Life

Lynette Fay: You might be unpleasantly surprised to find out how much of a slave to your smartphone you really are

How many times do you pick up your phone every day? How much time do you spend each day on it? Since the beginning of this year, in an effort to be more aware of how much I use mobile devices, I downloaded an app which measures screen time. I have had a rude awakening

Lynette Fay

Lynette Fay

Lynette is an award winning presenter and producer, working in television and radio. Hailing from Dungannon, Co Tyrone, she is a weekly columnist with The Irish News.

Apparently women in their 30s check their phones up to 300 times a day
Apparently women in their 30s check their phones up to 300 times a day Apparently women in their 30s check their phones up to 300 times a day

IN RECENT months, I have heard many of my friends threaten to discard expensive smartphones in favour of Nokia 3210 devices, in order to undertake a digital detox. I’m not sure I could do this.

Since the beginning of this year, in an effort to be more aware of how much I use mobile devices, I downloaded an app called ‘Moment’ which measures screen time. I have had a rude awakening. (There are other Apps available which do the same thing.)

How many times do you pick up your phone every day? How much time do you spend each day on your phone?

On average, last week, I spent three hours PER DAY on my phone and I checked it 96 times, each day.

The results of yet another poll on mobile phone usage were revealed this week. Apparently women in their 30s check their phones up to 300 times a day. At least I’m not that bad. (Insert the ‘wipes the brow’ emoji here.)

Since January, I have been trying to change my mobile phone dependency. I call it that reluctantly but, unfortunately, that is what it has become. I try to leave the phone in another room when I’m focussing on something – whether writing, listening to music, watching TV or reading.

When I go running in a group, I always leave the phone behind, but when I run alone, it comes with me – just in case – and in order to listen to a podcast or two. I need the distraction.

I usually have the ringtone muted, I have turned off most notifications – but still I manage to use this electronic device for three hours every day?

Last year, after checking myself for aimlessly scrolling through photos and profiles of people I don’t know, I decided to delete the Facebook App from my phone. I also deleted Messenger. Life changing.

I found that having those apps on my phone never allowed me to switch off.

In my experience, being ever present on social media platforms means that immediate responses and replies are expected, often demanded. Heaven forbid if you work weekends that you take a Monday AND a Tuesday off when the rest of the nine-to-five world needs an answer to an email.

Facebook and email are now in the same box for me. I use them for work and only access them when working. But how do I still manage to spend three hours a day on my phone?!

Turning off notifications is a good idea if you have your fomo (fear of missing out) under control. If you think you can’t survive without knowing from minute to minute how many ‘likes’ your last photo or post got, well it might be time to reach for that Nokia 6210 or any device that isn’t a smartphone.

That said, as my daily three-hour phone usage suggests, I have my phone on my person most of the time. I type notes, make voice notes, am trying to use the calendar on my phone as my diary, I take photos, I scroll through Twitter a few times a day and I love an oul insta-story.

Last week, I jumped on the bandwagon and decided to post my first vlog on insta-stories. I thought I was hilarious. I might post another one this weekend. You can judge for yourself how I’m getting on with my quest to be ‘down with the kids’.

That said, I still think that the sign of a good night/day/weekend is no photos, no insta-stories and no snaps – because we’re too busy having real conversations.

Whatsapp is a great invention and can be very useful. But ‘Whatsapp groups’ are evil. Where do people get the time for long discussions? Why do most people fail to understand the concept of sending a direct message instead of messaging the group? We have all had that experience.

My friend was telling me about her ‘P1 Mums’ Whatsapp group. Enough said. I didn’t need to hear any examples to know how that turned out.

A well known brand has very cleverly started a campaign to put the phone down in the pub. I suggest trying to put it face down when in conversation with anyone.

We’re becoming more aware of the unhealthy grip these devices have on us, but we have a way to go.

Now to see if I can reclaim my three hours a day.