Most people can't get through a meal without checking their phone, survey finds

Most people can't make it through a meal without checking their mobile phones, new research from YouGov in the UK has found.

According to a survey of more than 2,000 people 55 percent said they checked their phone during dinner, while 53 percent said they look at their phone even when dining out with friends or family.

Such is our addiction to our mobile devices that more than half (54 percent) said they could not go more than two days without their phone before it bothered them, and one in five said they couldn't cope being without their phone for four hours.

In a bid to tackle the growing addiction to electronic devices a number of national campaigns, such as Scroll Free September, were launched to help users cut down on their mobile device use and raise awareness on the addictive nature of electronic devices.

Both Google and Apple have responded to the growing debate about the impact of mobile phone use on public health by introducing usage tracking tools features to their devices in an effort to improve digital well-being.

Last month Apple launched a new feature on iPhones and iPads designed to limit screen time, especially in children, the Daily Telegraph reports.

The software update was intended to allow users track and limit the time they spend online to counter smartphone addiction, but hacks were quickly found to bypass the feature including manually changing the time on a device.

Meanwhile the negative impact of staying in contact with your device has been well documented, especially when using social media.

5Rights, a children's charity founded by Baroness Kidron, earlier this year said social media was so addictive for children that the Government should classify it as "social harm" and make it carry health warnings.

The new research was carried out to mark YouGov's partnership with The Future Starts Here exhibition at the V&A Museum, which examines Britain's increasing addiction to mobile devices and how it is changing human interaction.

Russell Feldman, director of digital, media and technology research at YouGov said: "It will have escaped no-one's notice that smartphones are taking over our lives. Across the land, the sight of heads bowed over small screens is now ubiquitous.