Negative Effects Of Mobile Phones

In the modern-day world, there are about 6.8 billion cell phone subscriptions. Mobile telephones have really changed the way we do things in our daily life. Before cell phones were invented individuals were more interactive with each other. In the late 1900’s, Martin Cooper invented the first mobile telephone. Today we have a variety of mobile phones to choose from such as Apple and Samsung. Widespread cell phone use has definitely affected the world negatively because it is a distraction, can be harmful, and addicting.

Small wireless device that has at least the same functions of a standard wired telephone but is smaller and more mobile. A cell phone requires a subscription to a service provider and requires either a prepaid or monthly billing setup. Generally, they have more functions than traditional land lines and need to be charged after a period of time. Also called mobile phone or mobile device.—BusinessDictionary.com

Texting has become the most effective way of communication among young people. A large number of young individuals look at their phones hundreds of times a day just to see if there is a text notification on the screen. Many young adults prefer to express their feelings and desires through a text message, because they do not have to deal with the other party’s facial expression and emotions. Such practice is normally performed, leading teenagers to create a form of dependency on their cell phones. However, some people argue that texting does not affect their normal lives whatsoever, also, that texting is more efficient than calling or talking personally. Yet, in the long run, the usual practice of texting can cause severe psychological,

Cell phones have become a shield where individuals can hide behind when they are trying to avoid human interaction. Thus, there is a sense of comfort when one is holding their phone. This becomes troublesome as it takes away from personal connections that could have otherwise been made when one puts down their phone (Lepp, Li, & Barkley, 2016, p. 407). However, there are times where cell phones can be beneficial for maintaining relationships, such as when one cannot meet face-to-face and when one does not have the confidence or language skills to make plans with someone unless done behind a screen (Pierce, 2009, p. 1368; Conti-Ramsden, Durkin, & Simkin, 2010, p. 197). It is important to note, that throughout my observations, especially while memoing and coding I discovered that cell phones were more of a barrier than an opportunity to establish and strengthen relationships. Additionally, the data I found at the University of Windsor in the CAW cafeteria very much resembled two scholarly journal articles: Social Anxiety and Technology and Mobile Voice Communication and Loneliness, which made me appreciate not only the time and effort that was taken to publish these articles, but also my own research experience. In sum, I hope that my work emphasizes the influence that smartphones have in regards to human contact.

In this day of age cell phones are everywhere and used for everything, but this technological wonderland comes with a price, a price that teens are paying with their health. “What this generation is going through right now with technology is a giant experiment, and we don't know what's going to happen,” says Frances Jensen, chair of neurology at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine (Heid 2). So far this experiment has yielded negative results, causing teens to have less sleep, depression, and Internet addiction.

“Hey get off your phone! We’re eating dinner!” You hear this everywhere you go now, be it at Chucky Cheeses, or the Olive Garden. Mobile phones are taking control of our very lives. What once was a boisterous family outing is easily turned into utter silence, with only the sound of tapping fingers on an electric rectangles, to tell that anyone is even still alive. Mobile phones not only make us antisocial to our families and friends, but are also making us stressed and distracted in life. What started off as a great idea for connecting people has turned into a device that is doing the opposite of its intended purpose.

Smartphone technology has become increasingly affordable and attainable over recent years and has overtaken other electronic devices as a means of connecting with others on the internet. Owning a smartphone has become an expectation amongst younger generations, with up to 95% ownership amongst adults below 40 years old. (Sensis, June 2016). The benefits of this small, versatile device are clear. Smartphones have massively improved quality of life, especially through easing access to social media and information online. Consequently, many people are reliant on this device for daily living with 45% of Australians stating “I can’t live without my mobile phone”. (Roy Morgan Single Source Australia, 2015-2016).

It’s a common sight: children, adolescents and even infants on mobile devices. From watching YouTube to playing games to texting friends the myriad of activities mobile phones provide are endless. That’s the problem. The never-ending, inexhaustible input from these devices causes everyone - not just minors - to have them constantly on their person, providing stimulus every waking moment of the day. This constant input is fine for an adult, with properly developed self-control functions and the ability to ignore the notifications and urges. However, with young children and adolescents, whose self-control functions and the ability to deny the draw of the mobile phone had not yet developed, this sustained input can cause major issues. The constant presence of mobile devices in young children and adolescents daily lives is a poor influence on them and their future success by causing symptoms of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and hindering the development of self-control.

