It’s safe to say that most of us love our mobile phones. Now acting as a fifth limb, we’re attached to our phones from morning until night. Whether we’re scrolling through social media or working on the move, phones are a gadget we can’t live without.

But why are phones part of our daily life? We’ll explore some of the reasons below.

The rise of the mobile phone

It’s anticipated we’ll own a staggering 18.2 billion mobile devices by 2025. But where did it all begin?

Well, mobile phones date back to the 1980s. Technology rapidly advanced, and prices dropped, making mobile phone ownership much more popular.

But the models of the time didn’t have the functionality they have today. Most were only capable of making calls and sending texts. This is very different from our mobiles today. Modern smartphones have microprocessors, making them minicomputers in their own right.

How do we use our phones daily?

Humans are sociable animals. Phones meet one of our most basic needs: human connection. Just some of the ways we use our mobile phones include:

• Communicating – We use our phones as a primary method of communication. From creating group chats to sending a text to loved ones abroad, we always use our phones.
• Social media – Whether you prefer to scroll through Instagram or TikTok, social media has boomed because of mobile phones.
• Online banking – Rather than popping into your local bank, most of us now use online banking. Many people use an open bank like Monzo or make payments online. We don’t have to nip to the bank to conduct our financial affairs anymore.
• Online dating – Forget going to a bar to meet your soulmate! We can now find love from the comfort of our homes.
• Browsing the internet – Our phones are now the primary device used for surfing the web, not laptops or PCs.

How to stay safe when using your mobile

According to the 2022 Cyber Security Breaches Survey, 39% of businesses in the UK experienced a cyberattack in the prior 12 months. So, it’s never been more important to stay safe using your mobile.

Using our phones for a multitude of different tasks means our personal data is at risk. That’s why it’s important not to overlook security. Downloading a VPN for your iPhone or Android can help protect you and your data from criminals.

Final thoughts…

If you can’t live without your phone, don’t panic! It’s completely normal to become attached to your smartphone. As long as you’re protected online, keep scrolling as long as you like!