As a PR in the wonderful world of communications, I read countless articles each week - some intriguing, some concerning and some quite frankly depressing but it was a report I stumbled across today that really got me thinking. In fact it led to feelings of utter frustration and despair but I’ll get to that bit in a minute.
The article, which was published by BBC News, spoke of Ofcom’s recent research into the explosion of smartphone activity here in the UK. The findings of course weren’t surprising. It seems that a third of adults now actively use smartphones on a frequent basis.
As I said, these figures came as no shock. Even my Mother, who struggles to operate her ever-so-user-friendly microwave (sorry Mum!) called me last week to say she’d checked the film times on her new mobile phone and that we were to meet at 8pm, Cineworld Enfield for a showing of Bridesmaids. I nearly fell off my chair but it just goes to demonstrate how smartphones and the internet are changing the way we live our lives. It’s incredible how far technology has come and how much of an impact it is having, not just on teenagers but the older generation too.
I for one couldn’t live without my beloved Blackberry. In addition to old fashioned calling and texting, I use it to check emails, tweet and browse the internet. However, when I started work at Publicity Engineers three years ago (oh how time flies) this wasn’t the case. I would spend hours, wasted hours where I was cut off from the outside world, sat on trains and planes travelling to see clients or attend exhibitions. Now, while I’m on my way to Leeds, Cardiff or beyond, I can stay connected. I can respond to emails ensuring I don’t miss deadlines, update our Facebook and Twitter accounts and carry out any necessary research at the touch of a button, all via a device that fits comfortably in my pocket.
Without a shadow of a doubt, this ability to ‘stay connected’ is powerful and positive. It’s changing the way we work, network and socialise (in most cases) for the better but is there an argument to suggest some of us are taking it too far? Are we losing that all important personal touch and are we letting technology take over?
When the Ofcom report revealed that a worrying 37% of adults and a staggering 60% of teenagers described themselves as being ‘addicted’, this didn’t surprise me either.
Have you ever been to dinner with a group of friends only to look around the table and see that the majority of them are typing away on their smartphones, probably updating their Facebook statuses or tweeting? I have and it not only maddens me, but saddens me too. This is quality time that should involve chatting, laughing and catching up. So if any of my friends are reading this, or if you are guilty of the same crime, please understand that time is precious and while the internet is an amazing tool that we should all utilise, there’s nothing quite like human interaction. In the same way, while email is a quick and effective way of communication, meeting a journalist at a press launch wins hand down every time, as does a face-to-face client meeting over a conference call.
I think the moral of the story here is you certainly can have too much of a good thing and like with most areas of life, a balance is required; a balance between staying connected, keeping up with technology and maintaining healthy personal relationships so we don’t all turn into zombies!
I agree. Although the use of smartphones is obviously very convenient it does seem to stop people talking to each other...even when you want to arrange a night out. It seems that most of the time I only actually speak to people now when I have actually met up with them face to face - gone are the days where you make plans by phoning people and then having a chat and catching up because you are already on the phone. Are we missing out on what might seem like minor events in our friends lives, but can actually be important to them simply because we don't talk to eachother like we used to?
ReplyDeleteThis may be a bit extreme, but I personally think there should be an age limit on the use of smartphones. These days it seems as if Facebook and Twitter are the only forms of communication used by young people. They have no other communication skills and will end up leaving school some very basic skills which are required for most office jobs.
ReplyDeleteThat's a really interesting point, Nicole, I wouldn't want my kids to be addicted to Facebook. I would want them to have healthy human interaction that doesn't involve staring at a computer screen or mobile phone.
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