Cell phones play a central role in Americans\u2019 digital lives\u2014linking them with friends, family and information, but occasionally serving as a distraction or annoyance<\/i> <\/b><\/p>\n\n
Many are devoted to their devices, but express ambivalence about the demands of constant connectivity<\/i> <\/b><\/p>\n\n
WASHINGTON (November 30, 2012) \u2013 Some 85% of American adults now own a cell phone, and these mobile devices now play a central role in many aspects of their owners\u2019 lives according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center\u2019s Internet & American Life Project. For many cell owners, their phone is an essential utility that they check frequently, keep close at all times, and would have trouble functioning without:<\/p>\n\n
Despite this connection to their devices, most cell owners don\u2019t worry too much (or get many complaints from their friends) about spending too much time with their phones:<\/p>\n\n
Indeed, many cell owners hear complaints from friends that they don\u2019t devote enough<\/i> time to monitoring their mobile communications:<\/p>\n\n \u201cIn a nutshell, this is the modern dilemma: There is pronounced social pressure for people to stay connected and respond quickly to the incoming blizzard of contact from others. At the same time, many people wish they could disengage every once in a while,\u201d said Aaron Smith, Research Associate and lead author of the report. \u201cThe challenge is for people to manage their time and their contacts in a way that gives them oases of peace and quiet, without being so disconnected that they miss out on important social moments.\u201d<\/p>\n\n Overall, cell owners are far more likely to view their phone as a time-saver than as a time-waster. Some 33% of cell owners agree with the statement that their phone \u201csaves you time because they can always access the information you need,\u201d while just 3% agree with the statement that their phone \u201ccosts you time because you are constantly being distracted or interrupted.\u201d And when asked to assess the impact of their cell phone on various aspects of daily life, cell owners see some clear benefits\u2014particularly when it comes to maintaining connections to friends and family:<\/p>\n\n On the other hand, some users see a downside to cell ownership in the form of increased distractions and difficulty disconnecting from work life:<\/p>\n\n \u201cCell owners have become extremely attached and attuned to their phones, but many express ambivalence about that attachment,\u201d said Smith. \u201cThey love\u2014and love to hate\u2014the convenience and connectivity their phones afford. Although most would say that the benefits outweigh the costs, they freely complain about the downsides of hyper-connectedness, with the heaviest mobile users being some of the most persistent grumblers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n When asked to describe in their own words what they like most about owning a cell phone, 17% of cell owners say that the best thing about their phone is that it is convenient; 12% say that they like the ability to call or talk with others at any time; and 11% like that they can get help in case of an emergency. When asked what they like least about owning a cell phone, 24% point to the fact that they are constantly available and can be reached at any time, 15% dislike the cost of cell phone ownership, and 12% cite problems with bad reception, poor signal, or dropped calls.<\/p>\n\n Yet even as cell phones have taken on an essential role in users\u2019 lives, some 15% of adults do not own a cell phone at all. When asked for the main reason why they do not have a cell phone, 38% of these non-adopters say that they don\u2019t need a cell phone or are happy with their existing landline service, while 11% say that they simply do not like cell phones or aren\u2019t interested in purchasing one. Some 21% of these non-adopters say that cost is the main reason why they do not own a cell phone.<\/p>\n\n For the 40% of adults who own a cell phone but have not yet upgraded to a smartphone, economic factors play a more significant role. Some 37% of non-smartphone owners cite cost as their main barrier to adoption, while 29% indicate that they have refrained from upgrading because they \u201cdon\u2019t need\u201d a more advanced phone, and 9% say that they have not upgraded because smartphones are too complicated and\/or they don\u2019t know how to use them.<\/p>\n\n The findings of the study are detailed in a new report entitled, \u201cThe Best (and Worst) of Mobile Connectivity\u201d. The report is based on a nationally representative telephone survey of 2,254 adults (including 1,954 cell phone owners) conducted between March 15-April 3, 2012. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish and on landline and cell phones. The margin of error for the full sample is plus or minus 2.4 percentage points.<\/p>\n\n About the Pew Research Center\u2019s Internet & American Life Project<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n
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