Both the operating systems iOS and Android have just rolled out new functions that show our phone usage. A really popular theme nowadays is to have more insight in how much we are all using our cellphones. It seems that tech companies are taking more and more responsibility on how we are using our phones.
But what is actually being shown in these dashboards? It shows us both how much and how we are using our phones. Also there is the possibility to set limits on our usage. The intention behind this is to prevent us from excessively using our phones. It is now possible to exactly see how many hours and minutes one has used his or her device, how many notifications came but especially: on which apps the most time has been spent.
It is a good development that these companies try to take care of its customers not getting (too?) addicted to their cellphones. However, the remaining question is if it really makes a different if there’s the possibility to use such dashboards as just mentioned.
As a professor at Radboud University has explained: probably adults will first be shocked about their own usage, however later on this shock will decrease for the most part. Some people will actually change their smartphone usage behavior, but the most people will just keep using their device as they did before.
What I found most interesting about the development however was the advice of a specialist on uncontrolled addiction, namely he mentioned the importance of speaking about using the phone in regard to parents that are raising their kids. He gave the advice to start speaking about this subject even before the children turn five. The parents have to speak with their kids about smartphone usage just like table manners.
This is definitely evolution that has to do with the time we live in, in which electronical devices are being available for everyone from all age ranges. It absolutely sheds light on how fast a technology can be involved in even the culture of educating children, especially when keeping in mind that the first smartphone only has been released about 20 years ago, when I was just being able to walk. Time goes fast, especially for technology…
Hi Emiel, nice post!
Like you said, I think it’s a very good development that these companies are getting more concerned about our Phone usage. Though I’m wondering if this function is really going to tackle addictive use of phones or tablets. A couple weeks ago I saw this function for the first time. I woke up, checked my Phone and this message popped up and told me that I had an average screen time of 3.5 hours. I was like: Who cares?! Leave me alone. I do think though that this function will have benefits for parents as this function will enable parents to monitor their children Phone usage and perhaps impose some restrictions to it. Especially nowadays where children at the age of 8 are already getting a Phone or tablet for Christmas. Overall, I think it’s a good initiative of both companies.
Hi Emiel, thank you for sharing this post! I am definitely one of the people who was surprised and even a little shocked by the amount of time I tend to spend on my phone. But to be honest Apple and Google are making it easier for consumers to cut back on phone use because it is in their interest to do so. What’s good for the user is also good for these companies’ bottom lines. Apple and Google don’t want you to get addicted. Addiction is a compulsive harmful behavior. Rather, they’d prefer you form healthy habits with your digital devices.
People in the modern world want to use their phones less and tech companies play with that: Apple and Google took note of what consumers wanted and decided to incorporate these features as standard—just as car makers did with seat belts in the 1950s. They also went beyond what app makers can do by adding features only the operating system makers can offer, like batch notifications to reduce the frequency of intraday interruptions.