The Negative Effects Of Cellphone Addiction

Not long ago, people never would’ve thought that they could have a touchscreen phone that you could carry around in your pocket with you everywhere you go. In fact, it’s only been 10 years since the first iPhone came out. Since then, mobile phones have evolved rapidly. Over the years, people of all ages have become addicted to their smartphones which can damage your health in multiple ways. Phone addiction is a serious problem that needs to be solved. Using just a few simple techniques you could identify and solve your phone addiction. The basic steps to solving your phone addiction are, identifying your addiction, challenging yourself, and working with friends.

When people think of addictions, usually, drugs and chemical substances come to mind. A frequent trend observed in today’s age is not being able to go anywhere without one’s digital device and being addicted to that device, especially one’s cell phone. Adopting a cell phone separation anxiety, is a type of behavioral addiction that is seen more and more today. On average, people are spending about three hours on their phones each day. Alter states, “‘Behavioral addictions are really widespread now...risen with the adoption of newer more addictive social networking platforms, tablets and smartphones’” (Dreifus). As new technologies that cater to people’s wants increase, addiction to these technologies will increase as well. People become so attached to their phones that they will perhaps get distracted from their current situation. In the article “Hooked On Our Smartphones”, the author Jane E. Brody talked about how sometimes commuters or drivers put themselves in a dangerous position when they pay more attention to their phone instead of what surrounds them. The almost

Are we addicted to our cell phones? This is a common question that has arisen in the past several years as our phone technology and capabilities continue to increase. According to recent statistics, 85% of the U.S. population are cell phone users (Chen).We Americans use our cell phones to do just about everything. We talk, text, check our E-mail, surf the Internet, and interact in social networking, all on our phones. Because our phones have become so resourceful to us in our everyday lives, many say that cell phones have become addicting. Cell phones in today 's life have become very addicting to many people, and there are many ways in which to show how they are addicting.

“Although there have been reports of negative health effects from low levels of radio frequency energy, these reports have not been replicated or confirmed” (Childs, 2009). However, “research and anecdotes have suggested a number of other means by which cell phones may adversely affect health – and possibly not in the way we might think” (Childs, 2009). These health issues can be bacteria caused by not cleaning their cell phones that can be treated with antibiotics. It was also found that cell phone showed a significant deterioration in the quality of driving a vehicle. When walking and talking on a cell phone their attention to traffic is lowered and they stand the chance of getting hit by a car. Another health issue is to the thumb from texting, causing sores and blisters. Those users with allergies to certain metal can have additional side-effect in the form of contact dermatitis. The noise-related side effect to the ear from using an earpiece with a high volume, this is easily remedied by just by turning down the volume.

In “Jessie Brown: Who Says Smartphone Addiction is bad thing? The case for constant connectivity” (Brown, 2012), Brown claims that the cellphone is not the problem, in fact, it is the person and how they choose to value their time while using smartphones.

Our cellphones are instruments or symbols of communication. Our dependence in our phones increases overtime. We can’t get out in the house without it, it’s like everything revolves around it. People use it to contact their friends or family, explore games, do social media, send important emails and the list goes on. Every year, companies improve on making phones more useful and likewise, offers cheap alternatives, so that every person can have access to the device. Looking at a couple years back, phones are generally use for messaging and seen as an unnecessary accessories but now, people can’t live without. Based on the website called Tame Yourself, study shows that “...58% of smartphone users don’t go without checking their phones.” this explains how addicted we are on our devices.

Cell phone Addiction is a devastating and pervasive issue in the whole world. “90% of U.S citizens own a cell phone.”(psychguides) Cell phones are majorly improving causing people to enjoy them more which results in them using the cell phone to much. “67% people admitted to checking their phone even when it didn’t vibrate or ring. “(Psychguides) This is called phantom vibration syndrome. “9 out of 10 people have phantom phone syndrome.”(WebMD) I have it and you most likely do too. Some symptoms of cell phone addiction are 1. A need to use the cell phone more and more often in order to achieve the same desired effect. 2. Not being able to use the cell phone less often. 3. Preoccupation with smartphone use. 4. Uses cell phone when they are

Overdependence on phones is built on an important understanding of addiction and the relative effects of addictive characteristics. Just as compared to the TV in the late 1960s and also the internet at end of 1990, mobile phone technologies are the defining technologies of the 21st century. Cell phones are having a major impact on people and the society in several ways including privacy issues, time use and the ability to constantly access those (Junco et al., 2010).

