Marcello 1

Grace Marcello

Professor Rhonda Jackson-Joseph

English 1302

25 March 2017

Are Cell Phones Really the Greatest Technology?

In 2016, it was found that the average age of owning a cell phone is 10 years old (Casino,

Khier). Having a mobile device so young is negatively effecting kids. Children are increasingly

more attached to their cell phones, which is leading to health issues that will ruin their

psychological state of mind. Cell phones should not be used by teens and adolescents because

they cause stress, sleeping disorders, social anxiety, and put dangers on themselves and others.

Stress can be caused by an abundance of things. When it comes to cell phone use, people

often feel attached to their device. One of the consequences of high quantitative mobile phone

exposure include[s] mental overload (Thomee et al. 2). This mental overload can be from

keeping up with multiple social media accounts and continuous communication through

messages. Overall accessibility has been noted as stressful, like feelings of guilt due to inability

to return all calls and messages (Thomee et al. 2). Stress can also be caused by conflicts over

messages and social media. Not having the right image on social media has been an issue with

teenage girls. Today, girls make their social media accounts an example of the most successful

social media celebrities (Sales 27). Kylie Jenner, for example, has created an image for herself

that many teens want to copy to be labeled as pretty. Having a specific image to live up to has

created a self-doubt in young girls that they cannot live up to her image. These different causes

of stress effect the body and the psychological health of an individual. High stress levels can
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affect test taking, relationships with friends and family members, and in some cases can cause

illness. Stress can also have a negative effect on sleep too, but so can cellphones.

Adolescents are using their phone all day, every day and this can affect a childs ability to

get enough rest. Teens and younger, need about nine total hours of sleep to be productive the next

day (Vernon et al. 386). The more time a teen spends accessing social media and texting, the less

time they spend getting adequate sleep. Every individual has a biological clock called the

circadian rhythm, which will adjust itself based off when a person goes to bed and the average

time they wake up. This rhythm is also based on exposure to light. Harvard Health posted an

article that discusses how a hormone called melatonin can influence circadian rhythm, and

melatonin secretion is suppressed with more exposure to light (Blue Light Has a Dark Side).

With more light exposure, secretion of melatonin will decrease, causing a negative effect on the

bodys biological clock and disrupting sleeping patterns. Sleep is directly tied to productivity in

all areas. For teens, school is a significant part of their daily activities. School is an important

piece of a growing mind, and spending more time on the cell phone increasing their exposure to

light causing disturbances in an adolescents ability to learn. As cell phones take away from

sleep, students become more tired during the day, distracting them from focusing on material. It

has also been proven that without sleep people are less motivated (Vernon et al. 390). Having a

cell phone has disrupted teens sleeping schedule. By checking their phone before bed, light can

change the circadian rhythm and take away from a teenagers ability to focus and learn in class.

By limiting cell phone time teens can sleep better, which positively effects their productivity in

school because they will be more focused and open to learning.

Increased time spent on instant messaging and social media also plays a negative role in a

teenagers life. Spending more time on a cell phone takes away from face-to-face interaction
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between youth around the world. Too much communication via texts and cell phone are causing

social anxiety. Technology is a way to hide oneself behind a screen and avoid interaction that

might be difficult. Someone with social phobia is able to rely on contact through a cell phone and

it is taking away from their ability to successfully interact in the real world. About fifty four

percent of teenagers use the cell phones for texting, and because of this number technology is a

large part of this generations social and emotional development (Bilal et al. 104). Social

interactions in person are important to grow healthy relationships. Young adults who focus on

their internet conversations will have troubles in situations like ordering food or even

interviewing for a job. Texting and using social media is taking away from an adolescents ability

to make and connect with people in public.

