UQ Diaries
Are you addicted to your phone?
Welcome back to UQ Diaries, an anonymous Contact magazine series that dives into the burning questions you've always wanted to ask.
Each month, we'll explore life's juiciest topics, from money to relationships, education and everything in between. At our heart, our mission is simple: to give your voice a chance to be heard.
In November, we posed the following question to our UQ community:
Are you addicted to your phone? Why or why not? If you're game, let us know your screen time!
The results are in!
This month, 67% of the UQ community who responded said they were addicted to their phone. Many of these respondents expressed that their phones were a way to escape from the every day hustle and bustle. They were also drawn to their phones as a way to connect to the community, both through social media and news sources.
The screen time that our alumni categorised as unhealthy varied massively. Some of our alumni said that they were addicted with 2 hours of phone use, while others noted they were on their phones nearly 14 hours a day.
Some common reasons included:
- Phones are convenient: many said their phones offered unparalleled convenience, being only a tap away from maps, email, payments and more.
- Fear of missing out: some feared that if they disconnected from their phones, they would be missing out on what their friends were doing and what was happening in the world generally.
Alternatively, 31% of respondents said they were not addicted to their phones. Several told us they were making conscious efforts to limit phone usage. This included actively trying to disconnect from technology and incorporating screen-free time into their days.
Interestingly, many of these alumni still admitted to having high screen times. They said that the distinction between being addicted and not addicted is feeling comfortable without your phone at all. This same ideology was shared by those who believed they were addicted.
Read on to see what some members of the UQ community said in more detail (note: some submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity).
Yes, I'm addicted!
Age: 23
Degree: Bachelor of Science
Occupation: Museum professional
City / Town: Brisbane
Yes – almost 6 hours (includes social media, maps and some work stuff, like emails).
I get anxious if I don’t know what’s happening with my friends and family. Like, if I delete social media, I will miss something. I also just need to have the input in my brain!
Age: 48
Degree: Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
Occupation: Teacher
City / Town: Brisbane
More and more. Just over the past few months, I’ve found myself reaching for my phone and checking social media accounts more as a compulsive habit, rather than need.
I ask my students to put their phones in their bags during class, but I’m just as bad as them. First thing I do when I finish class is check emails, notifications and threads, before I even pack away the lesson materials of the day. I don't like this one bit and it's starting to feel like it’s a problem. But, I hate having emails build up, which is why I check and cull often.
Age: 59
Degree: Bachelor of Music
Occupation: Singer and vocal coach
City / Town: Marbella
Yes, I have to admit that I am because I know I would feel like something is missing if my phone wasn't there. I don't know my actual screen time stats, but my phone is pretty much always with me all day, and I check it regularly from first thing in the morning until I go to bed (although I do generally switch it off at night unless I need the alarm function to be on).
It's not good to see primary school-aged kids through to retirees addicted to phones, even in a social setting! Why does it hook us in so much?
Age: 26
Degree: Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
Occupation: Software engineer
City / Town: Brisbane
Am I addicted to my phone? Yes. The phone is an impulsive escape from the situation or moment at hand; less cognitive effort than the task to complete. I’ve been getting better at ignoring the urge until it disappears. Switching off the phone and putting it in another room helped.
My screen time has reduced from 8 hours to about 4 hours a day on average over the last 2 months. There is a lower limit because of work/hobbies, but also significant room for improvement.
Age: 52
Degree: Bachelor of Arts (Digital and Media Cultures)
Occupation: Writer, volunteer and board director
City / Town: Brisbane
If I am honest, yes, I am addicted to my phone as a matter of convenience. Google-addiction for maps, search, email and diary. Apple-addiction for tickets, payments, identification, government interfaces. It is boring but unavoidable.
I am now finding myself withdrawing more and more from social media participation. It took me 7 months to retrain myself to leave the phone in other rooms of the house and it will be okay. Last week's daily average screen time was 4 hours and 20 minutes. This mostly included socials, followed by meditation apps, Spotify and Gmail.
