Skip to main content

Surprise! We’re supremely dependent on our smartphones

Bank of America has finally confirmed what we’ve known all along — Americans are collectively in a codependent (or rather, just dependent) relationship with their smartphones. As per the results of the company’s third annual Trends in Consumer Mobility Report, Bank of America found that consumers have displayed an “overwhelming reliance on devices to navigate everyday life,” and moreover, that mobile devices have only increased their impact “on our closest relationships and daily interactions, which many admit is most often with their smartphone.” So sure, we may be more connected than ever, but it’s probably to that five-inch screen rather than to any sentient being.

According to the financial institution, millennials (defined here as those between the ages of 18 and 34) are by far the most dependent upon their smartphones, with 39 percent interacting with their mobile devices more than anything or anyone else. But even older Americans display similar behavior — in fact, 15 percent are twice as likely to be interacting with their smartphone than with their children. Yikes.

Recommended Videos

Indeed, part of our dependency upon our mobile devices may be their relative ubiquity — well over half (59 percent) of consumers say they have more than one mobile device, and almost one in four note that they own at least three such devices. And while most Americans don’t seem thrilled by the fact that smartphones have dominated our lives, this hasn’t changed our behavior. This may be because most people think of themselves as the exception to the rule — 56 percent say that others are on their smartphones too much, but only 17 percent would say the same about themselves. 55 percent say they are mindful of their own mobile manners, but claim that only 18 percent of others are as polite.

And of course, so great is our love for our smartphones that separation from these devices leads to quite a bit of anxiety. Particularly among young millennials, being away from their smartphone leads to negative emotions like worry, boredom, and fear of missing out.

So what does this mean moving forward? According to 71 percent of survey respondents, “children under the age of 18 will communicate less in person over the next decade,” and separately, 39 percent of participants say they will only be shopping online or on their smartphone. And given that 61 percent of consumers say they’re likely to use emerging payment methods like mobile wallets, peer-to-peer payments, and other such technology for financial interactions, over time, we could also be looking at a cashless society.

For more trends, check out the full Bank of America report here.

Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
We’re finally getting a 4K OLED gaming monitor, and it’s coming soon
The Dough Spectrum Black 32-inch monitor over a grey background.

Dough has just unveiled an interesting monitor. The Spectrum Black is a 32-inch 4K OLED screen that also serves up 240Hz refresh rates. Those specs might make it one of the best gaming monitors in 2024, and it's not that far off, as it's slated for an April 2024 release. And, if the stars align, it looks like Dough's display might be the first of its kind to come out.

The monitor has a simple design, but it's the specs that make it stand out. On paper, it sounds like a solid gaming monitor, with 0.03ms gray-to-gray response times and the aforementioned high refresh rates. Locked in a 32-inch screen, it should provide sharp imagery and solid contrasts, as it's VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400-certified.

Read more
We’re lovin’ this official McDonald’s gaming chair — the McCrispy Ultimate
A yellow and black McCrispy gaming chair

Some lucky person in the U.K. is going to receive their very own McCrispy Ultimate gaming chair, courtesy of McDonald’s. According to Tom’s Hardware, the U.K. branch of McDonald’s revealed the chair on its Facebook page and announced that it is giving one away.

The stainproof chair is yellow and black and includes a fry holder and a sandwich warmer, according to the post. It also comes with slots for dips, you know, for your ketchup (or vinegar, in the case of British fry eaters).

Read more
We’re going to meet the Nothing Phone 1 on July 12
Carl Pei under Nothing Phone 1 logo.

Nothing, the technology company founded by OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei, will fully reveal its first smartphone on July 12. The Nothing Phone 1 is Nothing’s second product after the Nothing Ear 1 true wireless headphones, and it has already gathered considerable prerelease attention. The announcement of the date comes with a few additional details, but nothing new about the phone itself. However, the company has already shared a few snippets of information already.

Before we get to that, let’s confirm what we know about the event. It will take place in London on July 12, and there will be an accompanying livestream at 4 p.m. local time, which is 8 a.m. PT or 11 a.m. ET. The event's flyer shows the pixelated Phone 1 logo, plus the tagline Return to Instinct, which links to Nothing’s commitment to removing frustration from technology products, so it feels more like part of us.

Read more