Over 40% of Americans Use Mobile Phones in the Toilet

A survey carried out by iGR indicates that just over 42 percent of U.S. consumers use their mobile phones to make calls while in restrooms. The same percentage sends text messages while in restrooms. Restaurants are also popular places to use mobile phones – 70 percent of the consumers surveyed have made calls on their mobile phones in a restaurant while eating, and 73 percent have sent text messages while eating in a restaurant.

iGR found that 18 to 34 year olds, and especially 18 to 24 year olds, are more likely than their older counterparts to make calls and send texts both in restrooms and while eating in restaurants. Eighteen to 24 year olds are 38 percent more likely to make calls and 66 percent more likely to send text messages while in the restroom than the average consumer.

iGR also found that women are eight percent more likely than the average consumer to make calls and five percent more likely to send text messages while in the restroom. The female half of the population is also four percent more likely to make calls and seven percent more likely to send text messages while eating in restaurants.

The survey was conducted among 1,000 mobile handset users in the U.S. at the end of April, 2009. The survey, open to 18 to 65 year old consumers, asked respondents to specify the places they had used their mobile phones to make calls and send text messages in the past month.

Posted to the site on 11th May 2009