The negative impact of smartphones

Do you think smoking kills? How about the negative impact of smartphones? Or are we being controlled by technology unknowingly? In the previous decade, technological development boomed in the area of telecommunications, especially in the area of mobile technology. Although smartphones have changed our lifestyle by bringing convenience and some positive alterations, its negative impact has adversely affected students' academic performance, social interactions and self-regulation as well. Sadly, the negatives of a smartphone outweigh its positives.

A study by the (international journal and research on education, 2013) shows that 14% of students at one point or another, play games on their mobile during class lessons. However, some literature concludes that playing games in smartphones actually strengthen a student’s critical thinking. If if these findings are true, the purpose of this discussion is not whether the use of smartphones enhances a student’s critical thinking, but whether use of smartphones distracts a student from his learning, thus affecting his performance.

Undoubtedly, we tend to be overdependent on our smartphones. For example when we face difficult questions we no longer ask the professors; instead, we conveniently do a quick Google search to find answers. This not only affects us mentally, but socially as well.

Smartphones continue to become more popular every year. Mobile phone imports for the month of February, 2014 increased by 20% to Rs 6 billion, compared to Rs 5 billion in February, 2013. The opponent to this argument may put forward the idea that the acceptance of smartphones in their lives has brought them tremendous advantages. For example, they can communicate with their friends via Internet easily, at a lesser cost and without any restrictions.

Constant use of smartphones may cause headaches, decreased attention, shortness of temper, sleep disorders and depression. Most research reports that texting and playing games on mobile phones is also harmful for eyes. Regarding games it also worth mentioning, that sometimes they cause irritability and aggressiveness.

Today’s world is a world of technology and inventions, and there are many tools which essentially facilitate our life. Mobile phones play an important role in the development of human civilization, but their excessive use brings severe problems. Hence it is essential for each one of us to keep a check on our phone usage.