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Close up female feet situating on rug near toilet. She typing in mobile there
The smartphone and the toilet – inseparable for many, but watch out!
20. July 2023 Published by Jana GreylingWhen nature calls, most of us no longer go to the toilet alone. The smartphone is always with us. The internet service provider NordVPN has asked people in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and other countries what they use their mobile phones for when they go to the toilet and who is most likely to drop their smartphone in the toilet. In each case, 1,000 people over the age of 18 were surveyed over a period of around 14 months.
According to the study, over 54 per cent of Germans are said to use their smartphone in the toilet. But what do you do there? Over 37 percent of Germans used the time in the quiet lavatory to surf social media, while over a third checked work emails and chats. Of all the countries surveyed, people from Hong Kong use their smartphone the most in the toilet: 87.8 per cent of those surveyed in Hong Kong said they use a phone to pass their boredom in the loo. In addition, more than 20 per cent said they play games with their smartphone there (26.3 per cent) and watch videos or films (20.3 per cent).
Only 23 per cent used their time in the bathroom to write or call others. In an international comparison, people in Germany, Switzerland (20.6%) and Austria (15.4%) were thus among the countries “least likely to make contact with others from the toilet seat”. For example, just under 40 per cent of the US-Americans and Italians surveyed would have stated that they talk or text with other people on the phone.
But danger also lurks in the quiet little bathroom. “Even within the protected four walls of the bathroom, people should take care not to be caught by cyber criminals with their trousers down. They should pay attention and take measures to better protect themselves here as well,” advises Joanna Rusin-Rohrig, Country Director DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) at NordVPN. Careless scrolling against boredom, for example, can quickly lead to clicking on a phishing email, she says. “The attention of hackers does not end with the turning of the key at the bathroom door,” Rusin-Rohrig clarifies.
Oops, then it went splash
Do smartphones still fall in the toilet? According to the study, yes, and more often than expected. People in Taiwan are the most clumsy – 21.3% of respondents admitted to having dropped their phone in the toilet. Second place goes to the USA – 20.4 % of respondents have let their mobile phone fall into the depths of the toilet water. Among the German-speaking countries, Switzerland is at the top of the list with 15.4 %. In Austria, 12.3 % of respondents have already dropped their mobile phone into the toilet bowl, while this has only happened to 11.9 % in Germany.
Small dives and splashes of water are no problem for the Gigaset GX4, because the outdoor smartphone is dustproof and waterproof according to IP68. So it’s just right for work, sports, hobbies or outdoor activities. Its textured polycarbonate back offers a secure grip, and the display is protected by scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass. The frame of the TPU double-injected protective housing is made of aluminium, magnesium and titanium, among other materials, and can easily withstand drops and strong vibrations. The GX4 also withstands extreme temperatures and is waterproof up to 1.5 metres for 30 minutes. And if it does fall down the toilet, it can be cleaned at any time with clear water, soaps, disinfectants or alcohol.
But according to Focus online, you should not sit on the toilet for too long, especially if you are using your smartphone while doing so. It is also advisable not to take the smartphone with you to the toilet, as it can become a carrier of germs. If we then use the phone, these germs can get into our face. And who cleans their smartphone after going to the toilet? Probably hardly anyone. No wonder experts are sounding the alarm about using the mobile phone on the toilet. So it’s better not to take your smartphone with you to the toilet, but alternatively a book or newspaper.
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