Can you hear me now? Americans love and hate their cellphones

Cellphones/Mobiles- Americans can't seem to live without them, or even with them, according to some recent studies that looked at the growing trend of cellphone addiction in the US and the impact compulsive use has on relationships.

"Mobile phone owners like the convenience and ease of connectivity, but rue that they can be interrupted more easily, have to pay the bills, and face bad connections," researchers with the Pew Internet and American Life Project found in a recent study, adding that cellphones now play a central role in nearly every aspect of their owners' lives.
While 85 percent of American adults own a cellphone of some kind, researchers found there are major drawbacks to always being just a phone call away.
"The convenience and constant connectivity that these mobile devices offer also comes with a downside in the form of annoyances, interruptions, and cost," the Pew study said.
Of the 2,254 adults surveyed for the report, Pew researchers found 24 percent said the worst thing about owning a cellphone is that they are constantly available and can be reached at any time. But only seven percent of those surveyed felt the increased distractions made it "a lot" harder to focus on a single task.
"For many cell owners, their phone is an essential utility that they check frequently, keep close by at all times, and would have trouble functioning without," the Pew study found. Sixty-seven percent of those surveyed by Pew reported checking their phones for messages, alerts, or calls even when the phone didn't ring or vibrate.
Another recently released study, published in the Journal of Behavioral Addictions, found constantly checking for messages can ruin personal relationships. Researchers there likened compulsive cellphone usage to other addictions including drugs and alcohol.