(CNN) -- If you've ever pretended to be talking on your cell phone to avoid talking to, or acknowledging, someone nearby -- you're not alone. One in 13 Americans have used this ploy, a new survey says.

In its report, the Pew Internet and American Life Project also explores the pros and cons of having a cell phone. Cell phones are great for quick information retrieval, Pew found. But not having fast mobile access to info can cause problems.

"Half of all adult cell owners (51%) had used their phone at least once to get information they needed right away," the report said. "One quarter (27%) said that they experienced a situation in the previous month in which they had trouble doing something because they did not have their phone at hand."

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