In the modern world, cell phones are a constant necessity. It would be difficult to find a person who does not have a cell phone and even more difficult to find a person who is not constantly checking it for new texts, calls, notifications or even just the time.
It would be hard for this generation to imagine a world in which cell phones did not exist. Simply walking through a public place will prove that world is long gone. Even as I sit here in the library typing this, I am using my phone to listen to music and text, while I glance around and see a person walk past staring at her phone oblivious to her surroundings.
What is the big deal about being connected to the world at all times? I am sure my parents and family are not the only ones who give grief for being on my phone during family gatherings. However, maybe they have a point. Why do we feel the need to be constantly accessible? What is the worst that could happen if we turned the phones off for a day?
What we do not realize is there are a few actual concerns when it comes to cell phone use. As well as with computers and television – it affects eye sight. Up to 90 percent of people these days are affected by computer vision syndrome, which is caused by staring at a screen, be it a computer, a Kindle, or a smartphone for two or more hours continuously.
The symptoms may include blurry vision, headaches, dry eyes or even long-term nearsightedness. The natural point of focus for the eyes is 20 feet away from the face. People usually sit about two feet from their computer screen, which forces a ring of eye muscles to contract constantly to redirect focus. NBC News instructs us to practice the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Another problem with cell phone use is broken concentration. When your phone is sitting beside your keyboard while you’re typing, like mine is now, you can always see out of the corner of your eye if it lights up notifying you of a text message. This will undoubtedly make you stop your work to check what it says, cutting off your train of thought as quickly as the screen lights up.
There have been studies linking cell phone use with memory loss. Yahoo reported on a University of Washington study which has shown memory loss in rats who have been exposed to radiation from cell phones. This, along with radiation from phones causing brain tumors, has not been 100% proved in humans. However, regardless of what the radiation from phones actually does, it cannot be argued that it is not good for your health.
Not only are there health concerns but social concerns. Constantly being on your phone demonstrates to other people that their time and company means nothing to you. I think many people have confused their priorities when it comes to their real life relationships as opposed to their social media relationships.
Now obviously it would be out of the question to ask people to completely give up their cell phones. I wonder how long any person could go with their phone turned off. I think people should learn to be less dependent on their phone and more engaged in real life. If you have things to physically do, don’t stop to get on your phone, to Vine, tweet, or Instagram what you’re doing. Be 100% into what you are doing.
A few suggestions I have for people who fear they may be too dependent on their phones: Have face to face conversations with people, while your phone remains in your bag, purse, or pocket – on silent. Use one gadget at a time. If you are on Facebook on your laptop, keep your phone in your bag. Don’t use cell phones to cure boredom; do homework, go for a walk, do yoga, read a book. Be more engaged with the people in the room than with the people in your contact list. Spend more time looking into the eyes of human beings and listening to their voices than looking through a filtered lens at the lives of others.