However, some argue that cell phone uses are a great addition to communication amongst

everyone. Being able to text your mom where you are, saying hello to an old friend, or meeting

new people is a great addition to the world. When in an emergency, a cell phone is an easy access

to keep updated or even to reach out for help. Parents tended to argue that they give their child a

phone in case there is a situation where they need to contact an adult or even the police. While

this is smart, adolescents are using their phone for more than an emergency. Social media is used

almost as much as texting on a cell phone. Child predators will create random profiles to reach

out to innocent children and use social media to track people of all ages. Instagram, a popular

social media application, allows an individual to post a location with their image. Giving people

this information puts them at risk of robbery, kidnapping, rape, or murder. Cell phones are an

open door to the whole world and teens, as well as kids, should be aware of the dangers that lie

behind their access.

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In 2014, it was found that 3,179 people were killed and another 431,000 were

estimated as injured in crashes associated with distracted drivers (Burnett 1). Distraction can

include calls and text messages, as well as other occupants like eating or drinking. Teenagers can

legally get behind the wheel of a car with a permit or a drivers license. Giving this responsibility

to teens should be evaluated based on their dedication to safety. The University of Michigan

Transportation Research Institute found that of all teenage drivers, twenty five percent were

answering their cell phone at least once each time they are behind the wheel (Burnett 2). Young

drivers who answer the phone are not only risking the lives of others, but their own life too.

Without having a phone strapped by their side, teens can prevent many crashes associated with

distractions.

Technology has consumed todays world. More people spend time on the internet, texting

or searching through social media than going outside or having real life interactions. Teens and

adolescents are constantly using the cellular device, and yet most do not know the negative

health issues that come with using a cell phone. With the help of cellphones teens can suffer from

stress and social anxiety, which in turn can affect their school work and relationships. A huge

problem with teens is their lack of sleep with countless hours of homework and studying, but on

top of that cell phones are messing with their biological clock causing a lack of motivation and

decrease in productivity at school. Danger can also come from using a cell phone, like posting or

giving out personal information to strangers. Teen drivers are also putting themselves and others

in danger when answering both texts and calls at the wheel. The time spent away from cell

phones can benefit the growth of a teenager in every way. Teenagers should put more time into

communication in the real world to better their health and future.

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Works Cited

Bilal, Sisman, et al. Social Anxiety and Usage if Online Technological Communication Tools

among Adolescents. Journal of Economic & Social Studies (JECOSS), vol. 3, no. 2, July

2013, pp. 101-113. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=bth&AN=90506680&site=ehost-live. Accessed 20 Mar. 2017.

Blue Light Has a Dark Side. Harvard Health, Harvard University, May 2012,

http://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/blue-light-has-a-dark-side. Accessed 20

Mar. 2017.

Burnett, Jennifer. Texting While Driving in 2016. Knowledge Center, The Council of State

Governments, 27 July 2016, http://knowledgecenter.csg.org/kc/content/texting-while-

driving-2016-0. Accessed 21 Mar. 2017.

Casino, Khier. Never Too Young: Average Age Of Kid For Getting First Phone Is Now Only

10.3 Years Old. Tech Times, Tech Times Inc., 20 May 2016,

www.techtimes.com/articles/159793/20160520/never-young-average-age-kid-getting-

first-phone-now-10.htm. Accessed 11 Mar. 2017.

Sales, Nancy Jo. How Social Media is Disrupting the Lives of American Girls. Time, vol. 187,

no. 6/7, 22 Feb. 2016, pp. 26-27. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=a9h&AN=112915757&site=ehost-live. Accessed 20 Mar. 2017.

Thome, Sara, et al. "Mobile Phone Use and Stress, Sleep Disturbances, and Symptoms of

Depression among Young Adults - a Prospective Cohort Study." BMC Public Health, vol.

11, no. 1, Jan. 2011, pp. 66-76. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1186/1471-2458-11-66. Accessed 11

Mar. 2017.
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Vernon, Lynette, et al. Adolescent Problematic Social Networking and School Experience: The

Mediating Effects of Sleep Disruptions and Sleep Quality. Cyberpsychology, Behavior

& Social Networking, vol. 18, no. 7, July 2015, pp. 386-392.

http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=pbh&AN=108329785&site=ehost-live. Accessed 20 Mar. 2017.