Does Your Cell Phone Make You Too Available?

Though cell phones provide constant connectivity, much of the 85 percent of Americans who own one actually dislike being always reachable, according to a new Pew Research Center study.

Convenience, communication, and access are pluses of modern technology, but they come with respective downsides: annoyances, interruptions, and added costs.

Pew reported that 24 percent of cell phone owners said the worst part about owning a mobile device is the constant availability, while 12 percent felt that the ability to talk with people at any time is second only to the general convenience of a cell phone.

"Cell owners have become extremely attached and attuned to their phones, but many express ambivalence about that attachment," Aaron Smith, lead author of the report, said in a statement. "They love — and love to hate — the convenience and connectivity their phones afford."

Still, overall data tips the cell phone as more of a time-saver than a time-waster, according to Pew. About 33 percent of people agreed, saying their phone "saves you time because [you] can always access the information you need." Just 3 percent believe a mobile phone "costs you time because you are constantly being distracted or interrupted."

One of the most common causes of disruptions, Pew reported, is the seemingly constant need for users to check their device, whether or not they heard it ring or felt it vibrate. While 67 percent of people simply pull their phone out of their pocket or purse to occasionally check for messages or calls, 44 percent have admitted to sleeping with their phone next to their bed so as to not miss any texts or other updates through the night.

The growing use of mobile technology has led to a culture of people who can't function without their devices — 29 percent actually told Pew their cell phone is "something they can't imagine living without." But what happens when that connection goes too far?

Most people don't worry, actually, or even hear complaints from friends and family. Only 11 percent of cell owners said they sometimes worry about their mobile habits, while another 12 percent admit that people they know have told them they are spending too much time staring at their phone screen. On the flip side, a heartier 39 percent of people said they hear complaints that they are not responding swiftly enough to calls or texts.

"In a nutshell, this is the modern dilemma: There is pronounced social pressure for people to stay connected and respond quickly to the incoming blizzard of contact from others," Smith said. "At the same time, many people wish they could disengage every once in a while."

The challenge, then, is to manage time and contacts without becoming so disconnected that people miss out on important moments.

In the end, the drawbacks to cell ownership fall short of the perks, Pew said, pointing out that people are generally happy with the benefits of mobile connectivity. A majority of cell users said their phone has made it a lot easier to stay in touch with people; another 28 percent and 26 percent, respectively, are happy with the ease of planning and scheduling a daily routine or the ability to stay productive while waiting in line.