The trouble with technology

How Addiction to Smart Phones Is Hurting Society

A 16-year-old girl spends hours on Twitter in place of doing her homework.

Texting causes a teenager to walk into a pole.

Hoards of fans record a concert behind their phone camera instead of enjoying the live performance in front of them.

And these are just a few examples of the negative effects due to public obsession with technology.

According to data recorded in 2012 by Pew Research Group, 67% of cell owners find themselves checking their phone for messages, alerts, or calls — even when they don’t notice their phone ringing or vibrating.

Add that to 44% of cell phone owners who reported they have slept with their phone next to their bed because they wanted to make sure they didn’t miss any calls, text messages, or other updates during the night.

Even worse, the same poll found that 29% of cell owners describe their cell phone as “something they can’t imagine living without.”

Houston, we have a problem.

With smart phones increasingly taking on the same capabilities that used to be exclusive to cameras, computers, and radios, the world is entering a mobile-phone-dominated age. The traditional way of doing things is almost extinct in the majority of young people with iPhones and Galaxies in hand.

In the 1990s, the development of computers was a radical, exciting thing. The creation of laptops just recently was an even bigger deal in the improvement of storage space and portability.

Now, in 2014, a study conducted by CNN finds that mobile devices accounted for 55% of Internet usage in the United States in January- more than computers for the first time ever.

This show just how fast technology is progressing in the modern world. Who knows what will be the latest thing 10 years from now. Could smart phones be pushed aside for freaky mind-controlled items that don’t even require buttons to be pushed?

That is a scary thought. If computers are being considered an old-fashioned method of accessing email, games, and the Internet, society is definitely becoming a trap for the demand of the latest and greatest gadgets.

What happened to getting entertainment from, I don’t know, going outside or reading books? Devices such as computers and MP3 players certainly have their cons in encouraging a lazy society (especially among young people) but no handheld item is worse than smart phones.

Smart phones are the real monster because they combine all kinds of every-day activities that used to be supported by specific technological inventions: the checking of e-mail, texting, Internet usage, games, advanced cameras.

Smart phones are wickedly fast, portable, oh, and did I mention pretty? There are so many companies who offer good deals and varieties of brands. Why wouldn’t you buy something that can do anything you want it to?

Indeed, there are lots of benefits to having a smart phone. You can often get unlimited texting and calling with a plan that includes your entire family. You can watch movies, get on social media, even utilize online banking.

But, there are so many harmful effects of these mobile devices on society. Cell phones produce an entitlement attitude in so many people. It’s the, Why does Katie get to have the latest iPhone but I can’t syndrome. It’s the, Gotta Keep Up With The Jones phenomenon, only 10 times worse.

Smart phones have caused such a conventionality in American society. It has gotten to the point where everyone has to rush out to get the latest big thing, without stopping to realize that the phone they have can do enough to get them by. That they don’t need a water resistant phone if they don’t frequently drop their Motorola in the toilet.

It’s gotten to the point where high schoolers stay up till 3 o’clock on their phones instead of getting some much-needed sleep for the next school day. Where elementary kids post pictures on Instagram instead of being a kid, scraping their knees falling off their bikes or having playdates with friends.

Elementary kids DON’T need smart phones. Since the advent of these toys, society has become even more selfish and demanding of technology. The aspect of connecting face to face has been utterly damaged. Even doing things like, let’s see, writing a thoughtful thank you note (as opposed to a Facebook message) has become something that is a thing of the past for many.

These courtesies shouldn’t be considered old-fashioned. And it’s all a result of people not using their smart phones in a balanced, limited manner.

Of course smart phones aren’t completely evil. One can take advantage of a phone’s capabilities, but they have to be cautious and use it sparingly.

Companies, adults and schools should be teaching young people the importance of doing other things with their time besides scrolling through pictures of cats on Tumblr or complaining about math tests to friends through Twitter. After all, what happened to going over to a friend’s house to study instead of “snapchatting” them questions?

More importantly than that, America’s every-day innovators and leaders need to set the example and turn off their phones after a long session, as well. Only then will values such as caring about others and appreciating nature be a forefront in society.

Only then will the public not be unhealthily addicted to technology. Smart phones do have their merits. It’s just a matter of using them responsibly.