New kind of multi-tasking: nearly 66% of Canadians use their phone on the toilet
A new study has found the toilet is a popular place for Canadians to use their smartphones.
The study by Nord VPN, a cybersecurity company, found that the need to stay connected extends into washrooms, with 66 per cent of Canadians using them while on the toilet.
"We asked, 'what do people do on the toilet?’ Like, do they take their smartphone with them and, well, quite a lot of people actually are," said Adrianus Warmenhoven, of Nord VPN.
Warmenhoven said it's not hard to understand why.
"It’s very private, you can watch some things on the screen that you might not be able to do otherwise in a busy environment like an office or at home," he said.
"I can still remember the people before smartphones usually reading books."
In Sudbury, some people told CTV News the handheld devices help them stay connected.
"My cellphone’s pretty important to me," said Maureen Hughson, who was walking in Sudbury’s Bell Park on Tuesday.
"I like my cellphone."
"Definitely really important," said Jackie Touzin. "Being a single full-time mom, it is honestly my only way of getting in touch with school and my son’s specialist."
Touzin's son has cognitive autism, so her phone is always close by.
"I’m his only person that can help him," she said. "So for me it’s really important for getting in touch with people or emergency services."
The survey, which saw more than 9,000 people participate in various countries, found more than 65 per cent of Canadians use a phone in the bathroom.
"I do bring it to the washroom, all the time," said Touzin.
"But, I definitely do think I use it the most when I’m in the living room, even though I’m watching TV, I’ll still be on my phone going through emails, reading up news or information."
Although nearly 66 per cent of Canadians admit to using their cellphones while on the toilet, other countries are also in on the trend. Spain actually had the most responses with 80 per cent admitting to taking their phone with them when they do their business.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.