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Desay Htoo
Ms. Hull
English 2010
2/10/15

Do Cellphones Make People More or Less Connected?

Figure 1: Being addicted to texting or talking on the phone can affect the conversation
between family, friends and others.

Introduction
Cellphones are universally known as one of the best tools for communications. Recently,
a controversial issue has been brought up lately whether cell phones would be helpful or harmful
for peoples communication skills. On one hand, some argue that cell phones become a problem
when it comes to face-to-face communication. On the other hand, some people find sending an email is preferable rather than meeting in person or talking on the phone. While its obvious that
cellphones provide society with numerous benefits such as instant communication with people
anywhere, it seems that for each of these benefits also comes with a possible harmful effect.

Cellphones as a benefit for society

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Many of the supporters for cell phone use believe that cellphones are beneficial for the
people who have trouble socializing in real life. Before the internet, some people with low
face-to-face social skills, such as people on the autistic spectrum, had no place to socialize. As a
result, many were lonely and depressed. Such people may do better with relationships in the
future as the whole world adopts online socializing as a norm. says Scott Caplan, a professor of
Communications at the University of Delaware. Mr. Caplan is not alone in this belief. There are
many others that believe that a persons face-to-face communication skills are still just as good,
or even better, before the mass use of cellphones.
Cellphones also provide society with numerous benefits, such as instant communication
across long distances. This provides people with a much more efficient way of communicating
with loved ones who could be far away on a business trip, doing military service, have moved
away, etc. than taking the time to write them a letter and waiting to hear back from them. Also, as
a form of instant communication, cellphones have saved countless lives across the world, being
able to give people a way to contact emergency services such as a police force or ambulance.
Cellphones are also beneficial for the economy, being able to create new marketplaces
and either help or provide jobs for people.

Cellphones are Harmful for Society

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While there are people who support the use of cellphones, there are some people who
believe that people think the use cell phones is detrimental for a persons communication and
social skills. According to Todd Starkweather, a General Studies Program Director at South
University, there are many people who are addicted to their cell phone, I see it frequently in
my classes, Starkweather says. I make certain that students using their phones dont disturb the
learning of others, but do not make an active effort to police an individual who may not be
paying attention. Cellphones do have an impact on people if you choose to use them in the right
time and in the right place. Thus, most teenagers were using cell phones at an early age and their
communication skills may prove to be lacking. If these people meet others and need face-to-face
communication, its possible that the situation could become awkward.
For a job interview you need to have excellent communication skills, these skills being
necessary for most of the jobs. Some people dont know how to communicate due to the
loneliness of their lifestyles or shyness of their personalities, and later these people start
developing the habit of relying on cellphones to communicate. This leads to an increasing in
addiction of problematic [cell] phone use due to increase in the feeling of shyness and loneliness
shows that students spend a large portion of their time with their [cell] phones, (Karabacak,
Oztunc). Instead of being outgoing, these people may have to choose to focus more on their cell
phones and avoid communication between their friends, so their communication skills were
lacking even when they are in Universities.

Cellphones are Beneficial and Harmful

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While there are many who think that cellphones are beneficial and many who do not, it
seems that both perspectives may be right. Its highly possible that all the positives that come
from communicating with cellphones may be balanced out with the negatives from using
cellphones.
The people who believe that cellphones are beneficial are backed up by the fact that
cellphones provide instant long distance communication, making contact with other people easier
than ever. However, the people who are against the use of cellphones could easily turn this
benefit into a negative, by saying that with this ease of communication, its easier than ever to
harass a person. The instant long distance
communication benefit also means a
quicker exchange of information, meaning
that cellphones can be used as a good tool for
learning, especially since virtually all
cellphones today have access to a web
browser.
Figure 2: With so many people using
cellphones for so many different
purposes, its obvious thats theres
going to be many benefits and
negatives for society.

However, this can also be turned into

a negative as many people have
probably been misinformed due to
the ease of exchanging information.

Conclusion
At one point, some people do think that cellphones are beneficial and still some others think that
they are not. As long as you used them in the right way or places it can make your life a lot

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easier. Cellphones can used in many purpose and they are very useful in many ways but
cellphones can harm people in many ways, too. What does the future hold for cell phone users
and its potential continuous effect on interpersonal communication within society? Supporters of
cell phones believe it will continue increasing and we should see them as changing the way we
communicate in a positive way, while the people who disagree believe that good communication
skills are an important part in our daily life and we shouldnt get rid of it.

Cited
Clemmitt, Marcia. "Social Networking." CQ Researcher 17 Sept. 2010: 749-72. Web. 7 Feb.
2015.

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Karabacak, Kerim, and Mustafa Oztunc. "The Effect of Addiction For Communication Tools On
The
Feelings Of Shyness And Loneliness." International Journal of Academic
Research 6.1 (2014): 368-373. Academic Search Premier. Web. 7 Feb. 2015.
Pell, Dave, prod. "Does the Internet Make You More-or-Less-Connected?" All Teach
Considered. NPR. Salt Lake City, Utah, 24 Aug. 2011. Radio.

Images
Stewart, Erin.Does Cell Phone Use Really Affect Our Communication skills?. 2013.The
Lance.Web. Feb 17, 2015.
Which Lifeline Cell Carrier has the Best Phones?.Free Government Cell Phones. News. Web.
Feb 17, 2015.