Age: 73
Degree: Bachelor of Social Work
Occupation: Accredited mental health social worker in private practice
City / Town: Brisbane
I believe I am. My addiction 'clicks' in quite late at night when I should be getting into bed. I read all the news outlets, seeking updates on what's happening both in Australia and around the world. Once I have read all the latest news events, I can often be tempted to trawl through Facebook and Instagram to check out what's happening with people I know. I can get lost in these activities and can spend up to 4 hours a night on my iPhone. I believe it's a means of winding down from the day, but it seems to have developed into addictive behaviour. I'm working on diminishing this behaviour, particularly given that it's impacting my sleep.
Phone addict? Not me!
Age: 31
Degree: PhD student
Occupation: Writer and editor
City / Town: Brisbane
I am a radical embracer of the screen-free movement! I make sure I incorporate mindful screen-free time in my day, particularly while commuting.
I have limited apps on my phone, and use it to make calls, send texts and emails, listen to music and audiobooks, take photos and Google search on the go – that's it! By keeping my screen use minimal, I find I spend no more than 30 minutes a day on my phone. As a writer, editor and PhD student, however, I am often on my laptop screen 6 to 8 hours a day, sometimes up to 10. I have a neurological condition that causes sensory issues and migraines, so I am very strict on having time away from all screens, especially the phone, on weekends. It's amazing what you notice, how creative you can be, and what rewarding experiences you can have when you put the phone down and simply look up.
Age: 30
Degree: Bachelor of Occupational Health and Safety Science (Honours)
Occupation: Risk and security advisor
City / Town: Brisbane
Not addicted to my phone, more like chained to it! Mobile devices are necessary for work, socialising, entertainment, planning, organising and booking things, banking, etc. It's pretty hard to function in today's world without a device. If it's not my phone, it's my surface. I work entirely on a surface now, and also have a surface for my home computer. I spend upwards of 12 hours a day on smart devices, including for work, and up to 18 hours depending on the day.
Tech-free holidays are so peaceful. I'm never missing my devices, so it doesn't seem like an addiction to me – just forced to use it to complete my function in society.
Age: 26
Degree: Veterinary Technology
Occupation: Veterinary technician
City / Town: Brisbane
I average between 3.5 to 5 hours a day on my phone. Doom scrolling has absolutely taken over our spare time or become the new procrastination tool. I have roughly 15 unread messages yet I don't answer them because I'm too 'busy' scrolling through pointless content.
For me, it's a distraction from real life. It's an easy tool for my brain to switch off from reality. I wouldn't say I'm addicted, I could easily leave my phone at home while I'm out. I'm more addicted to the 'mind-numbingness' of it, but that could easily be replaced by a gaming console. Is it the phone people are addicted to or the applications? Or is it the social interaction (messaging/texting/calling)?
Age: 24
Degree: Bachelors of Communication / Journalism
Occupation: Marketing and communications professional
City / Town: Melbourne
Definitely not. I have a high screen time but I believe this is due to my job and my need to stay up to date on current events.
My screen time on average is 6 hours a day. I don’t believe I am addicted as I view my phone purely as a communication and information tool. I frequently do a weekend day without any screen time.
Age: 29
Degree: Master of Educational Studies
Occupation: Teacher, tutor and business owner
City / Town: Melbourne
I’m not addicted, but I use it quite a lot. I do make conscious efforts to get off it, but so much of life revolves around it.
Seven hours and 45 minutes is my current average screen time per day.
Age: 72
Degree: Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical)
Occupation: Automation engineer and safety professional
City / Town: Brisbane
Definitely not. My average screen time is a few minutes daily, although I do sometimes play music on a train or when driving in remote areas. My phone is not part of my life – it is a tool to be used if I require to make contact. When I'm not at work it isn't usually with me – it's sitting on a desk or bench somewhere. Why? When I'm on a train and watching everyone staring fixedly at a small screen, I see the seeds of the end of our species. People who can no longer dare to have quiet time, or time to daydream, and always have to be receiving thoughts from someone else.
We would love to hear your perspectives for the next edition of UQ Diaries: holiday traditions edition.
What's your family's weird or unique holiday tradition? Do you love it or hate it?
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