Some were used earlier in the year.

As for the NHS being over run, the whole point of the restrictions and the lockdown etc, was to prevent numbers from getting "out of control".
The very fact that these hospitals haven't been "cleared" and made ready for gig's and conferences seems to indicate that they may well be needed as we get into the winter months.
Let's hope they aren't needed.

I agree, my smart devices have been beneficial to keep up with people and as I live on my own, a way to help stop loneliness, if that stop me being smart, so be it

Certainly not "bizarre"
As for " if we don't keep up with innovation, how does the world progress." I don't see the world progressing.
And in itself that's a strange comment from you, seeing as you appear to be in full agreement with the multitude of backward steps the world has taken this past 8 months.

Now, I ask again, what benefit will I have from owning a smartphone that I don't already have ?
By the way, I have a non smart flip phone, calls in, calls out, text and a handy calculator. No apps.

I have no problem with others using a smart phone but I was speaking for myself with maybe a pointer towards the downside of owning one. and there are many.

But if it works for you then fine.

You don't know my circumstances so you have no idea if I'm acting "smart" or not.

Also, I'm not asking the under 25s I'm asking you.

"No, they (smart phones) are merely a tool of the modern era"
"merely" wrencat?? Well if the below is true then god help you in your "modern era"

As you can see below, anyone who values free speech, whatever their views, good or bad, right or wrong merely having an enquiring mind will be banned and censored from the majority of smart phones.

Mark Zuckerberg's social media site Facebook came out on top, according to a report from research company App Annie.
Facebook's other apps, Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram also made the top 5.
And then we have Youtube.

Tell me wrencat, what else are they withholding from you smart phone users. Yes, I know you can choose not to use these apps but the majority will just log on without a moments thought.

Is this the world you want, well, if you do, be very careful what you wish for. And ask yourself this, why are these people, and that includes the BBC, who and what are they so afraid of that they will censor you. Is their argument so weak that they are running scared of any debate?

I make no wonder people are so ignorant of what is happening around us....thanks to your "smart" phone.

Here we go. The members of the WEF as it happens.

From
In a statement, YouTube - which is owned by Google - explained misinformation."

According to YouTube - which has come under increasing pressures to crackdown on conspiracy theories and misinformation in recent months - it has already removed 200,000 dangerous or misleading videos about coronavirus.
Similarly, Facebook has announced plans to ban ads that discourage people from getting vaccinated.

The company introduced the policy in response to recent accusations that it has been profiting from the spread of anti-vaccination posts.
The social networking platform explained in a blog post "Our goal is to help messages about the safety and efficacy of vaccines reach a broad group of people, while prohibiting ads with misinformation that could harm public health efforts."

But how? It hasn't been tested safe yet? But never mind, no debate allowed. , that takes me back a few years, but you forgot to mention the clothes mangle, got me fingers trapped between those rollers too many times helping mum when I was a kid, must say I was glad when she got the newfangled twin tub, even though it was on the never never.

Or maybe it simply shows that he does understand it and for him the negatives far outweigh the benefits? Miro maybe full of different ideas, 99% of which I do not agree with but Invasion of privacy is not something that is a question in your smart phone device, it is a fact. Give your phone to anybody that knows anything about it and I guarantee there are multiple apps on there that have access to your microphone, camera, messaging features, browsing etc.

I have to have a smart phone for work purposes but outside of that I choose not to have one, I have a very good friend that works for a worldwide analytics company and it took him about 5 minutes to convince me to get rid of my smart phone.