Consumer Mobile Habits and the COVID-19 Pandemic
Consumer Crave
As the world continually develops technologically, we as consumers crave the best and newest products on the market. Once we purchase the item, we are indefinitely going to use it. Every year we encounter new products, and the numbers increase drastically as the years go on. In the world, we have been more technologically dependent, which then in turn causes an increase in time spent on these devices. We were presented a graph in class about the increase in time spent on mobile devices in the United States from 2014-2021. Through this graph, we are able to analyze the trend increase. In 2014, the average time spent on a mobile device averaged 152 minutes. Fast forward to 2021, the average amount of time spent on mobile devices has increased to 234 minutes (Daley).
A graph presented to us in class to show the average increase in minutes spent on our phones from 2014 to now.
Mobile Phone Use
Most activity that consumers partake in begins on a mobile device. Whether this action is online shopping or purchasing flights through an app, we as consumers tend to continue this action on a PC or tablet. Yet, we still increase our screen time by starting off on our mobile devices.
Screentime
As we expand more on this topic, the COVID-19 pandemic is something to consider when discussing screen time. With stay-at-home mandates in effect during the early stages of the pandemic, screen time significantly went up in users. From personal experience, I feel as if I became more dependent on my phone while being home during this time. Additionally, it is important to mention the rise of TikTok during this time early in the pandemic. My screen time during the pandemic, no doubt in my mind, was close to ten or twelve hours per day. Whereas now, I average roughly 6 hours per day.
What the Doctor’s are Saying…
Increase in mobile habits overtime have additionally raised concerns from Ophthalmologist’s in the world. An ophthalmologist is simply an eye doctor. In this article from Healio News, the author discusses statistics of increasing cases of myopia, or near-sightedness. The highest peak in increase is in East Asia, ‘where more than 90% of teenagers and young adults are shortsighted. In the United States, prevalence has doubled, from 20% to 40%, in the past 3 decades” (Cimberle). Further in the article, they state that myopia has decreased by over 50% in children who are outdoors at least 11 hours per week. The method of using blue light glasses has been beneficial for some, but the use of them is not wide enough to stop the problem at hand.
This graph from EyeSafe shows us the immediate increase in screen time since the initial impact of COVID-19
My Screen time is WHAT?!
After the initial impact of COVID-19, 13+ hours per day are spent on screens. Since the pandemic hit specifically, screen time in adults has been between more than 60-80% more than pre-pandemic. Reading these stats alone is baffling, and just shows how dependent we as a society are becoming to our mobile devices (Pandya). This day in age, I feel as if I have somewhat of a void without my phone. From a personal level, my job is very dependent on constant communication about changes going on in our environment. If I did not have my phone, I do not think things would be as efficient as they are with constant communication.
As the stay-at-home mandate is lessening as we move as far away from 2020 as possible, I am more cautious about my screen time. I did see an insane increase in my screen time during the beginning of the pandemic but am more cautious about it now. I read my weekly report on my iPhone and try to gradually decrease my time every week. We as consumers fight the urge to use our mobile devices less and less, but in the ever-developing technological world we live in, it’s hard to escape the urge to scroll on TikTok for hours on end.
Kailey Lane
Citations
Cimberle, Michela. “Increased Digital Screen Time during COVID-19 May Accelerate Myopia Epidemic.” Healio, 20 Oct. 2020, https://www.healio.com/news/ophthalmology/20201014/increased-digital-screen-time-during-covid19-may-accelerate-myopia-epidemic.
Pandya, Apurvakumar, and Pragya Lodha. “Social Connectedness, Excessive Screen Time during COVID-19 and Mental Health: A Review of Current Evidence.” Frontiers, Frontiers, 1 Jan. 1AD, https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2021.684137/full#:~:text=The%20jump%20in%20screen%20time,80%25%20from%20before%20the%20pandemic.
Daley, Christopher. “Social Media + Digitial Marketing: Class 3 – Mobile”