Class gets out and you have 15 minutes before your next lecture - what's a Jumbo to do? According to a survey published last spring by AOL, the Associated Press, and Pew Internet & American Life Project, 61 percent of young Americans (18 to 29-year-olds) use their cell phones to fill up their free time.
"When I'm walking home after a class or from Davis or something, I call my mom to fill up time," junior Asha Clarke said.
According to the survey, 32 percent of the 18 to 29-year-old demographic, who grew up with cell phones as a part of their daily life, feel that they cannot live without them, compared to only 18 percent of people over 30.
But students don't just use their phones to make calls. "I use it for internet, news and email, and texting," junior Jordan Axelrad said. "It also doubles as my GPS in the car."
With 195 million cell phones in the U.S, per a Jupiter Research estimate, it's easy to forget how young the phenomenon really is. Many feel that life is very different since they've gotten cell phones.
"I always think about sleep-away camp," Axelrad said. "We had no cells when we were eight years old, and we could only call home once a week. Now I'm basically always connected with everyone."
Assistant Professor Caroline Cao, who studies engineering psychology and human factors, explained that the constant connection to other people is a significant change in daily life for cell phone users. Whether it's a good thing is another question.
"We're connected at all times, which is both good and bad," Cao said. "Cell phones also offer security. We have access to help when we need it, but cells also decrease our awareness while we're using them and can make us targets."
Overwhelmingly, the survey found people turned to their cell phones in emergencies: a whopping 74 percent of those surveyed said their cell phones helped them in an emergency situation.
Junior Tracy Van Tassel got her cell phone to help in driving emergencies and to avoid getting lost. "I got my cell phone when I was 17, when I got my driver's license, so I didn't get irreversibly lost," Van Tassel said. "Now I don't have to use a payphone if I do get lost."
The survey also found that Americans have a love-hate relationship with cell phones. Eighty-six percent of cell phone users said that they are bothered "at least occasionally" by other people using their cell phones in public.
At the same time, eight percent of cell users reported getting dirty looks for their public cell phone use. Fourteen percent of 18 to 29-year-olds admitted being criticized for their cell behavior.
And nearly one-quarter of all respondents feel obligated to answer their phone, even if it interrupts a meal or meeting. The problem is even more prevalent among young adults: 31 percent of 18 to 29-year-olds also feel compelled to respond to disruptive cell phone calls.
Such behavior hurts social relationships, Van Tassel said. "I actually think cell phones can detract sometimes from social situations when someone's cell phone rings and they start talking" she said. "Even if it's not direly important, people will still talk for a while on the phone."
Clarke agreed. "I get annoyed by other people using cell phones all the time. I hate it when people text with their phones on loud and you hear the constant beeping," she said. "And I think it's really rude and obnoxious when people don't turn their cell phones off in class."
Though most young people have come to depend on technology, it's not surprising to see frustrated cell phone users confounded by the latest features.
"Cell phones are constantly evolving as new features are tested and re-designed," Cao said. "But the balance of economics and human needs comes into play, and that balance is not always in favor of human needs."
Still, many students find the cell phone technology is getting more user-friendly.
"I think they are much better than they used to be," Axelrad said. "And I also think that as we become more involved with technology, it gets easier."
"I find mine pretty easy to use, and I'm very technologically inept," Clarke said.
