Written by Crystal SchwalgerEarlier today I was scrolling through my Facebook and I saw the story of a man on a boat off the shore of California looking down at the cell phone he held in his hands. I’m sure that whatever he was looking must have been pretty important. Let’s hope so since he missed seeing the grey humpback whale that surfaced just feet from where he sat. He apparently sat there in the same position for some time and never moved to look at what was happening around him. The entire moment was captured by a professional photographer who just happened to be out whale watching on a nearby boat. I wonder how many of us go through life today unfortunately doing something similar. Do our lives revolve around what’s happening on our phone, rather than what’s happening in real life?
That picture reminded me of just how much technology has changed life as we know it. Not only do we have cell phones that allow us to access the global internet, but we can also see and talk to anyone we choose in real time. If you think about it, they truly are a miracle of technology. Twenty years ago the idea of being able to see and talk to someone on a phone was the stuff of science fiction, today it is everyday life. Obviously cell phones were invented to make our lives easier which in many ways they do. Unfortunately, there are many people that do not have a life anymore because they do not know when to turn them off.
A study conducted by the Pew Research Center claims that as of 18 months ago, 91 percent of adults in America own some type of cell phone. A whopping 56 percent of them are smart phones. Since that research was done 18 months ago, I’m willing to bet that number has increased quite a bit since then, especially in teens. How do I know this? Because I have teens, and they LOVE their cell phones. My two older boys have recently graduated from a basic phone to smart phones. They have earned this privilege because they are both working and pay for their own part of the phone bill. However, my youngest daughter who happens to be 14 has a basic cell phone with no internet capability.
I’m sure that there are many parents that see no problem with letting their teen or even pre-teen have a smart phone. My husband and I however, have decided that having this type of phone is not a good idea, at least not for our daughter. I have no problem with a teen having a basic cell phone; in fact, I think they are a necessity for safety reasons. In addition, because we do not have a land-line, a cell phone is our only home phone, thus one more reason it is a necessity.
Smart phones, however, fall into a whole other category. The majority of teens I see today, including my two older sons, have a serious addiction to their smart phones. It’s not just the texting; it’s the endless apps and games that draw their attention from the real world happening around them. There is a time and a place for everything, including games and surfing the net. It becomes a problem though, when you go to a park, or pretty much any public place and everyone is staring down at the tiny rectangular box in their hands. Forget playing with your kids, or even watching them to make sure they are not getting hurt doing something crazy. The cell phone God demands your attention.
The thing is, I totally get it. I have a smart phone and it’s amazing how a little piece of technology can drain your energy and time. It truly is addicting. Many times I‘ve had to force myself to put my cell phone away so that I can actually get things done. If I don’t, time slips away and I don’t accomplish anything. This is one reason my daughter does not have a smart phone. With all the useless apps that basically are there just to amuse and waste time, I see no reason to subject and tempt her by having them accessible to her 24-7.
Several months ago a study was conducted by the Journal of Behavioral Addictions by lead researcher James Roberts, Ph.D. His research showed that college students spent an average of 9 hrs a day on their phone which is more time than probably most of them spend sleeping at night. I wouldn’t be surprised if that number is similar for adults as well as teens and college students.
Dr. Roberts concluded from his study that “As cell phone functions increase, addictions to this seemingly indispensable piece of technology become an increasingly realistic possibility.” He compares behaviors associated with cell phone addiction to those with drug addiction. In both cases, people use them to lift their mood, and as an escape. As with drug use, with cell phones it takes more and more time on them to provide the same level of enjoyment. In addition, these same people may experience withdrawal if they lose their cell phone, or are unable to answer a text or a message right away. They may even become agitated or depressed because of it.
Thankfully, most of us don’t exhibit these types of addictive attachments to our cell phones. However, since cell phones are an intricate part of our everyday lives, the possibility is always there if we let addictive behaviors take over.
Do cell phones make our life easier? Of course they do, but we should never forget that there is life going on without them. Go ahead and put down the phone once in a while. Go outside and play ball with your kids, or just enjoy what’s going on around you. I promise your phone will still be there when you get back. Who knows, you might just get to see a grey humpback whale if you do.
Crystal Schwalger has loved writing ever since she could remember. Her love of learning led her to Dixie State University where she graduated with a degree in English and Communications. She is passionate about writing and believes that you should never give up on your dreams. She is happiest when she is at home enjoying her backyard green spaces with her family. She currently lives in Washington Utah with her husband, her children, and her dog Kali.
