iDon't have an iphone- Anna Patterson
How long could you last without your phone? For most of us, the luxury of playing Candy Crush and stalking someone on Facebook has become such an essential part of our life that we can hardly imagine going a day without it. When did a small, 3 ½ inch piece of metal become so crucial to our lives? We have the privilege of having the entire world at our fingertips, and we take advantage of that constantly. As one of the last remaining human beings on earth who doesn’t have an iphone, I have had a rare glimpse into what life is like without this coveted appliance. Living on the outside of a cult whose rituals are to take “ selfies”, “snapchat”, and “vine”, I have watched as phones have become a mandatory part of people’s everyday lives. Do not get me wrong, there are, of course, many benefits to owning a phone, but today I am going to talk to you about the destructive social, physical, and mental effects they have on us.
This issue recently became very evident to me while flying to Denver this summer. During a layover, a family caught my attention. A mom, dad, and two little girls all sat together, each on a different type of electronic. Instead of talking or playing card games, they were immersed in their appliances, lost in their own world for the entire layover and flight. They only spoke to ask for drink orders. After watching this family, I was curious to know how much of an impact that these devices were really having on our social and private lives. When I researched this topic, I came up with some startling data. For example, the excessive use of cell phones has replaced the need for interaction with real people. Listening to music and browsing the web have substituted our need for real, human company. Statistically speaking, almost 60% of smart phone users can’t last one hour without checking their phone! While out to dinner with friends, or just hanging out with a group of people, I have noticed how easy it is for someone to retreat into technology and completely block out the reality around them.
The physical effects that phones are having on our lives are just as damaging. In a study of Health Effects on Cell Phone Users, it stated that 52% of the subjects reported frequent headaches, irritability, eye strain, and tiredness due to usage of their phone. Also, phones can be attributed to a large number of injuries and deaths in car accidents. Each year, 28% of the crashes in the nation involve someone using a phone. This means that 1.6 million accidents every year are due to someone talking, texting, or being distracted. Despite these startling statistics and warnings we constantly receive about the dangers of distracted driving, the inability to put our phones down seems to have outweighed our safety.
Smart phones have the potential to be socially debilitating as well as mentally. With the constant stream of entertainment and social media that we have access to, the ability to focus in depth has become harder for the new generation to grasp. Although phones help us acquire information fast, they are not as apt at teaching us to ponder and think analytically about the information we are receiving. Anxiety is another mental side effect of owning a smart phone. The constant updates cause people to feel inadequate and anxious because they don’t have the newest model. Unknowingly, these devices that we are using are subtly changing how we think.
Unlike my mother, who believes that iphones are the anti-Christ, I understand that these devices have positive aspects to them as well. They are a great way to stay in touch with family who live far away, and useful for browsing the web, finding directions, or even playing a game or two. Making plans with friends is a breeze with features like group chat, something far too advanced for my phone to handle. Doug Gross, a writer for CNN says it best with his statement, “Yes, our gadgets provide a world of possibilities. But if we’re not careful, they can sometimes pull us away from the real one”.