The Negative Effects Of Cell Phone Usage Among Teens

One of the major problems in the world today is the dependency that teenagers have on their cell phones. The majority of people depend on their cell phones for everything that they do. They feel like they have to constantly check it to look at what is new on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. They forget to focus on the world around them and become absorbed in the online world. Some suffer from panic attacks if they don’t have their phone with them. They might not need their phone, but they have to have it with them.

With the introduction of electronic devices at a very early age, today’s youth would rather send a text message to the person sitting next to them rather than turning and actually speaking to them. Our youth are turning into mindless drones. We are partially to blame for this. Electronic devices, TV’s, iPods, hand held video game consoles, smart phones etc.… have taken the place of “babysitter”, and kids do not receive the interaction we did at their age. Now, we’re not talking about teenagers just yet, but rather the ages ranging from 5-12 year olds. The allure of these devices are so addicting that by ages 13-18, most are not able to function without them, unable to hold a conversation, unable to express feeling to us, their

In today’s society, people view the world through the very handheld electronic devices in their pockets, rather than going outside and experiencing life for themselves. They use their phones to communicate, share their everyday experiences, connect with their family, friends and loved ones. whether it may be from the other side of the world, or just the room. Cell phones have revolutionized the way humans communicate and socialize, ever since the first cell phone to hit the market in 1973 by John F. Mitchell. As much as cell phones are helpful and convenient, they have changed the world dramatically. This seem like an extreme claim to make, but evidence shows that cell phones have made the world a little more difficult. They have caused many problems such as fatal car accidents due to distracted drivers on the road, as well as sexting and revenge porn, which leads to a form of cyberbullying. Even cell phones themselves are harming their overall health, their social interaction, and even teen literacy. People may not have a solution to these problems but they need to find

In society today, almost everyone is guilty of spending too much time on electronic devices, cell phones in particular. Teens and parents alike can’t go for five minutes without checking for new notifications. According to Kelly Wallace in her article “Half of Teens Think They’re Addicted to Their Smartphones,” cell phone usage has become a real problem which affects not only teens, but adults as well. Within the article, it is stated that, “Sixty-nine percent of parents check their phone at least hourly compared to the 78% of teens who say they do that” (Wallace). Considering these alarming statistics it's no wonder that people have begun to admit to the over usage. Parents in particular worry about their teens over usage and have even gone

Whether you’re getting directions, calling a loved one to let them know you’re running a little late, or checking Facebook to catch up with an old high school friend, cell phones have began to dominate our technology based society due to their easy accessibility and endless uses. While “nine-in-ten Americans own a cell phone and nearly two-thirds own a smartphone,” the cell phone is has become one of the only things the vast majority of people deem necessary in their life (Rainie et al., 2015). “Ch 1: Always on Connectivity,” written by by Lee Rainie and Kathryn Zickuhr, explains how dependent adults really have become of our cell phones. “8 Fascinating Facts About How Teens Use The Internet And Social Media” elaborates

Everywhere you go teens seem to be glued to their phones, tablets, or computers. Technology is an addiction that does not seem to be going away any time soon. According to the Washington Post, teens can spend up to seven or more hours on their digital devices a day and the usage is still increasing. Not surprisingly enough, more than a third of all teenagers own a cellphone, ranging from a smart phone or just a plain old-school flip phone. But can spending all that time on their computers and smart devices be such a bad thing? Today’s easy access, always on world presents a wealth of opportunity for teens as students, but also challenges them to retain them essential humanity and unique personalities.

Parker Chilliers’ studies showed that more people use their phones during a dinner date with their family, or their date to avoid awkwardness, or to avoid talking to them at dinner (Chilliers ). However, people have been concerned with teenagers and cell phones, they want to make sure they have a life outside there phone. Some teenagers would rather stay inside then go outside. One study shows seventy two percent of kids ages 12-17 are getting phones( ). Today younger kids are getting a phone, this is a concern that they won’t have a social life outside of their phone.

Technological advances have increased dramatically in the past 40 years. Martin Cooper invented the first cellular phone in 1973, which was called the Dyna Tec, while working for the famous company Motorola. The first cellular phone did not sell well because it was as large as a brick. So now knowing how technology has advanced, it is obvious to see why it is advancing. Although technological advances have affected both the generalized public and society’s teenagers, it seems to have had a larger effect on society’s teenagers, specifically the advances in cellular phones. Not only does cellular phone usage affect a teenager’s social life and literacy, but it also affects their health. Cellular phones have a great impact on a teenager’s social life. The following solution would also be in their best interest without them even realizing it. The over use of cell phones by teenagers will have a negative effect on their academic, social, and mental development.

