Mobile phones are one of the quickest communication methods worldwide, making it challenging to imagine life without them. It is among the most successful inventions in the modern world. Mobile phones have come with convenience to consumers in an unprecedented way. Older people, adults, and millennials use a phone for various purposes. Most teenagers use mobile phones for networking reasons. Besides, adults use their phones to communicate, organize itineraries, pay bills, and socialize. Older people keep their phones mainly for entertainment and communication purposes.
Furthermore, mobile phones assist them in keeping their health in check by use of various applications. Nevertheless, spending more time on mobile phones has adversely affected consumers, like physical issues and conflicts in social relationships. The adverse effects have affected individuals’ perceptions of mobile phones. Some individuals support technological advancement more so mobile users, while others oppose technological use. Those in support argue that phones are an essential communication tool and assist people in planning meetings and day’s events. For example, the various communication methods through social media make users link with others who are far and near, as pointed out by Muller (2017). Apart from verbal communication, mobile phones are used for browsing, connecting socially, playing games, and paying bills. At the same time, they can be addictive, which causes distraction in performing essential duties. Also, they cause depression due to social media influence, especially on millennials. The paper will argue the pros and cons of using mobile phones.
Overindulgence in mobile phone use can negatively impact social life and health. One of the widely researched areas on adverse effects of mobile use on health concerning technology is linked to causing cancer. Nevertheless, it raises conflicting opinions and ideas between researchers. Most researchers agree that mobile phones may be a health risk to users who use gadgets all the time. According to Liu et al. (2017), individuals who use most of their time on cell phones are highly susceptible to developing brain cancer. They suggest that the radio waves from cell phones harm individuals’ brains.
Consequently, cell phone utilization during chats harms the brain. Besides cancer risk, the nervous system is also altered by prolonged mobile phone use against the ear and head. Consumers may have recurring headache episodes, sleep disorders, short temper, and insufficient attention when the nervous system has interfered with them. Overdependence on cell phones also leads to loss of human contact because an individual has gotten used to linking with others through the phones. It thereby reduces social skills, and this affects human relations. Teenagers and young individuals are victims of the utilization of mobile phones, and they can suffer depression if denied access to phones. Addiction to cell phones makes them lose touch with the real world, leading to psychological problems and an inability to interact physically with others.
Additionally, cell phones have a negative impact as they decrease intelligence and creativity due to focusing too much on the phones rather than creative activities. Encheve et al. (2017) state that learners rarely go to libraries as they use Google. The search engine is easily accessible through cell phones, and the narrowed research through Google limits one from getting broad information on a subject. Information that is easy to access minimizes a person’s enthusiasm to get accurate information. Moreover, spending more time on cell phones limits one from interacting with the surroundings, impacting creativity. Spending much time on gadgets makes to not think soberly and times leads to suicide.
On the other hand, mobile phones also influence positively, which cannot be overlooked by the above-mentioned adverse effects. Liu et al. (2017) stipulate that most people perceive nicely about mobile phones. In most states, individuals show that cell phones are appropriate for personal use as they positively impact the economy and learning. Mobile phones assist people in maintaining contact with relatives and friends through the use of social platforms. Moreover, cell phones keep people updated on the latest information and news that concern them. Muller (2017) points out that access to social platforms and entertainment services is one of the benefits of cell phones in contemporary society. Individuals need to immediately watch their favorite programs on television as they can access them on their mobile phones.
Furthermore, cell phones have several gaming platforms that assist people in relaxing and easing the brain after a stressful day. Mobile phones are also important as they help in emergency cases in that communication is easy, making emergency response fast or instant. In education, phones can assist teachers and learners in constant engagement. Learners and teachers interact through mobile platforms like Whatsapp, where they can send learning materials and get students’ responses. Mobile phones have improved communication for special needs individuals, making things clear.
An examination of the influence of cell phones around the globe shows that phones impact a big part of human lives in society. On a positive dimension, mobile phones are the best in improving communication between people. Communication has improved where people interacting are far away from each other by mobile phones. The innovation history leading to the innovation of mobile phones shows that communication is a primary tool in the socialization of humans in society. Present mobile phones have made strides in satisfying human needs in terms of communication and updates on current affairs. Mobile phones are applied in several ways, including security surveillance, commerce, education, and relation.
On the contrary, the cell also has negative impacts considering that young people take prolonged time on their phones. Researchers have also tried to prove that a long time on cell phones affects the nervous system and the brain. Additionally, taking much time on virtual games and the internet decreases an individual’s interaction with others and the natural world, making them less creative and intelligent. The divergent internet use shows that people can access information using mobile phones, decreasing creativity as the data is always readily available. In a nutshell, mobile phones are one of the best inventions humans have ever experienced, and undoubtedly, people have become dependable on gadgets. It shows how important humans cannot live without it; therefore, the benefits outweigh the adverse effects. Those who are affected are individuals who overindulge in the use of this device.
References
Encheva, et al., 2017. Mobile and information literacy perceptions and skills of library and information sciences and humanities students from Bulgaria and Turkey. International Information & Library Review.
Liu, Q. et al. (2017). Mobile phone addiction and sleep quality among Chinese adolescents: A moderated mediation model. Computers in Human Behaviour
Müller, B. (2017). Mobile communication as an invader in face-to-face interactions: An analysis of predictors for parallel communication habits. Computers in Human Behaviour
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