Sam Leatham

Jamie Kay
Eng. 1010
11/4/15
Cell Phones and Smart Phones: The Plague of the 21 st Century
We live in a world that is constantly demanding our attention. More
technology has been invented over the last one hundred years than was ever
thought possible! From computers to televisions, airplanes to cars, even the
simplest inventions are things that cant be lived without like microwaves and
heated toilet seats. Constantly, technology is being produce to benefit and
make lives easier and more productive. But is every bit of technology a
benefit to the everyday life? Or are they a detriment? Cell phones and Smart
phones were invented to allow us to be more mobile. So much information is
at our fingertips with just the click of a button or swipe of the thumb. It is
thought that phones provide so many opportunities and possibilities, but very
little is ever said about the curse that phones have brought to the human
race. Smart phones and cell phones are causing problems in the lives of
millions worldwide. Children now receive phones as soon as they are able to
hold one and cant even put them down without throwing a hissy fit! Lazy
parents use them as a way to keep their kids from crying. Teenagers hide
behind them as a way to either escape from the world or flaunt their lives to
those who will take a glance at their social media pages. Cell phones and
Smart phones MUST be used with caution.
Cell phones are destructive. Many studies have been conducted and
results indicate that the rate of student reports of cell phone use is
consistent with the symptoms of addiction and technological addiction,
which is defined as, excessive human-machine interactions, develop[ed]
when people become reliant on the device to provide psychological
benefits(Sbarbaro). Students were reported to have a constant need to be
checking their phones and couldnt go long periods of time without them.
This is an obvious problem in schools as well if kids cannot focus in class due
to the constant distraction of their phones. Cell phones are also causing bad
language skills. Gina Ramsden of the University of Manchester observed,

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Many young people have difficulties with literacy, including reading and
spelling. A new language is being produced through cell phones and texting
that is affecting grades in English and Language. Slang is being used and
confusing children of the proper way of spelling and speaking which destroys
all confidence. Confidence is also affected by a lack of face-to-face interaction
with other human beings. Anyone can send a text to a person but social skills
cant be gained from behind a screen.
Overuse of cell phones increases high risk behavior. Peer pressure is
more evident in teens who spend a lot of time on their phones. In the same
study conducted by Vic Sbarbaro, teens who [excessively use cell phones]
are at a higher risk to engage in other health risk behaviors including binge
drinking, tobacco use, illicit drug use, partaking in physical fights, engaging in
risky sexual behavior, and driving distracted(Sbarbaro). Driving distracted
with a cell phone is not a hard thing to do. Sending a friend a quick response
through text is always a temptation. Games can also be a dangerous
distraction that can present itself in a traffic jam. With the internet providing
answers to everything, a quick internet search while driving could result in
death through car accidents. Not only are all these behaviors caused by
phones dangerous and bad for the health, but can also cause a lack of sleep.
Students can spend hours lost in a videogame and not realize it before finally
getting some sleep at a late hour. Conversations are also held through texting
late at night to create bonds and friendships. Notifications also disturb sleep
cycles by waking people up in the middle of the night to notify one of a score
of a sports game or local news that could wait until the morning, but instead
affects the vital, energy-restoring process of sleep.
It is argued that cell phones create more effective communication. Cell
phones allow users to have more control over conversations. Dominic Madell
of CyberPsychology & Behavior viewed that conversing over text messaging
permits the user to think before sending a response, which resulted in less
embarrassment. Phones also help in creating relationships. Hundreds of
different dating sites and chat rooms can be utilized to find partners. It also
helps to narrow down any search for a partner by religion, nationality or
interests. Cell phones are excellent for a more rapid means of

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communication. There is no need for standing in lines for pay phones. In an
emergency, cell phones can be used to hasten contact with others.
Cell phones and Smart phones include a variety of useful technologies.
Internet access provides and infinite amount of information and programs.
Programs have been made that will help students with homework, creating
an easier way to get good grades. Dictionaries can be accessed in seconds to
find the definition of any word without having to lug a ten-pound book around
everywhere. Sports sites are also available to keep up on the latest sports
action. Smart phones and Cell phones provide technologies that assist in
communication with all. A survey conducted by Jin Borae of 232 college
students who owned a cell phone revealed that affection and inclusion were
relatively strong motivations for using voice calls and text messaging, and
that interpersonal motives were positively related to the amount of cellphone use, including calling and texting. Social media cites such as
Facebook and MySpace help keep in touch with distant family members.
People can also stay in constant communication with their partners as well.
Enjoyed by parents, phones allow parents to have a digital leash on their
children (Nurallah). Apps have been invented to allow parents to track where
their children go. Additionally, parents can get a hold of their children at
anytime. Search history permits the supervision of internet usage as well.
In reality, cell phones ruin communication skills. In the long run, cell
phones give users less control in real life situations. Users who get used to
being able to think before responding wont have the skills to think quickly in
everyday circumstances. It also makes people over think issues if they have
too much time to think of a response instead of going with first impressions.
Dating cites destroy face-to-face communication skills. They can also be very
misleading. Anyone can create a profile for anyone/thing. Body language is
an important aspect of dating and cant be observed through dating sites.
They create lazier citizens and according to Dominic Madell, make people
shyer. Cell phones allow communication in any setting, which isnt always the
best thing. Students are caught in school using phones, which affects grades.
In movie theatres, cell phones create a distraction for moviegoers.

