a company that specializes in credential management and ID validation, commissioned Harris Interactive” to interview 2,021 U.S. online adults earlier this summer. Of those, 1,102 of the respondents were smartphone users.
To the question “In which of the following places, if any, have you ever used your smartphone?”
- 9% said during sex
- 55% while driving (the survey didn’t separate texting from talking)
- 35% in a movie theater
- 33% during a dinner date
- 32% at a child’s school function
- 19% in church or a place of worship
- 12% while in the shower
Don’t confuse “ever” with “often”
When considering these results, it’s important to remember that they asked if you had “ever” done any of these, so this is not necessarily an indication of people’s normal behavior. For example, I don’t text and drive, or at least I haven’t done it in the past year or so and almost never did it before that — but if asked if I have “ever” done that, I would have to say yes. I have used my phone in a movie theater, but not in the auditorium while the film was running, and I must admit that I have used my phone while out to dinner (most recently last night) and at school and social functions.
The survey also asked questions about other habits and found:
- 29% said they had “snooped on someone else’s mobile phone”
- 12% strongly or somewhat agreed ” my smartphone gets in the way of my relationships”
- 88% ” always turn off my ringer when I am at an event or performance”
Concerns about data theft
The majority (59%) keep their phone password protected, but 65% worry about someone stealing personal information on their phone. A third (33%) are concerned about someone else logging into their social profile(s) from their phone while 26%) are concerned about someone using their mobile payment options (such as the Starbucks app)
Click here to access the survey results’ summary data (PDF)
Closer to God?
As per using a phone in church? Could it be that some people feel it’s a way to communicate with God?
Listen to Larry’s 1-minute CBS News/CNET Tech Talk segment about this survey.