Smartphones: questions and Band 8 answers

To be fair, I use it pretty much all day long. It is the first thing I check when I wake up and the last thing I look at before sleeping. Aside from messaging friends, I rely on it heavily to check train times during my morning commute.

Mainly for staying in touch with family and managing daily tasks. I use a messaging app constantly to chat with my sister, and I also stream podcasts while doing household chores. It really helps me pass the time when I am washing up.

Not really, no. I got my very first handset when I was about fourteen, mainly so my parents could reach me after school. It was an old basic model with physical buttons, so all I could do was send simple text messages or play basic arcade games.

Definitely. Years ago, I only used my phone for calls and short texts. Nowadays, it has practically replaced my laptop for things like online banking, booking doctor appointments, and navigating around town whenever I am visiting a new neighbourhood.

I suppose I do, especially in the evenings. I often find myself mindlessly scrolling through social feeds for an hour when I should be reading or winding down. Last week, I actually set a screen time limit to try and cut back a bit.