We live in an ever-shrinking world, with the internet, smartphones and tablets doing the shrinking. And when it comes to the younger generation, access to technology is practically a human right.
Laptops are cheaper than ever, and smartphone use in the UK is the highest in Europe. A whopping 40 per cent of mobile phone users in Britain now use a smartphone.
But for those of you who view this excessive use of technology as precursor to humanity’s impending demise, new research has offered a glimmer of hope.
We all love to check Facebook and the rest when we’re on the go, but research has found that when it comes to travelling, we much prefer something a little more face-to-face.
Human contact
A survey by the TNT Travel Show has found that almost three quarters of backpackers aged 18-35 prefer word-of-mouth recommendations when seeking travel advice.
This was compared to just 14 per cent of younger backpackers who said that social media is the best place to get hot travelling tips.
“These findings give us a fantastic glimpse into the minds and lives of young travellers,” said Kevin Ellis, CEO of the TNT Travel Show.
“Our survey shows that even if the good old-fashioned holiday postcard is disappearing into youth tourism’s sunset, nevertheless our audience loves human contact.”
No need for smartphones
When we are at home, losing our phone can feel like losing a limb. But when we are exploring far-flung corners of the earth, it was found that we prefer to leave technology behind.
The survey found that a whopping 85 per cent of BlackBerry users, and 68 per cent of iPhone users, would leave their device at home and get back to basics.
“They believe it’s simply not smart to spend your travel time gazing at a smartphone, and when it comes to taking advice, they’re clearly saying we’re ‘only human’ thanks,” added Mr Ellis.
(Image: Mav)