The second reason why technology is a bad influence on teenagers is that it takes up all of their free time. Today’s teens spend more than 7 1 / 2 hours a day consuming media — watching TV, listening to music, surfing the Web, social networking, and playing video games, according to a 2010 study of 8- to 18-year-olds conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Teenagers feel that if they aren’t doing anything, they should be on their phones. It doesn’t even have to be that they aren’t doing anything, just the temptation of the phone can be enough for them to be on it. I see people all the time with their friends, and they still feel the need to be on their phones when they should be talking with their friends.

Teens are becoming more distracted than ever before. “Experts say each beep, chime, or chirp seizes your attention, triggering [a] fight-or-flight response” (Kaminski). The urge to look at the notification that popped up on the screen of a cell phone, “comes from a chemical called dopamine” (Kaminski). The chemical makes it difficult to resist all the notifications a teen receives. “After [the] false alarm pumps adrenaline through [his or her] body, it takes [his or her] brain up to 30 minutes to regain focus” (Kaminski). “Technology [also] makes it harder for [one] to focus and get work done” (Lewis). When using a cell phone it takes the brain 30 minutes to attain a state of concentration needed to conclude a task in hand (Lewis). However, “It takes 50 percent longer to accomplish a single task, and one makes up to 50 percent more errors” (Kaminski). How much time does a teen spend looking at a phone-in-hand? [An] “average teenager spends more than 7 hours a day looking at a phone, tablet, laptop, or TV” (Lewis). Furthermore, a teen spends more than 53 hours on, or in front of a technical device per week (Lewis). Is the communication on a cell phone overwhelming the lives of teens? Despite the daily conversations a teen has in person, one will send and receive more than 3,339 texts just in one month alone (Lewis). Kristen Lewis, author of “Your Phone Could

In the 21st century, cell phones have been a popular choice of entertainment and communication for most of the population. It is not uncommon to walk around a grocery store or to venture out in public without seeing an individual using a cellular device of some sort; even at restaurants or the movies. When a teenager or an adult gets their hands on a smartphone, they just don’t know when to put them down. Although smartphones shouldn’t be banned in certain facilities (if they pay their own money for one, whoever bought it should be able to use it whenever and wherever they may want), they should be only used in moderation because of how much of a distraction the phones can really be.

Janis Elspas, founder of Mommy Blog Expert, says that she, “believes the rules and boundaries parents set for their children when they get their first cell phone or smartphone might be helpful in heading off any addictions later on.”(9)  Elspas’ children, now 18 and 20, didn’t own their first cell phones until they were at least a junior in high school with money to pay for part of their phone bills.  Elspas also has a no phone rule at table which goes to her and her husband, their children and any friends her kids bring over.  She believes, “Such a rule can prove to kids, firsthand, that they can ‘survive’ without having to see or use their smartphone constantly”(12)  While phone addiction is still running rampant the Common Sense Media poll found that more than a third, 37%, of teens very often or at least occasionally try to cut down on the time they spend on their electronics.  Many parents complain about how this generation overuses and can’t seem to put their phones down, but many parents will admit they don’t always have the easiest time unplugging themselves.  Twenty-seven percent of parents feel that they are addicted to their phones as well and 28% of teens believe they are as well. Both teens and parents admit to checking their at least hourly with parents at 69% and teens at 78%.  About half of parents admitted to feeling the need to immediately

Today, with my generation being technology based, many people have cellphones. Almost anywhere you go, you will see people on their phones. My generation today is slowly being turned into zombie addicts, as the iPhone industry begins to add more and more accessories to phones. Because of phones my generation has struggled with face to face conversation. While phones provide text message and social media, it is easy to say something behind a screen without having to own up to your thoughts or elaborate on them. Phones are the number one main distraction today. People are so glued to their phones today that they are willing to put there and others life at risk. For example, texting and driving. In 2015 42% of teens say they have texted while driving. Furthermore, texting while driving is the leading cause of death in teens. And more

With all the advancements in technology taking place there has been a lot of good that has come with it. Modern medicine, automobiles, and the cell phone which allows people to connect instantly. However with all the good things that have come with technology, there have also been bad things as well. One such thing would be cyberbullying and the addiction of smartphones. Smartphones have affected adolescents in ways previously not thought possible, such as causing poor social skills, addiction, and being used to cyberbully. Adolescents must be educated about the responsibility that comes with owning a smartphone. Smartphones should not be given to kids until they reach high school, because

Over the past years, improper smartphone usage has been a widespread concernedly problem among teens and college students. According to Hawi and Samaha (2016), “Smartphones are becoming an integral part of the lives of all age worldwide. People feel inseparable from their smartphones” (p. 321). Problematic smartphone use are considered as an “important indicators that someone is on the path to smartphone addiction” (Cevik, Gokcearslan, Haslaman, & Mumcu, 2016, p. 640). As the emergence of smartphone addiction, a great deal of negative effects come along as well. Researchers have worked to figure out the causal factors of smartphone addiction from both academic and psychological field. In the meantime, social media becomes a controversial topic among researchers since students spend most of their smartphone time on social media application. The question that whether social media is beneficial for students’ life is highly debated.