Is this a compulsion, why is the first thing people do?

Is this a compulsion, why is the first thing people do?
when they reach into their pockets and pulls out their iphones, smartphones to immediately start look at facebook, or whatever they do. Is this a unconciscous compulsion they all share.
Why do people look at their phones with their heads down when they are walking? Isn't this dangerous especially on the streets, and thieves, or burglars could easliy sneak up on you, within a few inches, and you wouldnt even know it?

It's more of a habit than a compulsion people don't tend to think too much about being attacked in broad daylight in a crowded street, but at night or on your own people are usually more careful about looking around people have just become very dependent on technology and feel (myself included) that they always have to know what's happening online in case they miss anything