Brits are missing out on the big moments in life because they’re too busy trying to capture them on their mobile phones.
New research has revealed that four in ten say they have not truly experienced significant moments such as a child’s first steps or graduation because they were too busy taking pictures for social media.
Indeed, the study found one young mum missed her child’s first words because she was messing around with her phone and a student missed a crucial exam because he was engrossed in a game on his mobile phone.
The results have opened up a wider debate over how obsessed we have become with our mobile phones. The average adult says 19 hours is the longest he or she can be parted from their mobile phone before feeling “miserable” and over a third (36 per cent) admit to spending too much on their mobile, laptop or tablet.
Many Brits would be prepared to give up booze, sex and even going out for a month in place of mobile service/Wi-Fi. Some would even give up their friends for better service!
The poll of 2,000 UK adults was conducted by IntrepidTravel.com, which has launched a new range of four ‘digital detox’ adventures for people wanting to wean themselves off their dependence on technology.
Michael Edwards, UK managing director of Intrepid Travel, which has been taking people on adventure holidays for 27 years, said: “We have taken four of Intrepid Travel’s most popular tours and created one-off departures that are completely free from technology. This means no mobile phones, laptops, or cameras.
“On these trips to Ecuador, Thailand, Morocco or India, we want to give our travellers the chance to disconnect from their devices and experience a destination for real, not from behind a camera. Without all that time spent searching for Wi-Fi or updating Facebook, people will have a chance to connect with their fellow travellers, the local people and the destination itself.”
