WITH Valentine’s Day just around the corner, new research shows that Australians are letting their smartphone get in the way of romance.
The national study released today shows that nearly a quarter of Australians have played second fiddle to a smartphone on a first date, with their prospective partner switching their attention to their digital device.
Thirty per cent of Australians say they have had an issue with their partner tuning out during an important conversation to turn to their smartphone while one in 10 admit they have even grabbed their smartphone during an intimate moment.
One in 10 Australians admit to reaching their smartphones during an intimate moment. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied
Social research Mark McCrindle said the findings of the Intel Security study showed how we are still struggling to come to terms with technology etiquette in the age of the all-powerful smartphone.
“The phone is the universal device now. It is the toolkit for life, for everything from communications to social interaction to navigation, the calculator, the translator, the alarm clock, the work tool and the communication device. It’s all in one,” Mr McCrindle said.
“It’s little surprise it’s become so central in our lives and indeed indispensable. That’s why it’s more an issue now than with any other technology that we’ve had.
“The addictions of these devices and the reliance we place on them is pretty strong and so it does cause those relational issues. It’s easy to get distracted from the person in front of us by the device.
“Because it’s less than a decade old, this all-consuming device that we carry, we haven’t worked out what the etiquette is. As a society, we’re still working our way through all of that.”
The examples of how the smartphone etiquette has broken all the rules came during the recent Pokemon Go obsession, when people were turning to social media to share photos of them playing the augmented reality game at funerals.
Australians spend the equivalent of 38 days on their phone each year. Picture: News CorpSource:News Limited
The Intel Security study of 1200 Australians found more than a third of people have argued with friends or family about their smartphone use.
Another survey out today, conducted by Huawei, shows that Australians spend the equivalent of 38 days on their phone each year, with 74 per cent of men admitting to having their phone at hand all day ahead of 60 per cent of women.
Jon Dixon, and fiance Vanessa Klopsch, avoid their phones on date night except for selfies.Source:Supplied
Melbourne couple Jon Dixon, 34, and Vanessa Klopsch, 32, of Camberwell, said although they found their smartphones indispensable they had unwritten rules in their relationship about smartphone use.
“There’s nothing ruder than someone having their phone on the table, especially if you’re in a middle of a date,” Vanessa said.
“I think people don’t realise how rude it really is. It’s almost like bringing in a third person that isn’t welcome.”
When it comes to couple time, one of the acceptable uses of their phones is a date selfie together.
And the other golden rule of smartphone use is when they go to the pub with friends _ the first person to check their phone has to buy the first round.
Smartphones are getting in the way of romance. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied
Australians and their smartphones
•14 per cent of Aussie couples set a rule banning smartphone use in bed.
•One in ten say they have an issue of how their partner uses their smartphone while driving.
•45 per cent of women say their partner is sometimes more interested in their smartphone than them, compared with 35 per cent of men who have felt that way.
•Nearly half of people aged 25-34 say they have had to compete for attention on a date with a smartphone.
