Harmful Cell Phone Use and Ways to Break Off This Habit

Introduction: The Rise of Technology Dependency

In our society, people are becoming increasingly dependent on technology—especially cell phones. There are many benefits to having a mobile device, and yet most people don’t realize that they are overusing them, actually harming their own well-being: socially, physically, and emotionally. It’s something about the ‘ping’ of a text message and the number of likes or comments that keeps us hooked to our phones. It has turned children into gamblers, sitting at the slots machine, losing track of time, and addicted to the next spin. A survey has found that the average person looks at their phone 27 times a day. But to us, that’s considered light because we actually spend… 8 hours per day! And this is a huge concern. As younger generations are exposed to these technologies longer, they risk their mental health (Twenge & Campbell, 2018).

The Allure of Constant Connectivity

You’re probably thinking—So what? How is this lifestyle unhealthy? Well, even though there are many benefits to having a phone, most people are overusing them, actually harming their own well-being to the point where our phones give us a false sense of relief. This is called NOMOPHOBIA: No Mobile Phone Phobia, or FOMO: Fear Of Missing Out. Dopamine Labs is an industry that keeps tabs on how people use their phones, and with this, they can make apps more engaging and persuasive. An example of this is Facebook’s infinite scroll—infinite scrolling is a web-design that loads content ceaselessly as the user scrolls down. As a result, people are now spending an hour on Facebook every day, and that’s 25% more than 2 years ago (Alter, 2017)! As for Snapchat, users have streaks reaching over 300 days! These are just a couple of ways how tech industries keep people hooked onto their apps, increasing their profits.

The Impact on Mental and Physical Health

Research also shows that technology can impact our memory, concentration, mood, and sleep. Similar to candy, children cannot repress their desires—they don’t know when to stop. This can seriously impact their health, as their brains are not fully developed. In another experiment, it showed that text notifications or vibrations cause people to lose focus. This demonstrates that we are becoming TOO dependent on our phones, having no control over ourselves. And it’s not just being addicted that makes cell phones so unhealthy—radiation and blue light play a major factor as well. Smartphone companies like Apple and Samsung are required to share a message about RF exposure, yet most people have never seen it before or been able to find it. If you go into your phone’s settings, under the legal subsection, there will be an article about RF exposure: …. “To reduce RF energy, use a hands-free option such as speakerphone and carry the phone at least 5 mm away” (Mobile Manufacturers Forum, 2020). Despite these recommendations, most people hold their phones up against their bodies. And for those who don’t know what blue light is… Blue light is a color in the visible light spectrum, which our eyes are sensitive towards. Since blue light has a short wavelength, it produces a high amount of energy. Studies show that being exposed to blue light for a long period can cause retinal damage and macular degeneration, which can lead to vision loss like cataracts (Harvard Health Publishing, 2017).

Potential Health Risks and Diseases

This leads us to our next topic, the types of diseases or illnesses cell phones can cause. For years, there was a constant disagreement on whether or not radiations (emitted from cell phones) were harmful. Until 2011, WHO stated that cell phone radiation was possibly carcinogenic—in other words, cancerous (World Health Organization, 2011). When a $25 million study tested the effects of cell phone radiation with rats, they unfortunately developed severe heart and brain tumors (National Toxicology Program, 2018). And it’s not just only that. I want everyone to look at their hands. Have you ever noticed that your pinky is bent more than the other hand? … It’s probably because of big smartphones. These dents could be a sign of Dupuytren's contracture, which causes tissues covering your tendons to stiffen. How about text neck? That cramping, stabbing pain from looking down at your phone too long. This is because when you keep your head down at a 45-degree angle, it puts approximately 49 pounds on your neck. This can affect your spine, respiratory functions, and even emotions if you’re not careful.

Solutions: Breaking Free from the Habit

However, it’s not too late to fix the damage caused by our cell phones. We can reduce these effects through mindfulness or, as we call it, a mindful moment. Guidelines recommend keeping phones away from the body when they’re not in use—not in your pockets—and sleeping with phones away from the bed. We should also use speakerphone or a headset to make calls instead of holding the phone against our heads. In addition to that, try to replace phone use time with engaging activities or actually interacting with people/friends. Implementing these changes can help mitigate the negative effects and lead to a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.

References:

• Alter, A. (2017). Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked. Penguin Press.
• Harvard Health Publishing. (2017). Blue light has a dark side. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/blue-light-has-a-dark-side
• Mobile Manufacturers Forum. (2020). Mobile phone radiation and health. Retrieved from https://mmfai.info/public/safety-and-health/mobile-phones-and-health/
• National Toxicology Program. (2018). Cell Phone Radio Frequency Radiation. Retrieved from https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/results/areas/cellphones/index.html
• Twenge, J. M., & Campbell, W. K. (2018). Associations between screen time and lower psychological well-being among children and adolescents: Evidence from a population-based study. Preventive Medicine Reports, 12, 271-283.
• World Health Organization. (2011). IARC classifies radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans. Retrieved from https://www.iarc.fr/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/pr208_E.pdf