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Annotated Bibliography

How Have Cell Phones Impacted Our Society Today?

David Brunk
Professor Malcolm Campbell
English 1103
March 12, 2015

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Annotated Bibliography
Jerpi, Laura. Mobile Phones and society- how being constantly connected impacts our lives.
South Source: A Publication of South University, 29. (2013): n. pag. Web. 9 March 2015
This academic article explores three main areas of cell phone impact on society. The first
being addiction to cell phones. It starts off by saying how everyone is addicted to their
cell phone to some extent. The addiction starts off as a convenience that enables one to
connect with friends and family in an instant. Before long, the addiction sets in. People
cant put it down for even five minutes. People waiting in line at a public bathroom are
even standing there using their mobile phones. Before the days of cell phones, if a
friend went on vacation, you probably wouldnt hear from them until their vacation was
over. Now, you can constantly receive updates and stay in contact throughout the
duration of it. Although the ability to connect with people at anytime is convenient,
there are times when an individual just doesnt need their cell phone. For example , if
you are out socializing with friends, it might be considered rude to have your cell phone
out. Teachers have had issues with students using their phones in class, diverting their
attention elsewhere when it should be on the lecture. The article constitutes the
question; are we really so addicted to our cell phones that we cant put them away for
even a few minutes? Another issue that comes up in the article is how cell phone use
should be monitored in children. The author points out that children that become
addicted so cell phones may not develop good social skills since being glued to the
phone requires less social skills that if the child were face to face talking someone.

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Family time is also cut down by excessive phone use. Families spend more time on the
phone rather than having quality time just sitting down and talking to each other.
Glaser, Mark. How Cell Phones are Killing Face-to-Face Interactions. PBS: Mediashift. (2007):
n. pag. Web. 9 March 2015
This article from a popular news source points out how there is just something about a
face to face interaction that you cannot get from having a conversation with someone
over a cell phone; whether its through a phone call, text message, or even a video call.
The author of this article noticed as he walked around city streets and similar urban
areas that the majority of people walking around had their eyes glued to their phones
and electronic devices. The author refers to this as gadget haze. He makes a point to say
that he is not anti- technology. In fact, on the contrary. Phones are extremely beneficial
in emergency situations. The police or an ambulance can be requested in a moments
notice, cutting down on response time, and potentially saving lives. Phones can be
helpful, but can also become a nuisance when trying to have a conversation with
someone when they are more attentive to their gadgets. It isnt only young people who
are addicted to their phones. People of all ages find themselves stuck texting constantly
or updating Facebook or Twitter. It becomes a force of habit because people feel that if
they dont constantly check their phones, they might miss something.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cell Phones and Your Health. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention. n.p. (2014): Web. 9 March 2015.

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This website addresses questions about the potential health risks that cell phones and
the radio waves that they emit may expose you to. The first health risk that it addresses
is the possibility of cell phones causing cancer. According to the CDC, there is no
scientific evidence to give a definitive answer. More research is needed before we know
if cell phones can cause cancer. Cell phones emit radiofrequency radiation (RF) to send
signals. RF is different than other types of radiation (like x-rays) that we know can be
harmful. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified RF as a
possible human carcinogen. (A carcinogen is an agent that causes cancer.) At this
time, however, we do not have the science to link health problems to cell phone use,
according to the CDC. Scientific studies are currently being conducted to determine
whether or not cell phones cause health problems. The World Health Organization
(WHO) is currently studying how cell phones might affect things such as certain types of
tumor growth, our eyes, sleep, memory, and headaches. A specific study being
conducted is the link between cell phone use and a tumor called acoustic neuroma. This
tumor grows on the nerve that connects the ear to the brain. It doesnt cause cancer but
it may cause hearing problems.