88% Indian Married Couples Feel Smartphones Might Be Ruining Their Relationships. Here’s What Can Be Done About It
Major change needed!
There is a high probability that you are reading this article on your smartphone. Our mobile phones have become an essential part of our lives, we carry them with us everywhere, literally even to the washroom. It’s like we are in a relationship with our phones, isn’t it? After all, we also pamper it when we dress it up with new phone covers, take care of it like a baby and we obviously can’t live without it, even for a day. So, it might be possible that we are so in love with our phones that our relationships are getting affected due to this. In fact, a recent study suggests that smartphones are ruining Indian relationships, especially marriages.
The Chinese smartphone brand Vivo, in association with CyberMedia Research (CMR), recently released its fourth edition of the ‘Switch Off’ study, titled ‘Impact of Smartphones on Spousal Relationships’. The aim of this study is to raise awareness, especially among married couples and help them maintain a healthy relationship with their spouses while also reaping the benefits of the technology. The study evaluated responses of 1000 consumers across Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Pune.
The study revealed some shocking stats. According to the study, almost 67% of surveyed Indian married couples admitted that they are hooked to their smartphones even while spending time with their spouse, and 66% of respondents revealed that their relationship with their spouse has weakened due to smartphones. It’s as if a third party has entered into our marriages and is affecting relationships on a very large scale.
However, the most shocking aspect of it all is that 88% of respondents are aware and agreed that increased usage of smartphones is hurting their relationship with their spouses and yet, they are not able to put a stop to the same. Why is it that we are not able to create a balance between our need to stay connected with the world and not be distanced from the person sitting in the same room? Creating a balance is becoming so difficult because of our unhealthy obsession and dependence on our smartphones.
Therefore, it is important for us to find a middle ground, find a balance and not let smartphones take over our lives. We need to protect and nurture our relationships, and this honestly, isn’t as difficult as it seems.
Also Read: Study Suggests Addiction-Like Usage Of Social Media Leads To Sexual Difficulties
How Can You Overcome Smartphone Addiction And Save Your Marriage?
There are a lot of ways you can try to distance yourself from your smartphones, the minute you get home. You can start this by trying to control your screen time when you are with your loved ones. This can be tricky since we pick up our phones for the tiniest of reasons. But, you can try to keep your gadgets physically away from you to avoid using them or keeping them on silent mode.
At the same time, be more attentive and listen to your spouse when they talk to you. According to the study, 69% of couples owned up that they don’t give attention to their spouse while conversing with them. This can create a lot of problems, remember to prioritise your partner over your phone. Also, don’t get irritated if your spouse interrupts you while using your smartphone. This is a very common problem in relationships and can even lead to upsetting you both or an argument. This isn’t healthy for your relationship. So it’s better to just discuss this issue with your spouse and family, and find a solution to it.
Try to spend more time doing in-person activities with your spouse. This is the best way to spend time with your significant other, this will help you both remain connected and strengthen your relationship. Also, you will feel much happier doing this than using your phone. But, it is also essential to recognise that at the end of the day, sometimes, it’s not in our hands to manage our screen time because of work demands. But, it is essential that you manage your work during office hours to avoid the temptation to pick up the phone while you’re with your family. This will create a better work-life balance as well.
Also Read: ‘The Social Dilemma’ Shows How Social Media Nurtures And Manipulates Our Addiction. Could It Be Affecting Women More Deeply Than Men?
It’s essential to realise that while smartphones are a revolutionary invention which completely changes our way of living, excessive use of these smartphones can be very harmful to your life, health and relationships. Keep in mind that in the end, the people around us are more important than being present where you can’t be.
