Mobile phone
One in three people would not give up their mobile phone for a 'million pounds or more'

Young adults opt for mobiles over all else

No sex please, we're mobile users

Ian Williams

Most young adults in the UK would rather give up alcohol, chocolate, sex, tea or coffee than live without their mobile phone for a month.

The results form part of the Mobile Life 2007 report produced by Carphone Warehouse in conjunction with the London School of Economics

Advertisement

The study was based on an online survey of 1,256 adults aged 16-64 as well as an ethnographic experiment depriving 24 people of their mobile phones for a week.

One in three people would not give up their mobile phone for a 'million pounds or more', and women lead the way of those most likely to refuse.

Among the 16-24 group, 22 per cent would want more than a million pounds to sacrifice their phone compared to an average of 16 per cent. A further 16 per cent said that they would not give it up at any price.

However, 20 per cent of young adults aged between 16-24 feel that a mobile phone actually decreases their quality of life.

The most common reasons cited were 'work can contact you anytime', followed by people leaving arrangements until the last minute and mobiles making people a target for crime.

In comparison, 28 per cent of those aged 25-34 singled out 'sex' as the one thing they would not want to give up for a month.

As a whole, it seems that the UK is a nation of caffeine junkies, as the majority would rather give up sex, chocolate, alcohol and their mobile phone than a nice cup of tea or coffee.

"The results of the survey and ethnographic video diaries for Mobile Life highlight the complex relationships that people have with their mobile phones [involving] feelings of choice versus control," said Tristia Clarke, group marketing director at Carphone Warehouse.

The ethnographic experiment was filmed by participants in video diary format, revealing the effects of their experiences ranging from 'absolute freedom' to 'lack of control'.

The survey showed clearly that living without a mobile phone affects people in different ways; some participants reported feeling lost, isolated and frustrated, while others felt free from life's pressures.

What people would least like to give up, if given the choice (percentage):

  • Have your say
  • Send to a friend
  • Print
  • Digg
  • Reddit
  • Share

Tags:

Do you agree?

Further reading

Apple iPhone

EU operators bemoan Apple's iPhone arrogance

Demands leave operators 'adamant that they will never offer the iPhone'

Analysts question iPhone battery boost

Technological breakthrough unlikely, say experts

Nokia showcases three mid-range phones

All for one and one for all

T-Mobile denies blocking VoIP firm

'Complete red herring', says mobile giant

Related whitepapers

Related jobs

Most watched

Xperia X1

Video Review: Sony Ericsson Xperia X1

First Looks Editor Ian Williams gets hands on with the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1

iPhone

Video Review: iPhone 3GS

We put Apple's latest iPhone through its paces

IT white papers

Search white papers

Top categories

Poll

Poll: Summer smartphones

Poll: Summer smartphones

Which smartphone will you be taking to the beach this summer?

View poll results

Advertisement

Advertisement

Newsletter signup

Sign up for our range of FREE newsletters:

Existing User

Newsletter user login:

Enter email address to edit your newsletter preferences

Job of the week

Search thousands of IT jobs :

Search thousands of IT jobs:

Advanced search

Hiring now on ComputingCareers:

Related IT jobs

Search thousands of IT jobs :

Search thousands of IT jobs:

Advanced search

Spotlight

a padlock

Microsoft to plug security holes

Microsoft has given advance warning of a number of security...

Nokia handset

Top 10 articles, 10 July 09

No Nokia Android phone, ActiveX attacks and Google enters into...

Can Google beat Microsoft at its own game?

Google's announcement this week that it plans to step into...

iPhone

Video Review: iPhone 3GS

We put Apple's latest iPhone through its paces

Primary Navigation