Our world has moved from people with no cell phones to having different models and products to choose from. The use of cell phones has led to a drastic change in the lifestyle of individuals, for the better or worse.
During my childhood days, the popular Nokia 3310 was the real deal, coupled with other brands like Sony Ericsson and Motorola. But today, many brands of mobile phones are keeping up with the continuous growth experienced in this sector.
The following drawbacks characterise the use of cell phones.
1. Hearing Issue
If you are someone who loves listening to music from their mobile phones with the aid of an earphone or headphones, this is for you. Continuous engagement with this action can lead to the development of ear-related health problems. These issues can come with severe pain in the ears, secretions and so on.
2. Privacy
How many sites have you signed up on without bothering to read the terms and conditions before ticking a good on it or accepting cookies? We are all guilty of this. Some of these sites have access to your data which can be assessed by other individuals for malicious intent. Furthermore, your phone can be tracked by the wrong persons through its GPS.
3. Cyberbullying
Physical bullying has evolved into cyberbullying which can be done by people within any age group. People post comments about others, troll celebrities and showcase heinous forms of characters in the name of sharing their opinions. Cyberbullying has been on the rise with the spread of the use of mobile phones.
4. General Health
Communication with mobile phones is aided by electromagnetic fields and radio waves. Also, mobile phones are supposed to be held at a certain amount of distance from the human body which is not strictly followed by people.
Furthermore, continuous use of cell phones during nighttime reduces the ability of the body to go to sleep. This is due to a reduction in melatonin production caused by exposure to the rays of light from your phone.
5. Lack of Concentration
Anytime you are on a road trip, observe the number of drivers who are on their phones while driving. The number is outrageous and this can lead to road accidents. We no longer engage in meaningful conversations and build genuine friendships because of the distraction from a cell phone.
People don’t cherish dinnertime where everyone gets to talk about their day because they are constantly carried away by the ping of their notification tune.
6. Possible Addiction Tendencies
Cell phone addiction is a thing. Addiction to social media is a predominant issue. Sadly, most people don’t see it as one. You don’t need to be doing something that affects your health immediately before you agree that you have an addiction.
A lot of individuals cannot have conversations with friends and acquaintances without checking if they have a WhatsApp message every few minutes.
7. Increases E-waste
The rise in e-waste is a no-brainer since more than half of the world’s population makes use of mobile phones. Faulty batteries will be changed, bad charging ports will be replaced and defective products will be recalled and worked on or trashed.
This increases the amount of e-waste that countries of the world have to dispose of or recycle.
8. High Risk of Sexual Exploitation
The world is made up of innocent-looking individuals who are paedophiles, rapists and those who commit all forms of sexual crimes. The use of mobile phones has given these people another means to waylay innocent children and adults.
They contact their victims through social media, video games and other sites. As the years go by, younger children have access to cell phones which only increases the chances of them being victims.
9. Heightened Risk of Emotional and Mental Problems
Everyone is jumping on the latest trend on TikTok. People are showing off exotic places they have been to with their friends and loved ones. Your peer groups are CEOs of companies and you end up comparing your current situation with theirs. If not controlled, the use of mobile phones can cause a blow to your emotional and mental health.
10. Financial Blunders
People make terrible financial decisions all because they want to purchase the latest brand of a mobile phone or the newest brand of a laptop. This can lead to an increase in already existing debt, new debts or loss of properties to pay for these devices.
Conclusion
Just like every other technological product, new models with new updates and features will keep popping up on your radar. Self-control and discipline are needed in the use of cell phones in all spheres of life. Putting a benchmark between regulated use and overuse will help to reap the benefits of using one and not lose from owning one.
Researched by Safiya Onayi Ahmed
