Chase Osborn

English 1

February 10th, 2015

The Effects of Cell Phones on Today’s Society

 

Imagine going back in time and explaining to a man from the 50’s, for example, one of the most significant pieces of technology from your time. “In my pocket, I possess a device that can give me infinite wisdom and knowledge, but all anyone uses it for is to watch funny cat videos, almost all day.” After they get past the shock of a time-traveler, their head might just explode. Although cell phones have the capability of being used for great things, like most luxuries, they are misused or not used for their full potential. People’s lives have been severely affected by cell phones, and can be used for great knowledge, but most people have developed a severe over dependence.

On the silver lining, cell-phones have unlimited access to the internet, which in turn has unlimited access to knowledge. All that is needed is a few light taps, and you can be on college websites that you can learn hundreds of things from. Astronomy, physics, calculus, and sometimes even quantum physics, can all be learned. Also, kids can use their cell phones as a study guide or homework helper. The kids can being doing their English, algebra, or even Spanish homework, and utilize their cell-phone if they run into a mental speed bump. Not to cheat and look up answers, but to look back at previously learned lessons, how an equation is solved step-by-step, or how a certain literary device is used. Therefore, cell phones are great advances on people’s lives because they offer so much knowledge for free.

On the other hand, today’s generation has been severely affected in a negative way, forming a great over-dependence on cell phones. All over the streets, people are walking down sidewalks with their faces glued to their phone screen, not paying attention to their situation around them. Accidents involving pedestrians being hit by cars is rising as more and more people use cell phones, because they’re focusing more on their phone instead of the real life around them. In addition, if their phones are taken away from them they become socially awkward, because they’ve spent so much time on their phone all of their social skills have been demolished. I’ve personally been on a date where the girl was paying more attention to her phone than me, and whenever she got off because she could tell I was disgruntled about it, she was socially-awkward, and became a sort of shy, nervous wreck. So, cell phones have led to a downfall of social activity and have created certain high risk situations.

In conclusion, cell phones have had a generally negative effect. It has the potential of being a wonderful piece of technology, being used for learning, but they are mostly abused and have become a social “safe zone” for people when they don’t know how to carry on a conversation.