Smartphones: Friend or Foe?

Reilly Missen (10137501)FILM 260

SIDNEYEVE MATRIX

Social Implications

PHONES HURT PRODUCTIVITY

“The average mobile phone user checks their device 150 times a day...According to a recent study, the brain can take from 15 to 25 minutes to get back to where it was after stopping to check an email, and even though you could “fix” this by simply switching your phone or notifications off during work, your brain is still hooked on having to check the phone.”

150 X

VIEWS ON CELL PHONE USE

● “82% of adults say that when people use their phones in these settings it frequently or occasionally hurts the conversation.”

● However, “ 89% of cellphone owners say they used their phone during the most recent social gathering they attended.”[2]

MULTICOMMUNICATING

● Canadians are noticing an increase in multicommunicating (using a phone while talking to a real person).

● When asking someone to repeat themselves, many think the listener was merely not listening. [3]

FLIGHT FROM CONVERSATION

● People flee to their phones to be “social” but escape real conversation.

● Some are implementing “device free zones” [4]○ The car, kitchen, or dining room.○ Demonstrate the value of conversation.

Photo: Texting Congress 3 By: Adam Fagen

“So I say, look up, look at one another, and let's start the conversation.”[4]

Photo: Do not use cell phone By: Michael Derr

FLIGHT FROM CONVERSATION

● No one walks with their head up anymore.● The water, sand, or sky are not as important as staying

connected.● Beautiful sights and adventures are wasted on avid cell

phone users. [4]

CELL PHONES AND RELATIONSHIPS

● Use of electronics can be hurtful to those you are with.● “Perhaps it would be going too far to prepare for important conversations by

throwing your cell phone into the closet, or leaving it in the car on first dates. But if you are spending the day with people you really care about, you might want to reconsider the next time you reach for your phone to reply to a text message or check sports scores.” [5]

Photo: No Cell Phone Use Sign By: Mike Mozart

Mental Health

DEPENDENCY

● “An individual who is high in dependency should suffer from depression only if he or she experiences difficulty in relationships or interpersonal domains.” [6]

● Those who feel that they depend on their phones may feel some level of depression.

● Phones should be put down or put away more often to avoid depression.

NOMOPHOBIA

● Nomophobia: no mobile phone phobia● There is trouble distinguishing the difference between those who can function

without their phones and those who are clinically addicted.● “But maybe the greatest risk of all may lie in deciding that nomophobia

represents an actual medical condition.”[7]

Photo: nomophobia By: buymobiles

ADVENTURING & SMARTPHONES

● Travellers are becoming quite bothered by phone users on a trip.● The Adventure Collection Blog: “Then, too, there’s the annoying woman in

your group who’s constantly looking down at her handheld device, right at the time you spot a rare species of wildlife. Why did she bother to travel at all, you wonder.” [8]

Photo: Binoculars By: bkatcher

Physical Health

EVERYDAY HEALTH PROBLEMS

● Researchers studied extreme cell phone use [9]○ Sleep disorders, depression, and stress were observed ○ Those with existing disorders are more likely to develop more severe case.

○ Men more likely to experience sleep problems, where males & females can experience depression.

● One year follow up was performed [9]○ After quantitative and qualitative analyses, it was found that ICT’s are linked to many health

problems; specifically sleep problems, depression, and stress.

HARMFUL RADIATION

● Cancer risk (mainly in head & neck) [10]● Increased cases of glioma (most common brain cancer)● Classified as “possibly carcinogenic” meaning that there is scientific evidence

supporting the thought, but not enough data for full proof. [10]● Supporting studies still have many variables affecting the reliability of the

study.

Works Cited

All photos retrieved from flikr.com creative commons

[1] Margalit, L. (2015, November). Why We’re addicted to our smartphones, but not our tablets. Smashing Magazine. Retrieved from https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2015/11/why-addicted-smartphones-not-tablets/

[2] RAINIE, LEE, & ZICKUHR, K. (2015, August 26). Americans’ Views on Mobile Etiquette. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/08/26/americans-views-on-mobile-etiquette/

[3] Eichler, L. (2014, October 4). Sorry to be rude, but my smartphone needs my attention. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved from http://www.theglobeandmail.com.proxy.queensu.ca/report-on-business/careers/career-advice/life-at-work/sorry-to-be-rude-but-my-phone-needs-me/article14706158/

[4] Turkle, S. (2014, April 22). The Flight from Conversation. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.proxy.queensu.ca/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA287213303&v=2.1&u=queensulaw&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w&asid=9e22389507adacd60cce5aabfd6d7991

[5] Lin, H. L. (2012, September 4). How your cell phone hurts your relationships. Retrieved from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-your-cell-phone-hurts-your-relationships/

Works Cited

[6] Weiten, W. & McCann, D. (2010). Human development across the lifespan. In L. Taylor- Atkins, S. Matos, & V. Adams (Eds.), Psychology: Themes and variations, Third Canadian edition (pp. 663). Toronto: Nelson Education Ltd.

[7] Fung, B. (2015, May 19). Why you shouldn’t confuse “nomophobia” with an actual addiction to smartphones. Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2015/05/19/why-you-shouldnt-confuse-nomophobia-with-an-actual-addiction-to-smartphones/

[8] Andrews, C. G. (2013, November 5). Cell Phone Use During Adventure Trips: Time for an Official Policy. Retrieved from http://www.adventurecollection.com/cell-phone-use-during-adventure-trips-time-for-an-official-policy/

[9] Pederson, T. (2012, June 17). Heavy Cell Phone Use Linked to Depression, Sleep Problems in Young People. Retrieved from http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/06/17/heavy-cell-phone-use-linked-to-depression-sleep-problems-in-young-people/40262.html

[10] Hill, S. (2015, April 21). Is cell phone radiation actually dangerous? We asked an expert. Retrieved from http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/can-cell-phones-cause-brain-cancer/#:m4XIGgytCRLaEA