In all five scholarly journal articles the main theme repeatedly discussed is how cell phone use, specifically amongst students influences human interaction. However, it is important to note that smartphones can positively or negatively affect how we behave in social situations. For instance, it is evident that in each academic source cell phones are used more for socializing than for technological purposes (Conti-Ramsden, Durkin, & Simkin, 2010, p. 197). The prominent ideas explained in the literature reviews revolve around how smartphones can distract humans from what is right in front of them as well as a gateway for humans that have a hard time communicating with others face-to-face, especially for those with fear of rejection (Pierce, 2009, p. 1367). Thus, the connectivity given to humans by cell phones is significant as it can be helpful for those who use it to enhance their social relations, but it might also be unfavourable for humans who are still developing, have already poor social and communication skills as well as issues relating to loneliness (Jin & Park, 2013, p. 1094). For this reason, surprising findings, my own experiences, and similarities between all five articles will be examined further in my analysis.

The smartphone has revolutionized the world of communication, besides making phone calls. Nearly all smartphones can provide directions through GPS, take pictures, play music and keep track of appointments and contacts. With the simple click you can install any app, the list of possible smart phones uses grows every day. But with everything we do/use always has downsides. Smartphones can mess with our sleep, stress us out, and take over our attention. Psychology may be the connection to helping people take back control of technology to prevent negative effects.

Smart phone seems to be one of the most important inventions of 20th century, it has become quite popular all over the world with its outstanding functions. People can use phones to surf on the Internet, and upload their latest pictures at any place, anytime. It seems that smart phones have become an indispensable part of people's daily life. However, some people are obsessed with their smart phones, which has had a negative effect on their normal life. Especially the younger generation, they cannot survive without their cell phones. Many people feel uncomfortable in the absence of a cell phone. This may become a cell phone dependency.

There is no disagreement that smartphones nowadays make everyday life easier. Anything you could ever think of is at the tip of your fingertips 24 hours of every day. From online shopping, to being your alarm clock, to counting how many breaths you take in one day, smartphones can do it all. The rise of the smartphone era has made humans become super dependent on technology. With so many different features, consumers are able to keep music, pictures, personal information and health data all in one small hand held device. Having all of this information in the palm of your hand is great, but there is a catch that no one has really thought of: the physical health issues that these devices can cause.

Many of you may feel as though a cell phone is another mere limb on your body and that it helps you keep concentration levels up. To address your concerns there have been studies and scientific proof concerning this issue. I believe while cell phone use can be acceptable, it can also cause disruptions and causes your level of confidence go down. This only causes loads of problems it also causes terrible drawbacks. Cell phone use and texting cause concentration levels to go down and it is difficult to redirect attention after such usage.

Communication has always been at the forefront of technology. The better we improve our communications, the faster we as a human race develop and continue to innovate on the technology of today’s time. Since the late 1800s, there have been various devices created to make long distance communications easier and more efficient. From the telegraph to the telephone to the technology we have today, we have succeeded in bringing everyone in the world a little closer. But in the past ten years, the examples of ease in communications has never been more prevalent. In fact, a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center discovered that over ninety one percent of adult Americans owned a cellular device and those results also apply to other european countries as well. The cell phone industry has grown to become some of the biggest companies in the world and make a product that is always on us. Which is why many worry when they hear that mobile phones emit a certain radiation called radio frequency (RF) radiation. This radiation is regulated by the Federal Communications Commision and has been extensively researched, but many people still wonder if this cell phone radiation is safe. Some people say that this radiation is completely free from harm and has zero to a few minor health defects on its consumers, while others believe that the radiation is poisonous and has many negative effects on users. The correct side is the latter and people should know the impact that these devices have on their well being and whether they are truly safe from the technology they own.

There are three things that cell phone users do that irritate me; using phones at the movies, talking on phones while crossing the street, and talking on phones while driving. The users have no consideration for the safety and privacy of others. This is either due to bad manners or nomophobia (cell phone addiction). Nomophobia or nomo-phobia is the fear of being without a mobile phone or without access to a mobile phone for some reason (Dictionary.com). While cell phones have many positive benefits, there are negative risks that should be identified and avoided. This paper will discuss health, social, and psychological risks surrounding the use of cell phones.