According to research by OnBuy's mobile phone department, apparently a third of Brits believe a mobile phone can reduce sperm count or fertility, 66 percent think a bag of rice will revive a wet phone, and 18 percent believe 5G conspiracy theories. Our favourite, which we encourage people to try, is that you can charge an iPhone in 20 seconds using a microwave oven. That was believed by a quarter of Brits.
In terms of mobile phone security, most Brits (75 percent ) believe taking out the SIM card keeps you from being tracked – probably because they’ve seen it in the movies.
But, sans SIM card, your phone can still be tracked by authorities if power remains in the battery.
More than six percent of Brits believe you can cook an egg by placing it between two mobile phones and one in five believe you can be killed using a phone when there’s a lightning storm.
OnBuy.com found the most popular thing Brits believe when it comes to mobile phone batteries is… Apps running in the background use up battery (87 percent). This is more common sense than a myth, but it’s worth noting modern smartphones are designed to optimise foreground “tasks” while others harmlessly float in the background.
Here are the list of myths that OnBuy.com asked to see if anyone believed.
|
Do you believe… |
|
|
Apps running in the background use up the battery |
87% |
|
A screen protector will stop your phone getting scratched |
77% |
|
Taking out your SIM card keeps you from being tracked |
75% |
|
More megapixels = better camera |
66% |
|
You can dry a wet phone in a bag of rice |
66% |
|
Phones interfere with hospitals and planes |
43% |
|
Overcharging a phone damages the battery |
39% |
|
Charging your phone overnight is bad for it |
34% |
|
You shouldn't keep your phone in the same pocket as a credit card |
31% |
|
Having a phone near your private parts can reduce sperm count / fertility |
31% |
|
Incognito mode protects your privacy |
30% |
|
Smartphones give off dangerous radiation |
29% |
|
Mobile phone use near a petrol pump can cause an explosion |
26% |
|
You shouldn't use your phone while it’s charging |
24% |
|
A bigger battery means longer battery life |
21% |
|
You should drain your battery completely before charging |
18% |
|
Free Wi-Fi is safe to use |
5% |
You will find the study in full here: https://www.onbuy.com/gb/blog/mobile-phone-myths-brits-believe-the-most~a192/.