However there had done others study that express the connection between cell phones and different types of biological damage to human body. For example The European Journal of Scientific Research conducted a lab experiment with normal human astrocytes, an LG Verizon cell phone and MRET-Nylon chip. The experiment revealed that normal human astrocytes cell that were exposed to cell phone radiation at a room temperature without the MRET-Nylon chip decreased by 20% less . Igor Smirnov is one of the author of this experiment and he stated on his article that "It is well documented that cell phones, which emit electromagnetic fields in the radio frequency range, can cause DNA damage, headaches, blurred vision, dizziness,fatigue, short term memory loss, neuralgias, tumors, sleep disturbances, aberrant brain wave activity and changes to cerebral blood flow, including altering the permeability of the blood brain barrier" (Smirnov, 2009). Smirnov statement and finding about the emission of electromagnetic wave from cell phones gives a lot to think. Even-tough it's a small amount of radiation that is being emitted from cell-phones, because they are held very close to the head at the end of a long term usage the risk of brain cancer and others health problems will

Multitasking is the concurrent performance of several jobs or things. Being able to multitask is viewed as a positive skill. It means having the ability to save time, which is a major justification to why most people try to multitask. Multitasking is important in the workplace and in the home. Although, there are instances where multitasking is not helpful, but can be dangerous.

Mental health issues represent one of the adverse effects of excessive cell phone use. In fact, many cell phone

Almost everyone has come encounter with a cell phone whether it is a smart phone or just a basic cell phone. It was found that the use of smartphones is about nine hours out the day for college students. Individuals who cannot go without their cell phones or also known as being addicted to cell phones have the same symptoms a drug addict might have. According to James Robert, “Certain people use smartphones to lift their moods. And it may take more and more time on those phones to provide the same level of enjoyment.” Robert even says, “They feel as if when their battery dies or losing their phone can cause an anxiety or panic attack.” There was a study that asked college students how many hours they spent on their cellphones during a day. “I spend more time than I should on my cell phone,” said one such statement. “I get agitated when my cell phone is not in sight,” said another. The trouble with being addicted to a cellphone is it interferes with normal activities and can

Some cell phone users show the same symptoms that a drug addict might have, Roberts explains. Certain people use smartphones to lift their moods. And it may take more and more time on those phones to provide the same level of enjoyment. For such people, losing a phone or having its battery die could cause anxiety or panic. That’s withdrawal, says Roberts. Too much phone use can interfere with normal activities or cause conflicts with family and other people, he adds. Yet despite these social costs, people may not cut back on their heavy phone use. Indeed, he says, people might be unable to stop on their own.The new study asked college students how much time they spent on different phone activities. It also asked them how much they agreed or disagreed with statements suggesting possible addiction. “I spend more time than I should on my cell phone,” said one such statement. “I get agitated when my cell phone is not in sight,” said another. (Agitated means nervous or troubled.) The more calls someone made, the more likely they were to show signs of addiction. The data also differed a bit for men and women. Among men, for instance, signs of a possible addiction showed a positive link, or correlation, with time spent on a Bible app and apps for reading books. As use of either app increased, so did the risk of addiction. Men’s use of social media

The smartphone is still a fairly new invention and is constantly being developed and improved. This device has integrated itself into our culture and is slowly becoming essential to our lives. The younger generation known as "Millennials" in the age range of 18-35 years old check their cell phones on average about 75.6 times a day (Soto et al., 2017). This number is exceptionally high when compared to the older generation who only check their phone around 23 times a day, according to the same research. This paper will cover cell phone addiction and its effects on the college students lifestyle. Addiction in this case is tied with the substance use criteria in The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM 5). In the criteria it states that substance use is "a pathological pattern of behaviors related to use of the substance." Extremely high smartphone use can lead to these behaviors where dependency is an issue.

This study shall be limited to a specific topic which is the cause and effects of cell phone addiction and its importance.