Gen Y suffer smartphone withdrawals

GEN Y Australians are addicted to smartphones and use them on the loo, in bed and - illegally - in the car.

YOUNG Australians are so addicted to their smartphones that most admit using them while on the toilet and some suffer withdrawal symptoms if they're taken away.

The findings are revealed in new research that also shows one-third of Australia's Gen Y (roughly, 20-30 year-olds) admit checking their smartphones, emails or social media sites at least once an hour.

One-third also admit feeling anxious or as if "part of them was missing" if they are separated from their smartphone, according to the Connected World Technology Report published on Wednesday by tech giant Cisco.

The report finds 91 per cent of Gen Y Aussies surveyed own a smartphone and 88 per cent admit using them in bed, on the loo and while brushing teeth.

But the most worrying finding is that one in six Gen Y-ers admit using their smartphones to send text messages while driving.

That's despite strong evidence that using mobile phones in the car is incredibly dangerous.

One study published last year by Ohio State University, in the US, found that text messaging was more dangerous than merely talking on the phone while driving.

But our smartphone addiction does have its upside.

Telstra says Australians will send 44 million text and pictures messages from mobiles this Valentine's Day (Thursday).