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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think mobile phones are NOT a necessity?

300 replies

Hypergear · 23/02/2020 10:10

Inspired by the thread regarding schools confiscating then.
So many people think they NEED a mobile phone now, and view it as a necessity and not a luxury (which I think it is). Yes they're great in many ways and can make life a lot easier but I just can't get my head around people who genuinely think they could not go about day to day life without. My DM for example, thinks there is no way in this day and age it's possible to live without one, this actually makes me lol as she never used one at all until around 18 months ago!

AIBU?

OP posts:
Lippy1234 · 23/02/2020 10:12

I couldn’t manage without my phone.

BreathlessCommotion · 23/02/2020 10:14

But when I was a teen, there were loads of working phone boxes. They don't exist now so mobiles are pretty vital.

Glassio · 23/02/2020 10:15

Most people now dont have house phones, majority of the phone booths have been removed from the street, many banks have closed and are internet / app only etc etc so yes they're now a necessity.

BreathlessCommotion · 23/02/2020 10:15

Also, unless you had my work number you wouldn't be able to call me. I don't have a land-line.

AutumnRose1 · 23/02/2020 10:16

For children, no

For teens and adults, yes. Phone boxes don’t exist really.

Smart phone not necessarily. Basic phone, yes.

Isabellaswann · 23/02/2020 10:16

The world changes and adapts.

Twenty years ago phones were not a necessity, although even then they were starting to become so. A hundred years ago, phones at all were not a necessity, because people weren’t expected to have one.

Can you imagine turning up late to work due to a major traffic incident and just saying you didn’t phone because you didn’t have a phone?

AutumnRose1 · 23/02/2020 10:16

Oh I don’t use a land line either.

Bakedpotatoandgin · 23/02/2020 10:17

I don't need it to live as such, and I try to limit its use as I'm conscious of becoming addicted. However, I have dyspraxia so sense of direction and map reading are both very difficult for me, therefore I use my phone for Google maps directions in order to get around my city without constantly having to rely on friends.

Isabellaswann · 23/02/2020 10:17

Also, I think they are useful for children, to be honest.

They are part of the world and as such children need to be taught responsible use.

Pipandmum · 23/02/2020 10:17

Of course you can live without one. But for alot of people it is the main way they communicate when not face to face - I don't have a landline for example. But it is also a huge time waster (hello mumsnet!).
Before I had a mobile I used a computer for emailing and a landline. Then I got a phone that just did calls and texts so that replaced the phone. Now we have smart phones so that replaces camera, landline and 90% of the need for a computer (in day to day living, obviously not for work). But one can survive without any of those! But I bet they will be left out of alot of social activities!

Bakedpotatoandgin · 23/02/2020 10:18

So actually, yes, I couldn't really manage day to day life without it Grin although I do agree they are a luxury that we shouldn't take for granted

TARSCOUT · 23/02/2020 10:18

I have a works phone but no personal phone. It is normally out of battery too.

Sirzy · 23/02/2020 10:19

As a full time carer for my son yes I do need a mobile phone. I need to be contactable at all times if he is at school incase of problems - if a feeding tube comes out there is no time for struggling to contact me!

I also need to be contactable for the many professionals involved in his care.

Darbs76 · 23/02/2020 10:19

I don’t NEED one but I’d hate to not have one now. It’s a much easier way of keeping in touch with family and friends. For example my children’s dad is working overseas for 3yrs, if he didn’t have a family what’s app and FaceTime for example it would be really hard to stay in touch. My phone is my lifeline in the evenings when I’d otherwise be lonely. So no, I wouldn’t want to live without it

mantarays · 23/02/2020 10:20

I think phones can make life a lot more manageable for some people, but they also make life less connected and harder in some other ways. Of course we would cope without them, in some ways better, but there would be other things that would be worse.

However, children should be protected from phones for as long as possible so they learn to live in a different way first.

Youcunnyfunt · 23/02/2020 10:21

Of course they are. There are no phone boxes near me, no one would be able to reach me unless they physically visited.

Also, so many of the services I use including online banking require SMS verification. What would you do if you couldn’t receive texts? You wouldn’t be able to bank or do lots of things.

SachaStark · 23/02/2020 10:22

I suppose I’m living proof. I’ve managed without having a mobile phone for several years now (I’m 30).

I actually found it really, extremely stressful and anxiety-inducing when people were able to contact me all the time, any time of the day.

Now I have an iPad, so am still able to use essential apps, e.g. banking, but I get to make the decisions as to when I have to talk to other people, and it’s usually by email or messenger apps.

So yes, it’s entirely possible to exist without the use of a mobile phone.

mantarays · 23/02/2020 10:22

Youcunnyfunt

But without mobiles we would bring back phone boxes and face to face banking.

onceandneveragain · 23/02/2020 10:22

Yes, it's essential. Whenever the poverty/social exclusion data sets come out, I believe a movie has been on the necessity list for years now. Mainly because it functions as a collation of what were previous necessities or at leasr very basic luxuries- alarm clock, calendar, tv, music player, encyclopaedia, etc. As well as a means of contact.

It's almost impossible now to, say, apply for jobs without the internet and while many people might not have a computer they do have phones with internet access. Lots of forms now will only accept mobile numbers and not landlines. I would say landlines are unnecessary and obsolete in this day and age (don't know anyone under 30 living aeay from their parents who has one) but mobiles are completely necessary.

Of course that doesn't mean the latest iPhone or whatever....that's always going to be an expensive luxury. Just a basic smartphone.

purpleme12 · 23/02/2020 10:23

Yes I think it's a necessity. I don't have a landline and it's just me and my child.

Perhaps a smart phone wouldn't be classed as a necessity. But it would impact my life I didn't have a smart phone as I've had one for years and use it for so many different reasons

thetemptationofchocolate · 23/02/2020 10:24

I don't have a mobile at all, it can be a bit awkward at times due to the expectation that everyone has one, but mostly I manage just fine without one.

MorganKitten · 23/02/2020 10:25

Mine is, I am guardian for two people in care homes different sides of London and have to go between them regularly. I also travel for work. And when my mum was on life support in icu and only two of us allowed in at a time it was vital to stay in contact with family.

MarieQueenofScots · 23/02/2020 10:26

I work mostly from mine so a necessity for me.

Salene · 23/02/2020 10:27

With no phone boxes around really nowadays it would be impossible to manage life with no phone really

Unless you are a hermit who never needs to contact anyone

Butchyrestingface · 23/02/2020 10:28

For children, they are not a necessity.

I could not be without my mobile. As a freelancer, I would not get work without it.

A TV for me is not a necessity. I haven't had one for years.