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…
