Simon Cowell giving up his phone is the ultimate show of affluence | Arwa Mahdawi

Smartphones used to be a status symbol. Now they are a necessity for all but the most privileged people

Digital detoxes are all the rage these days, but did you know that unplugging from your smartphone suddenly can have severe, occasionally nauseating, side-effects? Within minutes of deciding to disconnect from the modern world to live a purer, more analogue life, some people have reported overwhelming feelings of smug superiority. Many of them appear to transform into modern messiahs, eager to preach the virtues of a smartphone-free life to anyone who will listen.

A case in point is Simon Cowell who, apparently, has not touched his smartphone for 10 months. Cowell imparted this news to the Mail on Sunday, which, in an uncharacteristic display of hyperbole, labelled it "an astonishing confession". The entertainment mogul said that abstaining from his mobile has helped his mental health; it has made him happier and more aware of the people around him. It has also made him more focused, he said. "The thing I get irritated with is when you have a meeting [and] everyone's on their phone ... You can't concentrate."