Smartphone users disclose more private information in public

Smartphone users are more likely to reveal private information in a public space and are less likely to believe their conversations are annoying to those around them compared to those who don't use a smartphone, according to a study by researchers at Tel Aviv University.

Smartphone users are more likely to reveal private information in a public space and are less likely to believe their conversations are annoying to those around them compared to those who don't use a smartphone, according to a study by researchers at Tel Aviv University.

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The study conducted by Dr. Tali Hatuka and Dr. Eran Toch at Tel Aviv University has found that smartphone users have a different concept of how to behave in a public space than non-smartphone users.

According to the report, released on May 10, smartphone users are 70 percent more likely than people who don't use a smartphone to believe their phones "afford them a great deal of privacy." They are also more likely to reveal personal information in public and, according to Dr. Toch, are "less concerned about bothering individuals who share those [public] spaces."

Based on the findings in the report, Dr. Hatuka believes that the design of public spaces may need to be altered to accommodate smartphone technology -- she equates this need for a change in design to the creation of ‘smoking' and ‘non smoking' areas that were created around the world following smoking bans.

These findings are based on a questionaire of 150 smartphone users and non-users.