Try to remember the last time you were in a public place and didn’t see anybody talking, texting, snapping photos or playing games on a mobile device. If you’re like most of us, it’s probably been quite a while! Mobile devices have adapted to our cultures and become as much a part of our lives as automobiles, televisions and microwave ovens – few of us would even think of leaving the house without our smartphone, cell phone or tablet.
How pervasive have mobile phones become? The following statistics from research conducted by the Pew Internet Project should shed some light:
- 90 percent of adults in the U.S. own a cell phone
- 58 percent of American adults are smartphone users
- 32 percent of people read books and publications on an e-reader device such as a Kindle or NOOK
- 42 percent of U.S. adults are tablet owners
And just how dependent have we become on these gadgets? Consider these intriguing Pew Internet Project stats:
- 67 percent of us routinely check our phones for messages even when they’re not ringing, chirping or vibrate
- 44 percent of us sleep with our powered-on phones next to our beds
- 29 percent of us state that we absolutely cannot imagine living without our mobile devices
Mobile Device Usage is a Global Phenomenon
Rampant mobile device usage isn’t restricted to the United States. According to figures supplied by The International Telecommunication Union, there were 7 billion mobile subscriptions worldwide as of May, 2014 — up from 5.9 billion 2011.
In other words, about 95.5 percent of the world’s population now has mobile device access. Mobile phone use is even becoming widespread in underdeveloped regions. For instance, mobile penetration in Africa has reached 69.3 percent, the lowest in the world.
Impact of Mobile Phone Technology
Mobile devices have changed our lives in many ways. It’s now easier to stay in touch with loved ones who may be thousands of miles away. They’ve also had a major impact on the economy. For example, we can make purchases, do our banking and pay our bills via our smartphones.
In underdeveloped nations, mobile devices now play a role in educating students who may be many miles away from a school. This also provides market prices to farmers in remote areas and supplies vital health information to citizens in impoverished regions.
Make no mistake: mobile phones have changed the way we live, work and play. However, the rise of mobile devices also means that more cell phones end up in landfills and damage the environment. To gain some cash for your old phone and to avoid hurting the environment, consider selling it to The Whiz Cells. Contact us today to learn more!