The Five Colossal Mistakes You Should Avoid with a Cellphone

We all know that cellphones are great! This is because they keep us in touch with friends and family and can help in an emergency. Sadly, for those around us they can be irritating if not used considerately. Did you know that your phone doesn’t have to be on all the time? Did you know that you don’t always have to answer it immediately? Did you know that if you learn to use your phone’s features to take care of the times when your phone would be interfering with others if it rang and you answered it.

Today I will share with you 5 mistakes in cellphone etiquette. They are all about being resilient and avoid getting caught up in the euphoria of this technical gadget. But first I want to share with you some statistics that you may not know. Did you know that;

• According to Forbes magazine, 84% of working professionals believe texting or sending emails during a formal business meeting is highly improper and impolite.
• Cell phone addiction is real; don’t be a part of the 72% of people who won’t move five feet from their phone.
• According to an article in Psychology Today, 40% of the American population suffers from this addiction. On top of this, 58% of men and 47% of women suffer from Nomophobia, which is the fear of being without a smartphone.
• A NetworkWorld study conducted showed that 91% of the Gen-Ys took their phones to the bathroom to use it.
• Studies reveal 80% of 18- to 24-year-olds sleep with their phones right next to them. And, the first and the last thing they do after waking up and before going to sleep is to check their phones.
• According to recent research from dscout (a software company in Chicago), people tap, swipe, and click an average of 2,617 times per day. That’s approximately 1 million touches per year and 2.42 hours of phone screen time per day.
• According to the ‘Teens and technology’ report, children comprise one of the largest consumer groups of technology. A recent study by the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center found that by fifth grade, 40% of children have cell phones.
• Another report stated that 63% of people who use these gadgets before their bedtime have stated that they did not get proper sleep during the week.

Now the mistakes in cellphone etiquette;

1. You need to be in control of your phone, not letting the phone control you.
2. Speak with a soft voice and be careful with your language while speaking in public.
3. Respect the people you are with by looking at their faces in conversation, not your phone.
4. If you phone must be on, use the silent mode to avoid disturbing others.
5. Be aware of what you are doing, you time and your life is valuable. In other words, while driving you don’t need to be talking or researching anything.

Above all remember what American business, civic, and religious leader Spencer W. Kimball stated; “Love people, not things; use things, not people.”