It is becoming quite frightening how much we depend on our online devices to connect with our friends, the world and just people in general. According to the Australian Mobile Lifestyle Index 80% of people use their smart phones while watching TV or doing other activities and smartphone users check their devices 150 times a day on average (Agomuoh 2014). These are some alarming statistics.
So are we beginning to loose our attention span and the capability to simply relax without having to be constantly engaged with the world? I am also an addict to this plugged-in lifestyle. I have recently switched off all my online devices for 24 hours to understand the pros and cons of this plugged in addiction.
The first thing I noticed when I did this was coming home for dinner from work and walking into my living room and finding every one of my three housemates all on their smart phones whilst watching TV. I had a little chuckle to myself than with the shocking realisation of how truly alarming this is becoming I had a quick chat with them. I asked what apps they were using and why? One was checking their Facebook page, another was writing a food blog and reviewing restaurants on Urbanspoon while my other housemate was shopping for shoes. They said they were bored because there was nothing on TV.
I have now realised there are pros and cons to the increased usage and interaction through smart phones. We can access restaurant reviews to ensure we are going to eat the best food that we love the most and people can even transfer funds from account to account. However if we chatted more and more to people on public transport and even friends about where they have eaten recently, could we not get a similar understanding of where the best places are to eat. The fact is, that it is simply easier to do it online through our smart phones. Therefore the only benefit is everything is quicker, however do we only need everything to be quicker now because of smart phones.
One benefit of increased usage of smartphones is the increased ability to chat to numerous people rapidly. This is exemplified via the Nike “She Runs The Night campaign.” Nike’s overall objective was to increase conversation, which was ignited through Nike’s social media channels, with a rally cry for change and stimulating chat around the barriers women face. These conversations created online communities that grew to 54,762 women strong, allowing woman to raise issues they face like running alone at night (MARKETING 2013). Nike encouraged women to share their running experiences with both the Facebook page and their fellow fans. Check out the below clip on the Nike “She Runs The Night campaign.”
Therefore yes checking your smartphone 150 times a day will decrease your people skills, attention span and the opportunity to meet someone new. However if used correctly it can also aid people to come together to form communities not normally possible due to proximity barriers, time constraints and other factors.
References
Agomuoh, Fionna. 2014. “Take A ‘Moment’ To Consider Your Smartphone Addiction.” International Business Times. June 30.
http://www.ibtimes.com/take-moment-consider-your-smartphone-addiction-1615780
MARKETING. 2013. “She Runs The Night – strategy, execution, results of Nike’s groundbreaking campaign.” May 6.
She Runs. 2012. She Runs The Night: 3 May 2012. YouTube Video, 1.45.
The Crafty Marketing Brew 