Cell Phone Etiquette Essay

Technology has advanced at a rapid rate over the past decade. We can now do things on the go, including social networking, shop, check email, not to mention, make a call. As technology develops, electronics get smaller and smaller. Over 10 years ago, cell phones were the size of (if not larger than) cordless house phones. We would only see them being carried by business men or lawyers. Now there are 8 year olds with blackberry’s. Cell phones are a huge part of most of our lives, But what effects have they had on American culture?

In the world today, cell phones are being used more than ever before. Everywhere you go, cell phones are present, and its users range from almost all ages. There is no avoiding the fact that cell phones are a prominent way of communication. They have become so influential in peoples’ everyday lives that many can not imagine life without a cell phone. Cell phones are not necessarily a bad tool, when used in moderation. Cell phones are changing the way people communicate and the way they live their everyday lives.

Cell phones; also known as thing that the human race revolves around. But how can we blame ourselves? You can do almost anything on your phone, right there in your hand. Most of us wouldn’t last a day without being able to check Instagram or text our friends. You can communicate with anyone anywhere. It’s hard to think about where we would be without them. Most likely, nowhere near where we are today.

Technological advances during the last fifty years of human history have given billions of people instant access to unprecedented communication methods. Individuals are no longer limited to letter writing and sending telegrams to convey a verbal message. E-mails, text messaging, video chat, instant messenger, and various social media outlets are all platforms for human communication in the modern world. One of the most significant communication devices to surface from the technological serge is the cellular telephone. Every individual with a cell phone has the ability to call any person, place, or agency at anytime as long as the individual is within the service provider's coverage area. The prevalence of cell phone owners has increased the use of cell phones in public places, such as schools, restaurants, and theaters, and their use in public is associated with both positive and negative implications. Some argue cell phones should be banned from public places because they are a social distraction, inhibit the user from being able to focus properly, and can cause safety concerns by interfering with airplanes and hospital equipment. Despite the negative impacts associated with cell phone use in public places, cell phones must be allowed in public for safety reasons, emergency scenarios, and to support the individual's right to personal freedom.

“Can you remember the last time you were in a public space in America and didn’t notice that half the people around you were bent over a digital screen, thumbing a connection to somewhere else?” (Fredrickson, 2013, pg. 1). In a world today where sending a text message containing the message “I luv you,” is equally powerful to that statement said in person to your significant other. Today’s generation is surrounded by the constant need to have technology and mainly cell phones at your fingertips. Gone are the days when people would talk to one another whilst standing in line, now it is all about having and using your cell phone to pass the time. All of this takes bondage on having an interpersonal relationship with each other and conversing

phones these days have it all. Add instant connectivity to people across the globe, and it’s

Do you have dinner with your family or with your phone? Having dinner with your family creates more bonding but having dinner with your phone or technology cause you to get dumb and dumber exponentially. Meaning starting slowly but increasing rapidly over time. From the article by Ron Friedman “A New Year’s resolution for the workplace,” Friedman talks about how study shows that devices or technology has been (can) cut our thinking ability in the workplace. He also talks about how phones can be such a distraction and you can get most out of it by keeping it away. This article talks about how technology is getting in the way of you making friendships or interpersonal connections with humans. A survey from “Pew Research Survey” from feb. 14-23 of 2014. “When is it okay to use your phone?” from 4 different generations. In “The Giver” by Lois Lowry, everything in the community is controlled by technology and that really limits them from knowing that technology is only hurting them. Technology hinders society because it gets in the way of person to person interaction, community is too dependent on technology, and lowers cognitive performance.

Being distracted by your phone for a split second can not only change your life forever, but possibly someone else’s around you. Checking to see texts, answering calls or seeing the latest tweet has become more important than road safety. Society is forgetting how to communicate with each other without the use of technology. While sitting in a waiting room or standing in an elevator, take a look around you. In todays society, rather than talking to each other we are more inclined to use out cell phones to pass the time.

With 87 percent of American adults owning a cell phone (Jerpi, 2013), it becomes obvious that cell phones have become a staple device in today’s society. Although cell phones offer convenience, they arguably come with negative affects. Cell Phones have become one of the fastest emerging technologies (Campbell, 2006). With 87 percent of American adults and teenagers owning a cell phone (Jerpi, 2013), it becomes obvious that cell phones have become a staple device in today’s society. Since the release of the first cell phone, they have immensely evolved and some would say, have become an essential to everyday life. Although cell phones offer convenience, they arguably come with negative and impactful effects on our social

“…are symptoms of how technology captures our attention and disrupts our connections” (Goleman 5). The more people are on their phones, the smaller the opportunity is to look someone in the eyes and have a human moment—to talk, to share, to comfort. Living in Seattle, I’ve used public transportation plenty of times and in all those times, I’ve noticed no one is looking at one another or outside—everyone is glued to their own phones. Go into a crowded room full of people—regardless of age—and the majority will be on their phones instead of communicating with one another. “You know it’s not right to check your phone when you’re with someone, but it’s addictive” (Goleman 8). While some may see nothing wrong in constantly checking your phone, the majority recognize it is an issue, but decide to overlook it. The ability people have in quickly overlooking a major issue, despite age or gender, proves the level of addiction towards our technological

When at a kitchen table or out somewhere to eat there are phones all over the place. It has become the social

Many teachers believe that cell phones don’t belong in a classroom because there are several disadvantages. An example maybe a student who uses a cell phone in class has no intension in listening or paying attention to the teacher. This student has a short attention span who cares about socializing more than his/her education. Cell phones can be very disruptive; they can invade people’s privacy and can also be used as harassment or bullying. The usage of cell phones is creating a huge problem particularly when they are used in school.

Have you ever wondered what would the world resemble in the event that we didn 't have any cell phones? Why is it that we get out of our comfort zone when we do not have access to our phones? Nowadays, cell phones have such a noteworthy effect on our day to day lives, and we owe it to the advancement of technology. In this research paper, we will take a closer look at this phenomenon by examining the evolution of cell phone devices, and it’s effects on society.

After conducting the in-depth interviews, I was surprised to find that people are very aware of the stated problem, that mobile phones are inhibiting face-to-face interpersonal communication, but they are doing very little about it. One theory on why people are doing very little about it could be attributed to Dr. Bruce Bryski’s statement that “Americans are rude in general and when you throw this variable of cellphones in, it makes Americans even more rude.” If it is already an accepted statement that Americans are rude, than what’s adding mobile phone use in social settings do to the vast array of actions that are considered rude things that Americans do? Not much, and it seems to be the attitude that Americans are taking, that it’s ok to do this.

The effects of technology on society will always be a double edged sword. The debate is a never ending one, in which both sides have valid and compelling arguments. The Industrial Revolution reduced manual labor in the long run, but had negative consequences such as child labor and sweatshop conditions. Nuclear Power reduces the cost of producing energy, but raises serious environmental issues like pollution and radiation. In this day in age refusing to assimilate to at least some form of modern living is simply not an option. One invention causing controversy today that has yet to cease being alter, modified, and “improved” since its debut is the ever present cell phone.