Cell phones have surfaced and have become a part of modern society since 1974. Technology amongst mobile devices themselves were pushed at a high rate. These advances included creating a smaller body for the components of the cell phone to be housed and to create a smarter phone, hence the move towards a “smart” phone. However, revolutionizing the cell phone became not of the technology within or its smaller chassis anymore, but of what can be done on the phone itself. An idea of creating a more convenient device and putting one’s social life and experiences all into one, taking the same idea of an entertainment center, however using quick processors and social applications to entice cliental. Since the rapid increase in social media integration and convenience with cellular devices, cell phones are causing more negative effects to the user’s social and mental psyche rather than benefiting from the cell phone itself. Although the argument could simply be rebutted with the use of cell phones and the social media within its convenience can bring a circle together and fix a social disconnection. However, the side effects of that claim are detrimental to one’s mental health. Users should regulate their cell phone use and come to a realization that it is more of a tool than an entertainment device.

Once a world with limited technology and only short clicks and paper to communicate and broadcast news to the people, are now thriving with technological advancements to become more aware of what is going on and have news more prevalent into modern society. Social interaction, amongst those who have access to said device have increased and the ability to talk amongst each other, have gotten nothing but easier and faster. However, that is what it seems like on the surface. Creating a false sense of connectedness to those whom constantly use a cellular device for the means of communication. As cellular devices and it’s technology continue to be revolutionized and more available to everyone, even more so than now, face to face conversations will continue to diminish. Not only will the human interaction from that type of social activity decrease but how meaningful those conversations will appear and become. The mere presence of a cell phone and have a great effect on one’s ability to consider one another trustworthy or even consider the conversation intimate (Przybylski, 8). Face-to-face conversations are an experience that strongly affects the social aspect of life and with a cell phone hindering the ability to have a strong conversation, the strength and personal views of relationships built off of text messages or even a phone call will be in question. They lack the human interaction that a face-to-face conversation provides, and thus lacking trust and intimacy (Przybylski, 8). Also, due to the lack of trust and intimacy from the presence of a cellular device, society’s response would be to avoid those confrontations and situations and delve further into the functions that virtually take the place the same situation. For example, Skype, with the ability to simulate a face-to-face conversation using a front-facing camera on a phone and speaking to the other participants. The added use of cell phones to replacing face to face conversations could create an abnormal amount of anxiety, as high cell phone use is associated to having high anxiety (Jenero, 109). High anxiety is a negative effect on the human body and their mental health which hurts the user and gets worse gradually, not benefiting the user at all. Regulation of cell phone use could prevent a higher level of anxiety and could ultimately decrease the level over time.

Armed with those facts, critics of the argument will still rebut the initial points with valid evidence that cell phones create a broader network for the individual. That indeed, just the ownership of the cell phone could expand one’s ability to converse with their outer circle of family or friends and bring them into a closer bond or relationship. As stated in Staying Connected While On the Move, “for the poorly connected socially, the cell phone offers a unique advantage: it confers instant membership in a community.” which if taken from the source at the time would be a complete valid statement, as the ownership of a cell phone immediately injects you into the modern society (Wei, 53). However, those who are within the inner circle of friends would be overlooked as the user branches out to continue reaching their outer circle of friends and family. The luxury of talking to anyone outside of their immediate vicinity or contact while away from a landline has destroyed the social aspect of the world around the user. Once bustling streets and subways filled with conversation, now lay silent or very minimal noise, because the ninety percent have their heads down on their cell phone. With so many people to speak to, the argument could be that the user may never fell lonely, yet that is may not be the case. As a sense of loneliness is pressed upon an individual based on the lack of strong and great quality of relationships not the amount of people they know (Reid, 424). The feeling of loneliness would increase the feelings of depression and further bring the user down from anywhere near positivity. Putting down the phone and really focusing on what other people have to say can create a strong and beneficial relationship, thus cutting the lonely emotions and depression.

Furthermore, the extraneous use of cellular devices affect the user psychologically as well. As the user is more in tune with the notifications from applications, on their smartphones, and simply their text messages, the brain will create a simulated version of a vibration. These vibrations feel exactly like the phone from wherever the phone is usually located, upper thighs for example, even when the phone is not present. “Phantom vibrations” (Drouin, 1490). Also, with a constant feeling of something new amongst those who are not within the user’s inner circle, they may find themselves on their phone more throughout the night which results in sleep deprivation (Hagberg, 1) and a less healthy mental state.

Mobile technology has been revolutionized, not to only benefit the user in the sense of entertainment or social life, but has created a quicker way to be utilized as a multipurpose tool for someone to use. Indeed, social integration and overall convenience has definitely gives the opportunity for expansion of networks and give a sense of closeness. However, the lack of strong relationships equating to loneliness and even a great effect to close and personal conversations, hold more of a burden than its extraneous use could ever benefit this society. With this, consider mindfully regulating the use of cell phones to slow or fully prevent a lack of social connection or complete mental breakdown.

References

Wei, Ran, and Ven-Hwei Lo. "Staying Connected While on the Move." Staying Connected While on the Move”. Sagepub, 1 Feb. 2006. Web. 20 Sept. 2014.

Donna J. Reid and Fraser J.M. Reid. CyberPsychology & Behavior. June 2007, 10(3): 424-435.

Przybylski, Andrew K., and Netta Weinstein. "Can You Connect with Me Now? How the Presence of Mobile Communication Technology Influences Face-to-face Conversation Quality." Sagepub. Sagepub, 19 July 2012. Web. 20 Sept. 2014

Drouin, Michelle, Daren H. Kaiser, and Daniel A. Miller. “ Phantom Vibrations among Undergraduates: Prevalence and Associated Psychological Characteristics. Elsevier, July 2012. Web. 20 Sept. 2014.

Jenaro, Cristina. "Addiction Research & Theory." Problematic Internet and Cell-phone Use: Psychological, Behavioral, and Health Correlates, , Informa Healthcare, 1 Jan. 2007. Web.

Thomée, Sara, Annika Härenstam, and Mats Hagberg. "Mobile Phone Use and Stress, Sleep Disturbances, and Symptoms of Depression among Young Adults - a Prospective Cohort Study." BMC Public Health. BMC Public Health, 31 Jan. 2011. Web. 20 Sept. 2014.