Mobile phone addiction is spreading globally; people can’t live without their phones

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Do you feel like your cellphone is part of your body? A global survey has found that most people can’t live without their mobile phones – they never leave home without them, and if given a choice, they would rather lose their wallet than their phone. Describing mobile phones as the “remote control” for life, a poll conducted by market research firm Synovate showed that these devices are so ubiquitous that by last year, more people owned one than did not. Three-quarters of the more than 8,000 respondents surveyed online in 11 countries said they carry their phones with them everywhere, with Russians and Singaporeans being the most dependent on them. More than a third also said they couldn’t live without their phones, with Taiwanese and Singaporeans leading this group; one in four said it would be harder for them to replace their phone than their handbag. About two-thirds of the respondents keep their phones within reach when going to bed and are unable to turn them off, even though they want to, out of fear of missing something. “Mobile phones provide us with safety, security, and instant access to information. They are our primary tool for communication, sometimes even replacing face-to-face interactions. They serve as links to our lives,” said Jenny Chang, Synovate’s managing director in Taiwan, in a statement. Mobile phones have also changed the nature of relationships – the survey found that nearly half of all respondents use text messages to flirt, a fifth arrange first dates through texts, and almost the same number use this method to end relationships. Aside from calling and texting, the top three features that people use regularly on their mobile phones worldwide are the alarm clock, the camera, and games. As for email and Internet access, 17 percent of respondents said they check their inboxes or browse the Web using their phones, with people in the United States and Britain leading this trend. One in 10 respondents regularly access social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace via their mobile phones, again with the United States and Britain at the forefront. “As mobile phones become more and more all-in-one devices, many other industries are facing challenges. However, the opportunities for mobile manufacturers and network providers are enormous,” said Steve Garton, Synovate’s global head of media. Not everyone, however, is tech-savvy: 37 percent of respondents said they don’t know how to use all the functions on their phones. Don’t you think mobile phones have become part of our bodies? A global survey shows that most people feel they can’t live without their phones and never go out without them; if they had to choose between something and their phone, they would prefer to give up their wallet. According to this survey conducted by IRI, mobile phones have become the \"remotes\" in people’s lives, being present everywhere. By last year, the number of mobile phone users had surpassed the number of people without mobile phones. The company conducted an online survey among over 8,000 respondents from 11**. The survey results showed that three-quarters of the respondents said they carry their phones with them wherever they go. Russians and Singaporeans are the most dependent on mobile phones. Over one-third of the respondents said they couldn’t live without their smartphones, with those from Taiwan and Singapore being the most affected. And a quarter of the respondents felt that smartphones were more important than wallets. About two-thirds of the respondents keep their phones within reach before going to bed, and they don’t turn them off even if they want to, out of fear of missing a call. Jenny Chang, the executive director of Siwei Company in Taiwan, said in a statement: “Mobile phones give us a sense of security, making us feel more at ease, and allow us to receive messages at any time.” Mobile phones are our primary communication tool, sometimes even surpassing face-to-face conversations. Mobile phones are the link that connects us to our lives. ” Mobile phones have also changed the way people fall in love. The survey found that nearly half of the respondents used text messages to flirt, one in five used them to arrange a first date, and another equal proportion used the same method to end a relationship. Apart from the two main functions of making calls and sending texts, the other three most commonly used mobile phone functions worldwide are alarms, taking photos, and playing games. As for the functions of sending emails and browsing the Internet, 17% of respondents said they used their phones to check emails or browse websites, with Americans and Britons being the most common among them. One in ten respondents frequently log into social networking sites such as Facebook and Myspace via their mobile phones, with Britons and Americans accounting for the highest proportion in this category. Steve Garton, Global Media President at Siwei Company, said, “As mobile phones increasingly become communication tools that combine multiple functions, many other industries are facing challenges.” However, this presents huge opportunities for smartphone manufacturers and networks. ” But not everyone is an expert in technology. 37% of the respondents said they did not know how to use all the functions on their smartphones. Reposted from Hai Ci Happy English, for sharing among Hai friends