The stands were packed for the Super Bowl yesterday. Yet many in attendance missed some of the most important moments of the game because they were looking at their phones instead of at the field, according to Super Bowl phone usage data shared by UScellular.
The company based that comment on an AI application that shared real-time data of how many fans in the stadium were looking at their phones instead of the field. Despite paying an average of over $8,500 per ticket according to a Sporting News estimate:
- Over 16,000 fans missed touchdowns throughout the game
- During halftime, 6,182 fans were watching their phones instead of the show
- In the final stretch, 4,347 fans were looking at their phones instead of the winning field goal
Around 70,000 fans attended the game, according to The Sporting News.
This report comes as UScellular launched its “Let’s Find US,” campaign, designed to inspire people, who on average spend more than five hours a day staring at their phone screen, to reset their relationship with technology.
The campaign includes a personal experiment called Phones Down For 5. It challenges people to voluntarily stop using their phones to reveal how addicted they are to them. The challenge is built on a simple action: taking a phone break for 5 days, 5 hours, or even just 5 minutes, to reset the person’s relationship with technology.
The company is inviting people to share their experience of putting down the phone using #PhonesDownFor5 at https://www.uscellular.com/findus.
The website offers tips to successfully make the most of the Phones Down For 5 challenge, including putting your phone where you can’t see it, turning off notifications, getting creative, and spending time outside.
Interestingly, the campaign is being launched shortly after the company expanded 5G capability to improve customer’s experience with their phones.
“Through “Let’s Find US,” we are addressing the serious issue of over-connection with technology and lack of connection with one another,” said Eric Jagher, UScellular senior vice president and chief marketing officer, in a prepared statement about the Super Bowl phone usage estimate. “At UScellular, our goal is to help people connect to what matters most. We want to inspire connection by inviting everyone to have a reset moment with technology, the first step in having a healthier relationship moving forward.”
