Mobile phones and texting

Do you hate it when you get on a plane and have to turn off your mobile phone? Do you sit there worrying more about what could be happening elsewhere than enjoying what's happening in the in-flight movie? If you do, you could be addicted to your phone. But, judging by the number of people who switch on their phones as soon as the plane lands, you're not the only one!

A British study recently found that 36 percent of students surveyed said they could not survive without their mobile phones. David Sheffield, a psychologist who conducted the study at Staffordshire University in England, was surprised by some of the results: "The most shocking figure was that 7 per cent said the use of mobile phones had caused them to lose a relationship or a job", he explained.

Despite this "shocking" news, we still think that mobile phones are a great technology. They're useful in a lot of situations, including business ones.

Just remember: it's important to have some mobile phone free time in your day. It's actually OK to turn it off. That text message will still be there when you switch it back on again.

Deborah Capras