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Cell phones and Smart phones have many destructive technologies.
Internet access allows students to use sites that will actually do homework for
them! How is a student going to learn if they get their work done by a
computer? Addictive sites can also destroy the brain and mind such as
pornography sites and online gaming (Nurallah). Communication with
everyone isnt always the most desired either. Not everyone has good
relationships with their family members and social media sites give access for
pesky relatives to keep in contact. Miscommunication is a huge issue with cell
phones. If one cant see emotions and body language through texting,
relationship problems can occur (Borae). Parents who think cell phones create
a digital leash on their kids will soon lose all trust with children. Being able to
see all that is done on another persons phone is an invasion of privacy and
should not be tolerated.
Cell phones and Smart phones create a faster and more efficient way
of getting some things done, but is faster always better? Along with the few
benefits to having cell phones and Smart phones come many dangers.
Phones must not be taken lightly. Too much damage is caused to the human
mind if phones are not used in moderation. Many studies have been
conducted that prove the damage phones have brought to the lives of many.
Those that dont believe it take a look around and see. To those who are
thinking about getting a phone, just a word of advice: Be careful.

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Works Cited

Conti-Ramsden, G, K. Durkin, and Z. Simkin. "Language and Social Factors in

the Use of Cell Phone Technology by Adolescents with and without
Specific Language Impairment." Journal of Speech, Language &
Hearing Research 2010.Web. 22 Oct. 2015.
Ramsden, Durkin and Simkin are professors at the University of
Manchester and the University of Strathclyde in the United Kingdom.
They studied the effects of cell phone use and the relation between
students with specific language impairments. The first thing that they
were able to notice was the lack of linguistics used by students. The
rules of spelling and grammar appear to be considerably relaxed, text
messaging using cell phones is informal, and expressive mistakes are
tolerated. (Conti-Ramsden) Slang language was often found to be
used by students destroying their abilities to write correctly. The ability

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to communicate face to face had been effected as well with the use of
text messaging. Students were found to be shyer and have difficulties
with peer relations. This study helps back the idea of the overuse of
cell phones destroying social skills.
Sbarbaro, L, R. Smith"Health Education across Academic Disciplines: A Tool to
Help Students Think Critically about the Risks of Excessive Cell Phone
Use." California Journal of Health Promotion 2015. Web. 22 Oct. 2015.
Sbarbaro of California State and Smith from James Madison Universities
are part of the Health Education across Academic Disciplines. Their
studies showed that students who over use texting have a higher risk
to engage in other health risk behaviors including binge drinking,
tobacco use, illicit drug use, partaking in physical fights, engaging in
risky sexual behavior, and driving distracted. (Smith) Hyper-texting
means texting more than 120 messages per day. Studies showed that
students who hyper-text were more likely to try alcohol, drug, smoke,
binge drink and participate in sexual activity. They also are more likely
to drive while texting. Technology addiction was also observed.
Students felt as if they could not function without their cell phones.
Sleep was affected in students lives by allowing alerts and
notifications to wake them up at night. The use of cell phones, as
observed in this study, can be addictive and destructive to health.
Jin, Borae, and Namkee Park. "Mobile Voice Communication and Loneliness:
Cell Phone Use and the Social Skills Deficit Hypothesis." New Media &
Society. Web. 22 Oct. 2015.

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Jin, Borae, and Namkee are from a University in South Korea. They
decided to do a study on the effects of mobile communication and its
direct relation to loneliness. Cell phones, help relationships. People
enhance their family bonds, facilitate friendships and romantic
relationships, and build mutual support through mobile
communication. They create an easy was to stay in contact with loved
ones. They also help people to meet new friends. Facebook and other
web sites can be used on cell phones to keep up on others lives. In
this study, cell phones are viewed as a tool to enhance social life.
Jin, Borae and Namkee Park. "In-Person Contact Begets Calling and Texting:
Interpersonal Motives for Cell Phone Use, Face-To-Face Interaction, and
Loneliness. "Cyberpsychology, Behavior & Social Networking.
2010.Web. 22 Oct. 2015.
Jin, Borae, and Namkee are professors from a University in South
Korea. 232 college students were surveyed to see the motive of using
cell phones. The result was the need for affection and inclusion. People
communicate with others through cell phones to create and strengthen
relationships. Students were found to feel lonely if they were not
engaged in communicating with others through cell phone use.
Loneliness is significantly associated with how people communicate
through or with communication technologies.
Madell, Dominic E and Steven J. Muncer. "Control Over Social Interactions: An
Important Reason for Young People's Use of the Internet and Mobile

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Phones for Communication?." Cyberpsychology & Behavior. (2007).
Web. 22 Oct. 2015.
Dominic Madell and Steven J. Muncer have Ph.D.s in the field of
communication. They conducted a study of why students prefer
communication media to socialize. The main response was to be able
to think and have time to respond to people. Students like the fact that
they can think of a good response before saying anything dumb.
Participants felt that because some communication media such as
email, text messaging and instant messaging can be used
asynchronously as well as synchronously, they allow one time to stop
and think before giving a response if this is desired, or, alternatively,
allowed one to retain the conversational nature of interactions if this is
preferred. They felt it was a way to feel embarrassed less often.
Arguments could be made that it is a better way to build relationships.
It appears, though, as if it only causes problems, destroying the ability
to talk face to face with others. Relationships cannot last without face
to face communication.
Nurullah, Abu Sadat. "The Cell Phone as an Agent of Social Change." Rocky
Mountain Communication Review. 2009.Web. 22 Oct. 2015.
Abu Sadat Nurullah is a professor at the University of Alberta. His
interest in the sociality of cell phones directed him to a study of it. He
believes that much advantage can be taken from the use of cell
phones. Texting is faster and more reliable that phone calls and help
avoid unnecessary conversations. He stated though that it can also

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cause envy. Adolescents in Finland who did not have a cell phone
reported feeling left out of social interactions and sometimes felt
pressured by friends to get a cell phone. The world is becoming a
world of people who can never have enough and always need more
things and better things.