There’s no denying that new technology, combined with the widespread usage of cellphones, have altered people’s everyday lives. And, while we’d want to believe it was all for the better, the fact is that it also had negative repercussions.
In this regard, a researcher from the UNAM Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health highlights some of the positive and negative aspects of mobile phone use.
BENEFICIAL OUTCOMES
- They improve the learning process:
Currently, several educational applications, such as learning foreign languages, are available.
- Keep track of people’s activities and health:
Cognition can assist certain patients with memory and attention problems, while in other situations, it can help keep in touch with individuals who need continual monitoring.
- Save time:
As the number of transfers increases, the usage of mobile devices has aided in the shortening of distances and the completion of specific activities. Purchasing items for everyday usage, such as food or medicines, online is one example.
- Workplace tool:
The mobile phone has aided in the workplace; individuals no longer require a landline and must be present at their workplace to do business; wherever they are, the cell phone is available.
- Applications that track and enhance people’s mental health:
Some apps track your mood on a daily basis and can help you relax deeply.
NEGATIVE RAMIFICATIONS
- Mobile phone usage impacts mood:
On the other hand, depressive symptoms may arise as a result of excessive cell phone use, especially while spending a lot of time on social media.
Although it has not been shown that there is an issue with mood, it has been claimed that it is linked to the amount of hours spent in front of a mobile phone screen, the frequent use of social media, and the substance of the messages: discrimination, devaluation, and pretending to be someone else. As a result, they are in a position to assess them based on how society views them. “It’s a phenomenon that’s been defined as both biological and social and cultural.”
- Cell phone use in unsuitable situations:
Car accidents have occurred as a result of people driving while checking their phones. As a result, several efforts have been implemented to encourage people not to use their cellphones while driving. They also draw attention to circumstances where mobile usage is inappropriate, such as during an important occasion, and where respect is violated.
- Children’s usage of mobile devices:
According to the expert, two-year-olds should not be allowed to use a cell phone, and if they are, it should be done gradually. Certain talents that must be taught firsthand, such as language, are limited by cell phones.
- Fear of not being able to use the device:
When you forget your phone, you become anxious, and you experience withdrawal symptoms as a result of not having it with you. In fact, several research offer ways to quantify anxiety, such as the number of texts and phone calls received each day or the number of times the screen is examined.
- Avoid synchronous communication:
Some people find interpersonal conversation difficult and prefer to communicate through electronic communications and social media. However, this will hone your interpersonal communication abilities even further.
