Why pay attention to sex when you can text? A number of Americans appear to suffer separation anxiety regarding their smartphone, so much so that they even bring it into the bedroom.
A survey released Thursday found nearly one in ten smartphone owners admitted to having used their phone during sex.
Overall, nine percent of those surveyed said they had used their smartphone during sex. Young adults were particularly comfortable with multitasking during intercourse. Among those ages 18 to 34, one in five admitted to using their smartphone amid coitus.
“So it should be no surprise that 12 percent believe their smartphone gets in the way of their relationships,” the press release for the study noted.
The 2013 Mobile Consumer Habits study conducted by Harris Interactive for the mobile company Jumio also found 12 percent of smartphone owners admitted to using their device in the shower. More than half admitted to texting while driving.
“People view their smartphones as an extension of themselves, taking them everywhere they go – even the most unorthodox places – from the shower to their commute, from the dinner table to the bedroom,” said Marc Barach, chief marketing and strategy officer, Jumio. “And panic sets in when consumers are separated from their devices, with privacy concerns topping the list. People have good reason to be on high alert; nearly 30 percent of adults admit to snooping on someone else’s mobile phone, making users aware of the potential violations that happen when we put our own phones down.”
Research into smartphones has uncovered that the many people develop “checking habits” regarding their devices. People compulsively check emails, notifications and social media feeds.
“What concerns us here is that if your habitual response to, say, boredom, is that you pick up the phone to find interesting stimuli, you will be systematically distracted from the more important things happening around you,” researcher Antti Oulasvirta noted in 2011.
[“Man Talking On The Phone, Woman Upset” on Shutterstock]
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