Why Do You Use Your Smartphone in Awkward or Boring Situations?

In eighth grade, I received my first phone from my parents. Actually, I had to share it with my sister and brother, so it was not officially mine, but I consider it to be my first phone. I went on to get an orange Motorola Razor, and not even a year later, I upgraded to an ENV3. For six years, I texted, called and loved the phone. When I first got the phone, the social trend of owning a smartphone had only just started. Within the next few years, I realized that I was basically the only one in my circle of friends to not own a smartphone. I still had the deteriorating ENV3.

For the first two years at my university, I went out to social events and meals taking my ENV3. While I was around my friends or anyone else, I noticed how people with smartphones are seemingly always on them. Whenever I was introduced to a new person and a break in conversation occurred, the individual would usually pull out his or her smartphone and use or play random apps or games. I felt as if a smartphone is used to make awkward situations less awkward. It can be used as an escape for people who do not want to just stand there with nothing to say.

The University of Colorado at Boulder conducted a survey about how often people use their smartphones in different situations. Two situations included: “during idle time at work or school (during breaks, lunch, boring meetings/classes, etc.)” and “Riding the bus, train, or in car as passenger (commute).” These two situations were chosen the most, and what I find interesting is that they are situations in which people may have the opportunity to talk to friends or people around them, yet they decide to use their smartphones instead. One website I came across shows different applications or apps that can get them out of boring meetings, socially awkward situations and uninteresting social events. The apps can generate a fake phone call or text to get you out of these situations. The poll and the apps demonstrate how smartphones make the users less socially outgoing. Instead of wanting to talk to the people around them and trying to work past their boring tone or conversation topics, more people decide to use their smartphone.

Because I have never had a smartphone until just recently, I never had to rely on my smartphone to get me out of boring or socially awkward situations. If they happened to occur, I would quickly try to make a joke or start a new topic of conversation. I relied on my social skills instead of a smartphone.

Have you gone out to eat somewhere with your friends and noticed how the ones who own a smartphone always have it nearby? I started noticing my friends doing this and wondered why they always had their phone nearby. I had an ENV3, which did not have any cool, fun apps. I used it for texting and calling. After thinking about it, I feel like my friends along with everyone else keep it nearby because it is a safety net. If awkward situations were to occur or boring conversations ensued, they could look at or play with their smartphones.

I just got a smartphone, so I wonder if I am going to start using my phone whenever boring or awkward situations occur. I hope that my previous experience with the situations will help me, but maybe playing with my smartphone is the easier and more socially accepted method. Either way, I will miss my ENV3. I had a great six years with that phone.