Help! I think I'm an iPhone addict!

Have you ever wondered how much time you spend on your mobile device every day?

According to my iPhone, I spent almost 13 hours a day on mobile device last week. If I were to do this all the way to the end of the year - I would spend almost half of the year on my phone!

It's a bit of a shocker. But at the same time, I didn't even notice that I'm glued to my phone half of the day.

Am I not being mindful enough? Could it be because we're all stuck at home and the only place we can interact is online? When I think about it more, I'm no longer surprised because my day actually begins and ends with using my phone.

Multifunctional device

Over the past years, Apple products like iPhone have become the most important part of my daily routine. My mobile phone is more than just a “bestie”. It has become an extension of me - a lifeline providing anything and everything I need to accomplish.

It is a multifunctional device that I rely heavily on. It's my alarm clock, watch, weather guide, camera, video recorder, and so much more. (Don't worry, I haven't reached the state of experiencing anxiety attacks or phobia when I don't have my phone with me.)

nomophobia: No MObile PHone PhoBIA or the fear of being without your phone

Morning

The alarm from my phone starts the day for me. The moment I open my eyes, I open the Facebook messenger app. This is my most used app since I moved to Canada to study because I want to stay connected with my family and friends in the Philippines. The fastest, most convenient, and most accessible means to communicate with them is through the app. I can easily leave a voice message, send a chat, or make a video call. It is now possible to have someone sitting right in front of us, on the screen of our gadget, even if they are on the other side of the world. No international charges needed, just internet connection.

Next on my list to check are my Gmail and Outlook inboxes. I want to be notified about feedback regarding my applications for internships, part-time jobs, and school-related announcements.

Afternoon

Taking up Digital Media Marketing means being online most of the time - shifting from mobile to desktop. I access George Brown College's Blackboard and Microsoft Teams days before the lecture because I want to stay on top of the module requirements for each class. For a seamless experience, I downloaded the apps on my phone so that wherever I am, I can check if there are updates in the module or messages from the professors. However, I’m a bit disappointed with the Blackboard app because I'm not able to access the rubric for submitted assignments. Feedback and grade details from the instructor can only be viewed using a browser.

After class, I give myself time to unwind, relax, and catch up with the world. I check my LinkedIn account because I want to expand my network. I share content, send, and approve invites. I used to be on Facebook a lot, but since the pandemic started, I spend more time on Instagram after discovering several small businesses on the platform. I want to support it because I appreciate how it transitioned from a photo-sharing app to an e-commerce platform that empowers and provides a community for small businesses at the height of the pandemic. It also challenges my creativity. I want to share content using its new features like reels.

Evening

I end the day with entertainment and music because I want to feed my soul. My go-to apps are Netflix, Spotify, and YouTube. I recently opted out of Spotify's premium service, and honestly, got irritated with the ads popping up and limiting your control of the playlist. I shifted to YouTube and just finished listening to Adele’s newest album, "30", while writing this blog. (The songs made me cry like a baby!)

Before I tuck myself into bed, I usually make a video call with my 7-yr old niece (who’s turning 8 in a few days) just to say good night. Since it's most likely morning or afternoon in the Philippines, I tend to stay up late because I want to chat or talk to friends via messenger.

Finding my way

Another app that is handy and very reliable for an international student like me is the Google Maps. It provides real-time traffic and public transport updates, as well as information about establishments near me. I use it because I want to easily and confidently find my way around, and know the fastest routes to and from my destination.

Then & Now

We now seem to have the world at our fingertips, thanks to technological advances and innovations. With just one click, nod, or voice command, a wide range of services, products, and activities are accessible through our mobile phones or smart phones. But this was not the case in the '90s.

I remember that we had to wait for weeks to receive a call or letter from my Dad who worked on a cruise ship that traveled around Europe. Kindle didn't exist yet, so I read hard-bound books. I went to the library for research instead of "Googling" it, rented VHS tape because Netflix has not yet ventured into a streaming platform, and used a rotary phone or phone booth.

I belong to the 1.8 billion millennials in the world - the largest generation of adults. We grew up in a time when technology gave birth to laptops, iPods, iPhones, iPads, Macs, the internet, as well as social media. We saw how it evolved and changed the world, and nurtured it to what it is today.

Our mobile phones have become an integral part of our lives. But this dependency and reliability are determined by how these online platforms and devices perform - do they address the micro-moments of the user? Do they deliver their proposed value or relevance? Do they easily adapt to the needs of the end user for both mobile and desktop devices?

Using the Blackboard app as an example, for a digital marketer, the app should be able to provide the same experience one derives from a web browser. For devices and apps to continue thriving, the customers should be the guide in curating and revising apps and phone features to ensure optimal customer experience that is high quality and user-friendly.

My takeaway

"Show me what your phone apps are, and I'll tell you who you are."

Remember the saying - tell me who your friends are and I tell you who you are?

In the digital world we're in, the apps in our smart phones, tablets, or any other gadget clearly reflect our priorities and choices in life. Spending too much time on it may be beneficial to some, and harmful to others. In my case, it's my way of compensating for the distance and time away from my family and friends. But I have to be more mindful. We all do. We should remind ourselves that time spent on these apps and gadgets means we're giving up something else.

These devices should not hinder us from pursuing and creating face-to-face connections. Rather, these should be used as leverage, tools to foster more open communication, unity, inclusivity, empathy, understanding, and community-building.

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