In the 21st century, the smartphone has become the single most important device for everyone in the world. The modern day smartphone, the one with a touchscreen, has been around for roughly 10 years now and it has changed the way the world works. If you take a look at the greatest innovations of all times, the smartphone would surely be among the top ones and it is not surprising why.
At the tap of a screen we can gain access to any information we want in the world and that too in seconds. As you already know, information is power in today’s world and you have access to almost all the information out there on the internet at any time you like.
Not only this, but we are able to summon on-the-go services which have all made our lives so much easier. We can call a cab from anywhere, we can check out our bank accounts and make payments right from the smartphones and we can even shop anything want.
What started out as a simple phone to make calls, has now evolved into an all-in-one device where the calling is only one feature among many. Our smartphones are today used for video calls, entertainment, emails, photos, videos, texting and even monitoring our health. So, there is no doubt that today, smartphone is one of the dearest things in any person’s life.
But……
There are so many things that a smartphone is capable of that it almost seems too good to be true but there is one major flaw and it might now be with the smartphone but with us, as usually is the case. Technology can be used for good as well as bad effects on people and this is no different a case.
Though smartphones have been a gift, we are overusing this gift too much. In fact, a study showed that the average user now looks at their device every 4 minutes! Can you believe it? We are awake for at least 16 hours in a day which is equivalent to 960 minutes. So, roughly 240 times a day!!
This might not seem like true but it is indeed the case. A lot of the times, we don’t even notice ourselves reaching for our devices and we just unlock them, swipe around and keep them back in our pockets as if we are addicted to do so, without any use whatsoever.
This is almost like a sickness now because this is absolutely not what normal behavior looks like. I think you guys have all noticed this as well and not only noticed but even been a part of this.
Grave Implications
Technology is supposed to make our lives easier but this addiction to our devices is having some really bad impact on our life including our health, relationships, productivity and more.
Our overuse of social media is making us more spoiled and we want instant gratification in the form of likes and comments and we are starting to expect the same in real life. At a meeting of friends or gathering of people, we can often see people looking down on their smartphones instead of talking to the real people that are with them which really affects real world relationships.
Due to the addiction of smartphones, it is also now starting to affect our sleep cycle. The screen in our phones messes up with our biological clock and smartphones are the number one reason why we are always late to sleep. Having to wake up early for work leaves you sleep deprived and your entire day is affected due to this.
Whenever there are some unfortunate event happening to people on the street, other people are more interested in recording the incident instead of helping the people in need. This shows that we are at a point where our human nature is being affected now. So, I ask you, are we just slaves to our smartphones?
