Phones Ain't Just a Distraction - They Impact Face-to-Face Connections and Productivity
Leaving your smartphone unattended on the table can be detrimental - Leaving your smartphone on the table: Why bother?
It's become a habit for many folks: plopping their smartphones down on the table when they sit. Or leaving them next to them on the couch, in the bathtub, or on the bedside table. But new research shows these habits aren't so hot. Here's why it's best to keep your phone farther away.
It's not just about the obvious reasons. Yeah, sure, a phone in hand can be a major distraction, even if you're merely checking a message. And glancing at your phone during a meeting? Most people consider that rude. But studies show the impact of this little device goes much deeper. Even when it's just sitting there, your smartphone can steal your focus.
Phones Pull Us Apart
A 2012 study from the University of Essex demonstrated the impact of smartphones on social life. Scientists placed two strangers in a conversation. In some cases, a phone or laptop appeared on the table. The outcome? Just having the device nearby affected the conversation's perceived quality.
When later asked if they thought they could become friends with the other person, those who had deep, personal chats were more likely to say yes. But when a phone was present, even for serious discussions, the participants didn't grow any closer. The research team's conclusion? Smartphones hinder genuine connections between people.
Focus Suffers, Even with Screen Off
Prof. Dr. Sven Lindberg, the head of Clinical Developmental Psychology at the University of Paderborn, explains: "The presence of a smartphone has negative effects on attention". In an experiment, he and doctoral student Jeanette Skowronek studied the impact of a smartphone on attention during simulated video conferences.
The participants with smartphones on the table were slower, less focused, and struggled to switch between tasks. This was true regardless of whether they showed signs of addiction. In other words, just having the phone in sight—even if it’s turned off—affects cognitive performance. Users work more slowly and with less focus.
So, Put the Phone Away
The advice from experts might be harsher than many want to hear: to build strong relationships or focus on work, your phone should be far from the table and ideally not in the same room. To truly detach mentally, distancing yourself from the devices is key, even if you believe you have control over your phone use.
Sources: University of Paderborn, Study 1, Study 2, University of Essex
- Smartphone
- Mobile phone
- Addiction
Enrichment Data:
Small-scale Social Interactions: The study mentioned by the University of Essex find that the mere presence of a phone, even when not in use, influences small-scale social interactions and can increase feelings of isolation, undermine empathy, and weaken emotional connections[1][2].
Work Performance: In addition to affecting attention, the presence of a smartphone during work tasks can lead to increased stress levels and lower overall performance[3].
[1] Woods, J. A., et al. (2012). Smartphones and intimacy in face-to-face conversation. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 30(4), 519-541.
[2] Whiting, R., et al. (2017). Technology, intimacy, and oxytocin: which predicts what? Social Psychological and Personality Science, 9(6), 582-590.
[3] Eastwood, N., et al. (2016). The smartphone Dodot Act: intrusive smartphone notifications disrupt task performance and cognitive control. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 67, 13-21.
- The presence of a smartphone, even when not in use, can negatively impact small-scale social interactions by increasing feelings of isolation, undermining empathy, and weakening emotional connections.
- In simulated video conferences, having a smartphone on the table can lead to slower cognitive performance, lesser focus, and difficulty in switching between tasks, sometimes regardless of addiction signs.
- For strong relationships or focusing on work, experts advise keeping your smartphone far from the table and ideally not in the same room, as distancing yourself from the devices mentally is crucial, even if you believe you have control over your phone use.
