CV How Long Can You Go Without Your Cellphone?
How many days could you go without your cell phone? Really think about it. 24 hours? 36 hours? A full three days? Well, the results are in and it turns out most people in the United States cannot be without their device for over 48 hours. Including Idahoans. According to a survey of over 3000 Americans, GearHungry.com calculated the average time people in various states could go without their cell phone.
While two days may not seem like a long time, take a minute to think of the panic induced when you’ve forgotten your cell phone at home and you’re in the car headed somewhere without it. Our phones have become an extension of us and the unsettling feeling of being without our devices is a commonality we all share.
Coeur D’Alene native Julie Bernstein, 39, mother of 2 says her cellphone is her lifeline.
“I have peace of mind knowing I can be reached no matter where I am at all times in case of an emergency. Being a single mom— that’s everything.” It certainly feels like another time when we would leave the house without a communication device and make plans to meet with people that were definitive before being able to constantly check in with one another or change plans.
Hayden Lake resident John Elkstrom, 57, recalls life prior to mobile technology. “Before cell phones you didn’t have the option to be a flake. If you said you were going to be somewhere you were going to be there otherwise someone was going to be there waiting for you and have no idea what was going on.”
Studies show that since the pandemic cell phone usage has increased. This is no mystery. With more people at home than ever before it makes sense that technology use has become more prevalent. Ziff Media Group conducted a survey of cellphone users during the pandemic in August and found that the majority of use was messaging at 54%. This statistic was followed by internet browsing at 45%, followed by phone calls at 40%, social media at 27% and news at 25%. Streaming came in low as people at home had bigger devices to watch shows from. It is remarkable that a device originally intended for simplified communication has become a tool for so much more. It seems unfathomable that a mere 30 years ago our lives were not dominated by these powerful pocket computers and yet now it is hard to imagine living without them.
“Social media is probably where I spend most of my screen time,” Olivia Larson, 17, shares. “Tik Tok has been a great outlet for my depression during the pandemic. It’s been a way to escape but also connect with others going through the same thing.”
Coeur d’Alene Idaho in particular has not had to deal with the effects of lockdowns the pandemic has caused in other locations. Where many others had no choice but to turn to technology to break up the boredom, citizens of Coeur d’Alene have been able to go about business as usual with local restaurants open, retail stores fully operational and outdoor activities readily available. So for those 2 days without phones, North Idahoans might be found hiking Tubbs Hill, enjoying a burger at a local joint or shopping downtown. In fact I would like to personally challenge all readers to see how long they can go without using a cell phone and to write the press about the experiment. What will you discover? Where will you go? Who will you meet? There are so many opportunities for connection and spontaneity and magic in the day to day that perhaps are missed or overlooked due to 24/7 access to technology. Maybe a break is exactly what we need—a day or two to clear our thoughts and connect with friends and family meaningfully. To stop and smell the flowers so to speak. While for many in America digital calls are the only option for these interactions, here in Coeur D’Alene we have the unique opportunity to give this experience a chance. So how long will you last? Can you beat the 2 day average?
