Mobile Phones - Sinful, Distracting and Optimistic

The ups and downs of mobile

The world of mobile users are acting like teenagers having used a mobile device for around 12 years according to a new study by McCann Truth Central.  Some mobile perceptions are optimistic while others are distracting. 

Socializing is a major part of mobile life.  Average respondents were 50% more likely to be outgoing on their mobile devices. 74% of respondents say that their mobiles have helped them to "fit in" rather than stand out. While 55% say that they judge people by the devices they own, 40% say they judge people by the mobile network operator they choose.

Mobile Attitudes:

  •  More than 1 in 10 people say they have received a sext!
  • 38% of people are toilet talkers (take their devices into the bathroom.)
  • -29% of people admit to downloading content illegally (49% in China.)
  • 55% of people have purposely ignored a call.
  •  2 in 10 use curses and dirty words in their texts.

Could mobile save the world?
The study also revealed a lot of excitement and hope among adult mobile phone users about the future world that mobile can deliver, an optimistic viewpoint that continued to liken them to teenagers.

Nearly 40% of people thought that mobile technology will make us more likely to develop global solutions for crime, 21% thought mobile technology can help us avoid global economic crises, and 16% thought mobile could help alleviate pandemic flu outbreaks.

Globally, over a third of consumers say that their mobile devices distract them from what matters most. Emerging markets like China and India are still the most enthusiastic about their devices, and more than 80% of consumers in these markets feel that their devices make them a better person. However, in more built-up markets like the UK, US, and Spain, anywhere between 39% and 47% feel that mobile devices are more of a distraction than something that makes them a better person. In Germany, 62% of consumers feel that their devices are a distraction.