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Having a world of information at our fingertips, and the ability to chat instantly with people across the globe, is great.

It does come with certain pitfalls, though.

We might be good at saying ‘everything in moderation’ but the truth of the matter is that we’re not too skilled at ensuring we heed those words.

Aimlessly scrolling through social media is something we’re all guilty of and then there’s WhatsApp, with messages pinging through from various groups throughout the day.

I’m a big fan of muting groups and then checking in later when I can be bothered. Perhaps that’s why I haven’t gone as far as The Telegraph and written a piece titled ‘WhatsApp is ruining our lives’.

Screen use has increased since the pandemic, with 54pc of UK adults now using their screens more regularly and half “heavily exposed” for a combined total of 11 hours or more each day, according to research by the University of Leeds.

Businesses are beginning to step in, aggravated that more and more of their customers and staff are becoming phone zombies.

One culprit in their sights in particular is the instant messaging app WhatsApp.

Some restaurants have gone as far as to ban the use of phones by customers inside their establishments. What happens when the person I’m meeting is running late, or can’t make it, and messages to let me know?

I suppose they could phone the restaurant itself but I can’t see that happening.

Employers are also counting the cost of WhatsApp’s influence:

A veteran investor recently told me that his employer has banned him from using the app to talk about work. “I wasn’t sure if I was in scope as I don’t deal, but apparently I am now – bit of a grey area,” he said.

But it is not just the private sector which is losing patience with the app. Last month a report from the Institute for Government concluded Whitehall needs to “get a grip” on how WhatsApp was being used by ministers…

Businesses and individuals have clocked that our addiction to our phones and the instant, constant chatter inside them has come at a cost. We have reached peak WhatsApp. The movement away from excessive use will only get stronger from here on in.

Don’t get me started on voicenotes.

At least they can potentially reduce the number of calls one must field. Thank goodness for the ability to speed them up.

Google ‘WhatsApp burnout’ and you get threads like this, where people share their struggles.

Last year, The Guardian covered text anxiety and how the influx of messages can sometimes reduce time spent chatting with those important to you:

The resulting number of conversations is almost unbelievable: the average person checks their phone 262 times a day, a major increase from the 80 times a day average in 2016.

The frequent digital contact leaves people feeling overwhelmed and unable to participate at all. Like ghosting a date – common on dating apps, where it’s the norm to have many conversations going at once – people stop responding to acquaintances, loved ones and friends.

You open WhatsApp to reply to one person.

Then you worry that the other people who messaged you will see you online, and you reply to another message.

Down the wormhole, you go.

Just make sure you craft a little time in your week to smash a nap. They work wonders.

[sources:telegraph&guardian]