• by Jack Loechner , Staff Writer @mp_research, July 22, 2013

According to the Mobile Consumer Habits study by Jumio, conducted by Harris Interactive, providing insight into the behaviors of Americans using their smartphones, American owners admit to having used their phone during sex, along with unexpected places, such as the shower (12%), in church or other place of worship (19%), and more.

Marc Barach, Jumio chief marketing and strategy officer, says “People view their smartphones as an extension of themselves… taking them everywhere… from the shower to their commute… from the dinner table to the bedroom…”

He goes on to note that when consumers are separated from their devices panic sets in, with privacy concerns topping the list. Nearly 30% of adults admit to snooping on someone else’s mobile phone, making users aware of the potential violations that happen when we put our own phones down.

72% of respondents report being within five feet of their smartphones the majority of the time, and admit that they use their devices in some unusual places:

• 35% say In a movie theater
• 33% during a dinner date
• 32% at a child’s or school function
• 19% in church or a place of worship
• 12% while in the shower 

And, despite the many warnings, and in most states laws tied to the dangers of talking or texting while driving, 55% of respondents admit to using their smartphone while driving.

Almost 9% of adults admit they’ve used their phone during sex, says the report, and:

• The young are even more daring and comfortable with their smartphones as strange bedfellows; this number rises to 20% among those ages 18 – 34.
• When even the most intimate of moments isn’t a cell phone-free zone, 12% of respondents in a relationship said they believe their smart phone gets in the way of that relationship.

59% of Americans keep their phone password protected. But people still fear what will happen if their phone ends up in someone else’s hands, which may be tied to the fact that nearly 29% of adults admit to snooping on someone else’s phone. When it comes to their primary concern over losing their smartphone, Americans are most worried about:

• Theft of personal information – 65%
• Losing contact with others – 58%
• Calls being made on their behalf – 39%
• Someone logging into their social profiles – 33%
• Someone using their mobile payment options – 26%

Single respondents seem more concerned about privacy than their married counterparts, being more likely to password protect their phones than those who are married (69% vs. 55%).

• At the same time, 42% of single smartphone owners admit to snooping on someone else’s phone, while only 25% of married people say the same
• 47% of adults aged 18 – 34 are more likely to snoop than those aged 35+, but some older adults still admit to poking around on someone else’s phone… ages 35 – 44 (29%); 45 – 54 (21%); 55+ (9%)

For additional information from Jumio, please visit here.