Lost Cell Phones Cripple Social Lives

At least, that's what over half the respondents in a new survey reported. Many would also compare it to getting a cavity filled or breaking up with a significant other.

While avid cell phone users go through everyday life calling, texting, taking pictures, making notes to themselves and storing hundreds of contacts using their phones, it’s no surprise that few like to think about what happens when that magic little box disappears. Market Tools Inc. recently conducted a survey (commissioned by a cell phone backup company) that revealed just how attached many of us are.

For one, many users reported that losing their phone would be far more painful than having a cavity filled or breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend. Over half said their social lives would suffer as a result of the loss.

Part of the reason could be that 67 percent of cell users had no backup of their contact information, leaving them out of touch as soon as that fragile digital address book bites the dust. But a broken phone might even be considered fortunate compared to a lost or stolen phone, since 73 percent of cell users reported keeping sensitive text messages on their phones, and 31 percent have sensitive pictures they wouldn’t want others to see.

One helpful revelation from the survey that could help prevent a future loss: 19 percent of all respondents who had previously lost a phone reported that it happened at a bar, restaurant, club or party, making these places hotspots for phone loss. In other words, put your phone away when the alcohol is flowing, and you’ll have much better odds of hanging on to it.