Advantages and Potential Risks of Smartphone Use by Youth

The Upside with Mobile Phones include things like: Wellness Help: Programs that give customized texts that help people with diets, remembering to take medicines, or reassuring them to give up smoking cigarettes are becoming more popular. For instance, one company is exploring the power to send pictures of exactly what you might be consuming via your cell phone’s digital camera so you can connect with a nutrition counselor about that food.

Basic safety: The benefits of mobile phones in emergency circumstances is undeniable. The Pew Internet & American Life Project found that 74 percent of people in America say they’ve utilized a cellular phone during an unexpected emergency. In addition, some emergency agencies are promoting cell phone users to place ICE (in case of emergency) in front of names of individuals in your mobile phone directory whom emergency personal ought to call in case of an emergency. New phones using GPS technology permit parents to locate their kids.

Convenience: Nobody can argue the convenience of being capable to contact your son or daughter immediately, or a child being able to get in touch with his parent, in the case of an abrupt change of plans. Additionally, the Pew Internet & American Life Project reports that approximately 41 percent of cellular phone users claim they multi-task by making calls while commuting or waiting around.

The Negative aspect of Mobile Phones involves, Health Risks: another review looked over addictive, difficult usage of cell phones and found a link among low self-esteem and problem cell phone usage. A study calculating the link between cell phones and mental health discovered that teenagers that utilized mobile phones the most were more prone to be anxious and depressed.

Bullying: Texting is increasing used by bullies to torment their victims. Cyberbullying, psychological harassment in text or instant messaging, is a lot more often perpetrated by girls, who start improper messages or distribute damaging gossip.

Eye strain and digital thumb: Similar to other repetitive strain injury that can result from computer use and other repetitive tasks, these kinds of problems can result through focusing continually on a tiny screen and typing on little buttons.

Bacteria: Due to the close proximity to the mouth where germs may be passed from breathing, coughing and sneezing, most cell phones are crawling with germs. Furthermore, lots of people use their mobile phone everywhere, even in the toilet.

Sleep disorders: One review discovered that some teen cellphone customers will tend to be woken at night by incoming text messages or calls, and are therefore prone to be tired and less able to focus during the day.

Dependence: One review confirms that 37 percent of teenagers thought they couldn’t manage to live without having a cell phone once they had it. This study also demonstrates the more friends a teenager has, the more probable they may be to feel dependent on their phone and let phone calls or texts interfere with their regular routine.

Lying: The Pew Internet & American Life Project found that 39 percent of cell users ages 18-29 say they are not absolutely honest about exactly where they are when they’re on the cell phone.

Expense: Parents quite often experience sticker shock when they receive the statement for their child’s mobile phone. Special ring tones, text, photo and video messaging, down-loadable games, overage minutes and connecting to the internet may all be very costly and greatly used by teens.

Advantages and Potential Risks of Smartphone Use by Youth