Do we need a mobile phone?

Comedian Paul Merton recently told of life without a mobile phone. Merton revealed on the One Show how he has not had a phone since the early 1990s. Whenever, someone reveals living without a mobile phone it causes a mixture of sentiments from bewilderment to wonderment and envy. The phone, as with much other modern technology, has come to seem a necessity. But there are pluses and minuses. The modern mobile is a fantastic device, with powers to communicate via written and spoken word. The possibility to research almost anything via internet access, as well as games and entertainment. Facilities like WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter provide great ways to stay in touch. On the negative side; are we not all becoming obsessed and addicted to phones. Constant checking of the phone for messages, hours spent literally glued to the device. Many often feel they cannot go anywhere without their phone. Some 25 to 30 years ago, people did not feel the same attachment to such devices. It is difficult not to think there is a sort of escapism going on. People literally living through their phones Yet, how necessary is much of what happens on phones? It must be doubtful if many of the messages being conveyed are any more vital now, than they ever were. The addiction to mobile phones does represent something of a marketing masterclass. People have been persuaded that they literally cannot exist without a mobile phone. Returning to the Paul Merton example, there is now almost a two track society developing: those engaged on social media and those not. It is interesting when mixing socially with people who engage on social media and those who don't. Much has to be explained about what has happened to those not online. Though, often like Merton, those not doing Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to name but a few, often take a certain pride in being out of the loop. They do also tend to be predominantly older. Though technology is a funny thing, it can be liberating or constraining. For example, take those who have decided not to have a TV. Again mixed emotions. Television can educate, enrich and entertain but at the same time a lot of life can be wasted watching absolute rubbish. There must be a sense in some ways of getting your life back by making a decision to opt out on having a mobile or TV. But then there is also a missing out on what this technology has to offer, The best route is probably moderation, a middle road, not addicted to the mobile or TV but not a total refusenik either. That is probably where most people dwell, though polarisation maybe growing.