Mobile phones spark love-hate relationship

3 Dec 2012, 1:42 pm   -   Source: AAP
Americans have a love-hate relationship with their mobile phones, a new survey reveals. (AAP)

Americans have a love-hate relationship with their mobile phones, a new survey reveals. (AAP)

Americans have a love-hate relationship with their mobile phones, a new survey reveals.

Americans love them, and hate them. And many say they can't imagine living without their mobile phones.

A new survey reveals the mixed emotions people feel about their devices, with many saying they use the phones to save time, but worry about spending too much time using them.

The Pew Internet Project survey found that 67 per cent of mobile phone owners find themselves checking their phone for messages, alerts, or calls, even when they don't notice their phone ringing or vibrating.

It found 44 per cent have slept with their phone next to their bed because they wanted to make sure they did not miss important calls or messages, and 29 per cent of owners describe their phone as "something they can't imagine living without."

Yet many in the survey also reported the negative impact of being constantly available: 11 per cent of mobile phone owners said they worry that they are spending too much time on their phone, and 12 per cent said people they know tell them that they are spending too much time using their phone.

Additionally, 39 per cent of those with mobile phones said they receive complaints when they fail to respond promptly to calls or messages.

The survey found 65 per cent of mobile phone owners say their phone has made it a lot easier to stay in touch with the people they care about but nine per cent say using the phones makes it harder to disconnect from work life.

The survey found about 15 per cent of adults do not own a mobile phone at all, mostly because they feel they don't need one. Just one in five non-adopters say that cost is the main reason.

It found 40 per cent of adults who own a mobile phone have not yet upgraded to a smartphone, with economics being a major factor for one-third of those.

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