Technology, as most people know, has its benefits. It is convenient and easy. But in addition, it makes scientific and medical research more productive, speeds up business, and improves the educational system greatly. Not only that, but it lengthens the life expectancy and makes daily life easier. But certain inventions, such as the cell phone, have proven to have major downfalls. Though it has its benefits, like being able to call the police on contact when you’re in danger, it has much more flaws, such as its influence on children, teens, and society in general.
Almost everyone has a cell phone nowadays. It makes people’s lives more convenient, but most people who have cell phones don’t stop to think about what it’s going to their daily and social life. They can do almost anything on that handheld screen that their need for even the simplest of social interactions becomes unnecessary, such as going into a store or bank, sitting down and having a conversation with someone, and even ringing the doorbell. People who own cell phones are practically driven by their cell phones. When having a conversation with someone, their cell phone easily distracts people, and when they take it out, it creates a barrier between the two people. Furthermore, people can use that barrier to ignore others. It makes people arrogant and rude as a society. In addition, it can have a great effect on people’s grammar. When texting, it is easier for someone to spell incorrectly and ignore grammar rules, especially for those who are on the go.
Cell phones have a primary effect on teens and children, the generations who have grown up with the invention. Nowadays, young children have iPhones, for the reason that they can easily call their parents or the police if they happen to get lost or in danger, but it has negative influences on the child that don’t seem to make a difference until it is too late. These cell phones often have free games that they can play, which are on the go and inexpensive. But, due to its benefits, its easy gaming enforces bad habits in children. Furthermore, children and technology don’t mix very well because they have so much power at their fingertips and don’t know how to use it. As innocent as children may seem, they can be destructive if not told right from wrong, and having a cell phone makes children more likely to bully others through the phone or be cyberbullied themselves. Having a cell phone with Internet access only intensifies the issues of modern day children and teens.
Through cell phones are supposed to make people safer, it can have the opposite effect. Because most people prefer to text over call someone, it is easy for someone, especially children and teens, to think they are talking to someone that they are not. Due to this, child abductions become easier due to the fact that pedophiles can hide behind a series of numbers and say they are the child’s age.
Cell phones have their benefits in the daily life of the average person. Nevertheless, those people don’t see the negative effects that cell phones have on society. Even though it makes everything more convenient, the world would be a better place, academically, socially, and mentally, without the invention of the cell phone.
