Addicted to mobile phones?

I wonder. I know people around the world use their mobile phones regularly - often. But I get the feeling that many Chinese people are addicted to their phones.

It can be overwhelming and strange. For example in the bus the phones ring constantly, and the person who answers the phone shouts loudly - which I suspect is not necessary for the caller to hear the words - but that is what happens. Though we do notice that it is not just for the phones that the Chinese shout - but they do not seem to have a quiet conversation and funnily can carry on a conversation with their friends even if one is in the front seat of the bus and the other in the back of the bus.

But, this post is about mobile phones.

I've recorded elsewhere the distraction they are in class. They are not supposed to be 'on' in class, but they usually are. I've had students interrupt an 'oral' examination to answer their phones. Strangely it is often their mother or father, so they tell me. You'd think the parents are paying money for them to be education would want, but oddly enough it is often them that ring in class time, and expect their darlings to answser.

Ban phones in class? Oh, I've tried unsuccessfully! One reason is given that many of their cell phones have their dictionary in it, and they need it to determine the meaning of words I have used.

If you go to the theatre in China, more often than not some one will be on the phone. We went to the Shanghai to see the acrobats, and there were folk on their phones - texting or speaking quietly.

I was at a conference where phones were supposed to be "in a state of libration" whatever that means, but the rest of the message indicated that phones were not to be used in the conference room, but that instruction was largely ignored by the Chinese attendees.

When the students come out of class at night, you can see their faces glowing asd they have their phones active and the light from the phones light up their faces.

We in the west hear warnings about young people and mobile phones. It the risk of damage is high, these young people are in the high risk category for the amount of time they spend listening or playing with their phones.

Much of the phone activity is games - and many Chinese young people are also "addicted" to online games with their cell phones or their computers.

Addicted? I reckon they are.