Phone Addiction
The word “addiction” always comes with a negative connotation. Addiction is known to ruin lives, destroy families, and in some cases, kill people. Drugs, alcohol, gambling, all of these are just some of the countless addictions out there. What many people do not realize is that some addictions can actually have a positive influence on an individual if handled correctly. One of the most modern and common examples of this as of now is smartphone addiction.
Smartphone addiction is quickly gaining attention around the world, especially in the U.S. Many teenagers and young children in this day and age rely on their phones or other technological devices for comfort, entertainment, knowledge, and social features. With a seven inch glass rectangle, you can change your day and your life. Studies discussed by Business News Daily show that the convenience of smartphones save twenty-two full days worth of time a year, giving individuals much more free time. In this free time, you can use the internet to socialize, entertain yourself, or fill your mind with fresh knowledge. I use my smartphone a lot, and some may consider me an addict, but I can confirm that I, along with many other users, explore the wonder of the internet because the real world is often stressful. Although there is much to see in the world, the internet allows us to search through our interests and personality, and truly enjoy ourselves. Sternberg Clarke describes the importance of entertainment in different settings, saying that it gives people more things to talk about with peers, and it often lets people relax in their normally stressful work or school environments.
Of course, this addiction can also be a negative impact. Health refers to a study that has confirmed that the constant act of seeing an ad and ignoring it can, and does, cause our minds to deteriorate and have a shorter attention span. Additionally, they state that checking your phone in the middle of a conversation is now so common there is an actual term for it-called “phubbing.” We are slowly creating bad habits for ourselves on our phones while also bringing ourselves joy and entertainment. That is why the smartphone addiction debates are so indecisive, phones have both positive and negative effects and difficult to determine which one outweighs the other.
If you think you could be addicted to your cell phone, there is an online test that can come up with a somewhat accurate depiction of your mental health. Simply look up “Smartphone Compulsion Test” and click the first link. Be sure to watch what you do online, and try to find out how to avoid these terrible habits smartphone addiction can cause.
Works Cited
Manual, Byline. “How Much Time Do Smartphones Save? 22 Days a Year.” Business News Daily, 21 May 2013, www.businessnewsdaily.com/4518-smartphone-app-usage.html.
Warr, Stephen. “10 Reasons Why Entertainment Is The Most Important Part Of Your Wedding.” Sternberg Clarke, 2014, www.sternbergclarke.co.uk/blog/10-reasons-why-entertainment-is-the-most-important-part-of-your-wedding. Karnasiewicz, Sarah. “7 Scary Things You Never Knew About Cell Phone Addiction.” Health.com, 2 Feb. 2018, www.health.com/anxiety/cell-phone-addiction.