In the past few years or so the amount of the world’s population that own a cell phone have grown. The majority of the world own cell phone now and since then technology have grown with it. Cell phones and smartphones are being used constantly. On average Americans spend about “seven hours a month talking on their cell phones” (Rosen). Even laws have been passed like the “No texting and driving” law because of the excessive use and dangers it may bring. I believe that it may have also become a trend. Newer more powerful models being introduced or released for the world. For example the Iphone’s or the Samsung Galaxy’s are whats popular now and seems like everyone would like to get their hands on either one of those. Even now it wouldn’t be a rare sight to see children walking around with one in their hand. My point is that cell phones increasing use may be killing face to face time with one another because of what cell phones and smartphones have to offer.
The use for a smartphone compared to a mobile phone is substantially greater because of its 3g and 4g network capabilities. Research conducted by eMarketer have shown that they estimated smartphone users to total 1.75 billion worldwide in 2014. “We estimate that the total number of mobile phone internet users will rise 16.5% in 2014 and maintain double-digit growth through 2016” (Smartphone Users…). The PewResearch Internet Project in January of 2014 took a sample size of 1,006 adults in America. About “90% of American adults own a cell phone” and “58% of American adults have a smartphone” (Mobile Technology Fact Sheet). A survey also by PewResearch has shown that “78% of teens own a cell phone, and almost half (47%) own a smartphone.”
Now because the impact social media had on society, cell phones have become more in tuned to keep up. With its constant updating and the thousands of apps users can download. from Facebook to Instagram, and other social media apps, people tend to communicate on there with wall posts or comments and picture comments. Users can even play video games or listen to music from your phone’s Pandora app. Even the quality of the camera has become greater. Which means that people can take pictures anytime they want to and share it on Facebook or Instagram. Also could be used to record good length videos and also share them. And because the camera quality is so good people tend to take more photos of themselves, also known as a “selfie.” Not necessarily saying its a bad thing but people tend to be on them all the time because of what their phone is capable of. From the article Our Cell Phones, Ourselves she states that our “phones are becoming your swiss army knife.” (Rosen)
In additions to social media, text messaging has changed communication also. A majority of my friends would rather contact me by sending me a text message rather than give me a phone call. Through text, people can easily misinterpret the message you are trying to get across. That is because they can’t hear your tone of voice. If they could then then can whether or not you were joking with them or actually being serious. Another thing is that a majority of people are constantly going through our phones to check messages and walking around staring at them. If I was to try and approach a person who is on their phone I would feel a bit uneasy and hesitant because I don’t want to bother them. It is almost like the seclude themselves from reality and shut themselves off from the world. “What was something you did in private or downtime has now become an obsession” (Glaser) he states in his article.
Sometimes even when I go out to dinner I notice people on their phones. I recall one time when I went out to dinner with a few friends. I remember that there was a couple sitting at the table behind us and they seemed to be glued to their phone. I asked myself what was so important that they couldn’t even spend quality time together on what seemed to be date night? They hardly spoke a word to one another the whole time there and that is definitely a pet peeve of mines. So when I’m out to dinner I either put my phone on silent or on vibrate. Glaser even recalls a time he was out to dinner with a friend. He wrote “But when my friend chooses to tap on his Iphone while we are out having dinner, I feel like I’m having dinner for three: me, him and the Iphone” (Glaser). As society, most of us have developed a bad habit.
Smartphones are definitely great to have nonetheless. And why is that? It is because “The most frequently cited reason is convenience, which can cover a rather wide range of behaviors.” (Rosen) states in her article. I find her statement very true. Smartphones are very convenient and it has everything, from the internet to look things up on the go or in case of emergencies you can immediately get in contact with someone. Not to mention that we can also stay very well in touch with our family and friends. The days of writing hand written letters are somewhat a lost art and somewhat people are losing a form of expressing their creativity. Everyday life has seemed to be much easier as we go. We can even pay bills over our phones too and in some cities, get our groceries delivered to us.
Definitely convenient but my argument is that we have become very dependent on our cell phones or smartphones. That some of the population can’t live without one let alone leave it behind in such cases. Constantly glued to them and it has now, I believe developed into an addiction. Even for myself in someway. I never leave my house without my wallet, keys, and my phone. I tend not to use it very much because I like interact with my friends and family face to face rather than over a phone in which I never get to hear their voice.
Works Cited
Glaser, Mark. “How Cell Phones Are Killing Face-to-Face Interactions.” PBS. PBS, 22 Oct. 2007. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.
Madden, Mary, Amanda Lenhart, Mauve Duggan, Sandra Cortesi, and Urs Gasser. “Teens and Technology 2013.” Pew Research Centers Internet American Life Project RSS. Pewinternet.org, 13 Mar. 2013. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.
“Mobile Technology Fact Sheet.” Pew Research Centers Internet American Life Project RSS. Pewinternet.org, Jan. 2014. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.
Rosen, Christine. “Our Cell Phones, Ourselves.” The New Atlantis. June-July 2004. Web. 01 May 2014.
“Smartphone Users Worldwide Will Total 1.75 Billion in 2014.” – EMarketer. N.p., 16 Jan. 2014. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.