• News
    • Tech News
    • AI
  • Gadgets
    • Apple
    • iPhone
  • Gaming
    • Playstation
    • Xbox
  • Science
    • News
    • Space
  • Streaming
    • Netflix
  • Vehicles
    • Car News
  • Social Media
    • WhatsApp
    • YouTube
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
TikTok
Snapchat
WhatsApp
Submit Your Content
Psychologists reveal what it really means if your phone is always in silent mode

Home> Science> News

Published 10:17 9 May 2025 GMT+1

Psychologists reveal what it really means if your phone is always in silent mode

This phone setting apparently says a lot about who you are

Harry Boulton

Harry Boulton

Having your phone on silent mode is something you see far more commonly today compared to two decades ago, as the age of constant notifications can often make the pings and bells feel never ending, yet psychologists have revealed that the reasoning behind going silent could actually have a deeper meaning.

With how much we all use our smartphones these days it's easy to see certain behaviors reflect specific personality types. Researchers have indicated that repeatedly checking your own Instagram story could be a clear sign of narcissism, and excessive screen time has a number of negative health benefits that can harm your memory and overall cognitive function.

However, something as simple as putting your phone on silent is revealed to show a number of different psychological patterns that have unexpected consequences when it comes to daily life, as reported by Talk Android.

Phone notifications can be distracting, pulling you out of a state of deep concentration if played aloud (Getty Stock)
Phone notifications can be distracting, pulling you out of a state of deep concentration if played aloud (Getty Stock)

Advert

One of the biggest reasons why many choose to opt for silent mode is to enhance their focus, as it's understandably distracting if your phone is constantly pinging and ringing while you're trying to get something done.

Research conducted by the National Library of Medicine outlines that the concept of 'flow state', which denotes the period of deep concentration where productivity peaks, is difficult to achieve and can often be disrupted when notification sounds are enabled.

Additionally, those who are more likely to show signs of smartphone addiction are far more easily distracted when notification sounds are turned on, as it is constantly pulling them away from what they're supposed to be doing.

One discovery that might shock you though is that, in some cases, having notifications silenced on your phone can actually increase the number of times that you end up checking it, ultimately distracting you more from your work.

Advert

Participants in a University of Pennsylvania experiment checked their phone far more (98.2 daily checks) when on silent mode compared to having their phone on vibrate (52.9 daily checks), and this is likely linked to the fear of missing out, otherwise known as 'FOMO'.

In essence, when you have notifications enabled you always know when you're being contacted or whenever your phone wants to notify you of something, so you likely only check your phone when it 'tells' you to.

Having notifications silenced can often lead people to check their phone more, through the fear of missing out (Getty Stock)
Having notifications silenced can often lead people to check their phone more, through the fear of missing out (Getty Stock)

However, when notifications are silenced the onus is far more on the user to stay aware of any updates, and it can lead to situations where people check their phone far more than they need in the fear that they've missed something important like a vital message or call, or that something is happening that they're not a part of.

Advert

Researchers link this behavior to the fact that your brain doesn't like uncertainty and being in the dark, and without the prompt of a notification sound, you never truly know when your next message comes through.

This won't affect everyone, and many people will find the silence of their phone's no notification sounds freeing, but for others it can actually increase their anxiety and significantly harm their focus in the long run.

Featured Image Credit: Kittiporn Sakchampha via Getty
Smartphone
iPhone
Android
Health
Science

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

2 days ago
  • 2 days ago

    Woman now sees through her tooth after losing her sight a decade ago in astonishing first

    It's a whole new world for Gail Lane

    Science
  • 2 days ago

    Scientists building ground-breaking nuclear device that could finally expose invisible universe

    The development of the nuclear clock could be used to detect dark matter

    Science
  • 2 days ago

    Scientists warn ancient Easter Island statues could vanish in a matter of years

    The iconic and mysterious statues could soon disappear

    Science
  • 2 days ago

    Experts warn Trump's controversial new space policy could actually be illegal

    Even the POTUS might not have the power to pull this off

    Science
  • Unique phone does something really weird when it gets cold
  • Horrifying video of phone under a microscope and shows how disgusting your smartphone really is
  • Exactly what happens to your body if you contract chikungunya virus as China enforces 'forceful pandemic measures'
  • Woman issues warning against showering with your phone in the bathroom after making disturbing discovery