To hate what smart watches are doing

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I can’t stand bloody smart watches becoming more and more popular. I have two close friends who wear them every day and meeting up and having a coffee / chat is becoming less and less fun (they are different friend circles so we would meet 1-2-1. They are so digitally distracted. Constantly glancing down at their watch because they feel the vibration. Getting distracted from the conversation with every single text and WhatsApp message feeling the alert on their wrist. I keep wondering why one friend keeps checking the time and then I remember - oh it’s a smart watch.
At least with a phone it can be put in a bag (which my friend does with her phone) and checked later but with something on your wrist it’s just so bloody annoying.
I can imagine doing the same myself- feeling the buzz and oh if I look at my wrist I can see what that was. For this reason I won’t get one.
Does anyone else get annoyed by these?

I'm guessing there will be a generational divide on this.

I don’t think it’s the smart watch I think it’s the person

I was scolded for watching tv/bringing my phone to the table when I was older and taught it was rude during conversation etc.

I don’t have a smart watch because I would want to use all it’s functions but I don’t want to be that accessible. But it really annoys me when I’m talking to someone and they check their phone/watch. Have you watched the social dilemma on Netflix? I know people who cannot put their phone away because it makes them anxious!

Note - I realise this makes me sound like I think I’m perfect, I’m not, I can be a massive knob in other ways!

I check my phone if I get an alert as it's often the school. Quick glance to check it's not urgent.

But overall, I hate how contactable we all are all the time. It's hard to switch off.

I have a smart watch but I put it on DND if I'm out socialising.

I would hate to have one. But then I don't use mobile data so I am only using the internet on my phone when at home. I often turn my phone off completely when out the house. I hate the thought of being so contactable.

I like the little tap when I get a text - I often wouldn't know otherwise, and it's usually DH or DD trying to ask me something.

What's always struck me as odd is when I get a call my watch vibrates about half a second before the phone rings. I don't think this is any more disruptive than the phone ringing.

So I do think YAB a bit U.

I have all the alerts turned off. However, I do life that my smartwatch prompts me to move during the day. I like to be able to see my heart rate and sleep patterns. I find it very useful (but not for messages, texts, etc)

I have a smart watch and have turned off the notifications for that reason. I want to check my messages when I want to check my messages, I don't need to be alerted all the time.

It's not good to be so connected all the time. Phones should be away when you're socialising.

However, it's maybe not a generational thing - my sister and I often have to tell our mother not to check her phone at the dinner table.

That’s what I mean- most friends and myself out phones away in a bag when socialising (esp if it’s only a short meet up ie an hours coffee) because you want to fully engage with that person. I just find it so annoying that someone has their phone away but is getting constantly distracted looking at their watch. It’s just a constant distraction that can’t even be put away!

I got rid of mine and feel much the better for it.

I think they are a really useful tool, but like many tech advances also a blooming nuisance.

I was late to driving (learnt last year). My first driving instructor was terrible with his. Whenever he got got a text or alert while either driving himself or when I was driving he would be looking at and tapping his watch straight away. This is the same man that made a huge deal showing he turns his phone onto silent at the start of a lesson as "most driving instructors spend lessons glued to these". I didn't keep him as my instructor for long (for a number of reasons).

I think they are a real danger when driving and the use of them should be penalised in the same way as mobiles.

Honestly i love mine, it picks up on high heart rate and reminds me to take time for some deep breaths, stupid you may say but it give me a shake when im in panic mode. I caan use contactless easier, my partner can call me on his watch when he has a fall and needs help, i can check messages quickly to vet them and only reply to urgent ones.

I do try not to use it while in company but if i do i apologise and explain i need to send a quick message. If it bothers you tell the person

I’ve been wearing one since release and I have never come across any negative feedback until reading the today.

Even my car pings me and displays the message when I’m driving. It makes life easier, doesn’t bother me or as far as I’m aware anyone in my social circle

Agree totally op, a lovely friend of mine came round after lockdown and spent so much time glancing at her watch, kept standing up every 20 minutes as the watch was telling her she'd been sat still too long 🙄
I felt anxious that my company wasn't enough and also thought it rude

Mine only gets notifications for texts and phone calls, which is the right level for me as I have my phone on silent. I don't have it set for Whats App notifications as that would drive me mad!

I also far prefer it to hearing a text beep or my phone ringing in my bag when I have to root around to find it - I can just glance quickly at my wrist and know whether I need to check or not.

I will also add that I probably only get around 2 texts and less than 1 call a day, so it's not especially intrusive!

Has anyone mentioned how ugly they are?!

I know it's good for my MH to NOT be contactable at all times, it's something my MH nurse encouraged me to do so I wouldn't feel that responsibility all the time.
If the school need me, I know my son is safe and looked after and I will be online later.
Anyone else can leave a message.

They are very handy if you are expecting a call at home and don’t want to miss it

I have a smart watch but to be honest I don't have that many people who send me messages, my family chat is muted (I'd never get anything done if it wasn't, I check a couple of times a day) and my partner knows when I'm out, so won't text me.

But I think this is just the way things are going. People have to be available all of the time, and 'in person' relationships are suffering for it.

YABU.

People who keep glancing at their watches are called "watch watchers". This was back in school back in the 1980s, so it's nothing new!

My phone is on silent at work - a quick glance at my wrist lets me know whether school is calling (in which case I need to step out and call them back) or it's a call that I can safely ignore; all without having to glance unprofessionally at my phone.

I find them a step too far. Last year I saw someone paying with a watch in a pub and found it really strange.

YANBU! Sounds like a bloody pain in the arse! People will be marrying these things next as there will be no humans left to interact with. People have gotten really bloody boring since all this tech and social media.

Funny to see this. I was listening to this podcast this morning about how smart phones affect our happiness. I’m really trying to reduce how much I use mine. I imagine a watch would only increase the impact.

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/id1474245040?i=1000476382369