Mobile phones stir acrimony amongst one in three UK adults
The humble mobile phone has been implicated by one in three UK adults as the source of arguments with their partner; principally around over-use of the gadget, according to a new survey by Deloitte.
Young adults aged 25-34 were found to be most at risk from the phenomena whilst over 65’s were least likely to come to verbal blows over texting, but mobile phone usage is now prevalent amongst all groups with four in five adults possessing one.
Nevertheless the report authors state we may have entered the age of ‘peak smartphone’ with growth in new users slowing to 7 per cent from nine per cent in the year to June 2016, indicating that associated rows might also have hit their worst.
Paul Lee, head of technology, media and telecommunications research at Deloitte, commented: "Smartphones can enhance social lives, but overuse can be perceived as anti-social, and cause arguments.
"They are personal devices, but their usage impacts those around them. As with most emerging technology, consumers will need to learn how best to run their lives with smartphones, as opposed to having their lives run by their devices."
The findings are detailed in Deloitte’s sixth annual Mobile Consumer Survey which quizzed 4,000 British consumers on their habits.