Best of friends: These ladies are sharing headphones, but have their own visual diversions

 

Women are the worst culprits — using their phones for an average 23 minutes a day more than men. And the younger we are, the worse the condition gets. Adults between 18 and 24 spend four hours, 20 minutes a day on their smartphones. But even the over-55s — who grew up in that long-lost, magical land where people actually talked to each other — use them for two and a quarter hours a day.

Wherever we are — on holiday in the most dazzling surroundings on earth, with friends or even in the bath — nothing can rival the attraction of that ping signalling a new message, or the comforting buzz that means someone wants to get in touch with you.

Who knows what joy those messages might bring — George Clooney having realised he’s married the wrong woman is heading your way, or your Lottery numbers have come up? More likely, though, it’s an automated message trying to flog you PPI compensation, or someone you’ve never met using Twitter to send you a photo of their breakfast. But, in smartphoneworld, hope springs eternal.

‘Studies have shown how texts give us little blips of excitement, but never quite enough of it,’ says Lady Greenfield. ‘We compulsively, obsessively want more.’ Our phones are the dream companions who could turn modern life into a nightmare. Apparently, when we can’t sleep, half of us play with our phones. Whatever happened to a good book?

If we are parted from our phones, 80 per cent of us feel lost; particularly men, who find it so much easier to confide in a lump of metal than in another human being.

‘You hold your phone so close to your mouth and body; and now you put everything about yourself on it — selfies, your likes, your dislikes,’ says Lady Greenfield. ‘Phones have become an extension of ourselves.’

Easy rider: This cyclist is so confident he feels he doesn't need to look where he's going

Smartphones are the ultimate displacement activity. Seventy per cent of people turn to their phones when they’re on their own in a crowd, to make themselves look busier — 60 per cent have texted a friend in the same building rather than walking the few yards to see them.

Two-thirds of us, according to researchers, have found ourselves like zombies, using our phones without really knowing why; whipping them out as a reflex gesture.

Just like alcoholics, we know that the addiction is doing terrible things to us — that we’d be better off reverting to age-old human habits, such as being able to have a continuous conversation lasting more than three minutes. ‘The technology isn’t innately evil,’ says Lady Greenfield. ‘But it is very powerful and we must harness it as a means to an end. With other diversions — books, television — we put them aside and return to the real world.

‘With this, you can remain in a parallel world — dating, shopping, socialising. Do we want our children to be glassy-eyed and permanently transfixed by this technology, or do we want to harness its power for our benefit and return to the real world?’

Looking at these photos, you might feel it’s too late. Einstein (who was born in 1879, three years after the invention of the telephone) would surely be turning in his grave.

 

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Generation X
Born: 1966-1976
Coming of Age: 1988-1994
Age in 2004: 28 to 38
Current Population: 41 million

Sometimes referred to as the “lost” generation, this was the first generation of “latchkey” kids, exposed to lots of daycare and divorce. Known as the generation with the lowest voting participation rate of any generation, Gen Xers were quoted by Newsweek as “the generation that dropped out without ever turning on the news or tuning in to the social issues around them.”

Gen X is often characterized by high levels of skepticism, “what’s in it for me” attitudes and a reputation for some of the worst music to ever gain popularity. Now, moving into adulthood William Morrow (Generations) cited the childhood divorce of many Gen Xers as “one of the most decisive experiences influencing how Gen Xers will shape their own families”.

Gen Xers are arguably the best educated generation with 29% obtaining a bachelor’s degree or higher (6% higher than the previous cohort). And, with that education and a growing maturity they are starting to form families with a higher level of caution and pragmatism than their parents demonstrated. Concerns run high over avoiding broken homes, kids growing up without a parent around and financial planning.

Generation Y, Echo Boomers or Millenniums
Born: 1977-1994
Coming of Age: 1998-2006
Age in 2004: 10 to 22
Current Population: 71 million

The largest cohort since the Baby Boomers, their high numbers reflect their births as that of their parent generation..the last of the Boomer Is and most of the Boomer II s. Gen Y kids are known as incredibly sophisticated, technology wise, immune to most traditional marketing and sales pitches...as they not only grew up with it all, they’ve seen it all and been exposed to it all since early childhood.

Gen Y members are much more racially and ethnically diverse and they are much more segmented as an audience aided by the rapid expansion in Cable TV channels, satellite radio, the Internet, e-zines, etc.

Gen Y are less brand loyal and the speed of the Internet has led the cohort to be similarly flexible and changing in its fashion, style consciousness and where and how it is communicated with.

Gen Y kids often raised in dual income or single parent families have been more involved in family purchases...everything from groceries to new cars. One in nine Gen Yers has a credit card co-signed by a parent.

 

Generation Z
Born: 1995-2012
Coming of Age: 2013-2020
Age in 2004: 0-9
Current Population: 23 million and growing rapidly

While we don’t know much about Gen Z yet...we know a lot about the environment they are growing up in. This highly diverse environment will make the grade schools of the next generation the most diverse ever. Higher levels of technology will make significant inroads in academics allowing for customized instruction, data mining of student histories to enable pinpoint diagnostics and remediation or accelerated achievement opportunities.

Gen Z kids will grow up with a highly sophisticated media and computer environment and will be more Internet savvy and expert than their Gen Y forerunners. More to come on Gen Z...stay tuned.

Recommended video:

1) Look up ( A generation of idiots, smartphones & dumb people).

'Look Up' is a lesson taught to us through a love story, in a world where we continue to find ways to make it easier for us to connect with one another, but always results in us spending more time alone. I don't want you to stop using social media or smartphones. It's about finding a balance. It's about making sure you are awake, alive and living life in the moment; instead of living your life through a screen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7dLU6fk9QY