Growing up as a child, I was extremely limited on my technology use, as my parents believed that I didn’t need technology to succeed and accomplish tasks, and thought technology use could be used as a reward and an incentive to do a good job. It wasn’t until my late teenage years, that I was given my own smartphone. I remember learning how to use my smartphone, and wondering why my parents wouldn’t let me use it before, as it seemed extremely convenient. However, I later appreciated my parents strict rules, as I realized that smartphone overuse can be extremely detrimental to an individual’s lifestyle and health.
Smartphones are a new technology that provide individuals with a mobile device that functions like a computer, as they can access the internet and are capable of downloading applications to address people’s specific interests. As smartphones are extremely valuable and useful, smartphone addiction has become a modern day issue. Smartphones are constantly developing, becoming more and more useful, causing people to become dependent on their functions. Smartphones have become extremely influential, and people are becoming more reliant on them, due to the fact that they’re capable of completing almost any task. Due to the constant development of new technology, more people are buying smartphones and becoming addicted to their smartphones everyday. In 2020, it was researched that 61.62% of the world population owns a smartphone. The growing addiction of smartphones was further explained by Deyan G., a writer for TechJury, as he explained that 66% of people that own smartphones show signs of nomophobia. Nomophobia, a fear of being without a mobile device, is a symptom of smartphone addiction, affects a humongous proportion of the human population. The symptoms of addiction are quite noticeable to other people, and Deyan G. also discusses how 63% of parents feel like their child is addicted to their devices. As parents witness their children’s lives being taken over by technology, they can sometimes feel helpless and worried. More than half of parents are concerned about addiction, a number that has risen significantly in the past few years. These proportions are constantly growing, as phones are becoming more entertaining, and are becoming capable of accomplishing new tasks. However, due to this, people are becoming so reliant on their phones that they forgot how to accomplish simple tasks without them, and can’t live without them. As this repetitive action of relying on phones takes place, it becomes harder to cut back on cell phone usage. Society is slowly becoming reliant on smartphones, and individuals are forgetting how to function without them.
Smartphones are a new technology, and therefore have a large impact on the new generation, as their lives revolve around technology. Smartphone addiction affects many young people, causing them to be dependent on technology. Smartphone addiction has raised concerns, as there are many negative side effects of being dependent on technology. As smartphones have already become fully integrated into society, the negative externalities need to be addressed in order to minimize the damage it causes to individuals. There are varying opinions on how to approach this issue, as some people believe that there should be no limits on smartphone use, and people on the other side of the spectrum believe the smartphone use should be minimal as possible. Opinions on this topic are very controversial, as the perspective on this issue varies from household to household. However, this issue needs to be confronted, as it will only continue to grow, until it affects almost everybody, and society will be completely reliant on technology. Smartphone addiction is slowly affecting society as a whole, and the issue can be addressed by limiting smartphone use among adolescents during their childhood.
Children develop habits in their early years, and start learning their personality that they will adapt for their entire lifetime early on. Teaching good habits and discipline is essential to ensure proper growth in children. Adolescents are developing in their early life stages, and need to act a certain way in order to be raised with a healthy lifestyle. The topic of children development is discussed in the article, ” 5 Reasons to Limit Your Child’s Exposure to Tech Gadgets”, where it is stated that toddlers cognitive ability is developing at this age, and can be damaged by smartphone use. Children’s motor, visual, and spatial skills are developing at a young age, and children need to be exposed to the right things in order to properly develop them. For example, natural exercise should be used as a distraction, in order to develop and grow their bodies, as well as make sure the brain functions healthily. Behavior is learned during the young age, which can be greatly influenced by technology. Smartphones can negatively impact a child’s growth and development, leading to detrimental effects on their health in the future.
Sources: https://www.thejoint.com/texas/houston/katy-28013/5-reasons-to-limit-your-childs-exposure-to-tech-ga
45 Scary Smartphone Addiction Statistics, 2020 [Nomophobia on the Rise]
Smartphone Addiction 