Smokers to turn to texting after ban

 

The smoking ban could improve the social lives of smokers, according to new research from Sheffield Hallam University and Virgin Mobile.

Scrabble Word Finder

Scrabble Cheat

A study into people's attitudes to mobile phones and their use has found that heavy texters are more likely to find it easier to express their true feelings, initiate dates and keep in contact with a wide circle of friends.
 
And with ranks of smokers expected to cure twitchy, cigarette-free fingers by reaching for their phones and texting more than before, they could also experience the added bonus of an improved social life.
 
Those struggling not to light up during the first days of the smoking ban are expected to turn to their mobile to help them cope.
 
The research found that most people see their phone as being as personal as a diary, and increasingly use them as an emotional support, helping them to express their feelings, gossip with friends and to simply let off steam.
 
Those who are unable to calm their nerves with a cigarette are likely to turn to the comfort of their mobile phones and texting as their next favoured coping mechanism, the researchers believe.
 
Smokers who use their free hands to text more could also find that it adds a boost to their love lives. More than half of the 1,050 respondents said that texting helped them to say things that they would be unable to express face to face.
 
This was reflected in the finding that those who use text more tend to arrange more dates - with more than half of those surveyed having arranged romantic encounters by text message.
 
Many also said that texting allowed them keep in touch with friends with whom they may otherwise lose contact.

Itchy fingers turn to texting

Simon Dornan of Virgin Mobile said: "Whereas bored, distracted people used to reach to their pockets for a pack of cigarettes, they now do so looking for their phone instead.
 
"The fact that this can improve people’s social lives to boot is fantastic. Even though texting is obviously heavily involved in most people’s lives today, it’s surprising to see how texting more actually has real benefits to your romantic and personal life as well."
 
Professor Simeon Yates from Sheffield Hallam University, who conducted the study, said: "Our research shows that people tend to hold, fiddle with or put on display their mobile phones when in social contexts like pubs and cafés.
 
"If they will soon be unable to smoke in these places then it seems reasonable to assume that smokers will turn to their mobile phone.
 
"Sixty per cent of heavy mobile users we surveyed see their phone as something as very personal, it’s a 'social'’ comfort blanket of sorts, so as people are unable to smoke in public places they are likely to use their mobiles more."
 
He added: "Our study suggests that people will communicate with friends, partners and families more. This is because heavy users are more likely to keep in contact with a wide circle of friends, develop relationships and reveal their true feelings about people via their mobiles." 
 

You’ve read it. Now review it.

Back to top

Back to top