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There is no denying that smartphones have become an integral part of our lives. From the time we wake up to when we sleep, we always have our phones with us. There are several advantages of having a smartphone but truth be told, the disadvantages are severe too. We live in an era where technology has taken over humanity. Children spend hours on their phones and thus fail to have meaningful conversations with their friends or family. We are here to tell you why cell phone usage should be regulated, or it can hurt your family relationships.
Too Much Cell Phone, Too Little Connection
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We would rather spend more time on our phones than talk to people in front of us. It is disheartening and most likely harmful to our mental health. It also weakens our relationship with people. We have become obsessed with our cell phones that we need to check them every few minutes for texts and notifications. We spend so much time on social media because we have it at the tip of our fingers. But do we really know what is happening in the lives of our near and dear ones?
Effects Of Too Much Cell Phone Use
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Phubbing is described as the act of looking at a phone screen rather than interacting with the person in front of you. It can lead to adverse effects on a relationship, and threaten our basic social existence and need to belong (1). Studies showed that the quality of communication has reduced, and relationships are less satisfying because of phubbing. Here are a few adverse effects of too much cell phone use or phubbing:
1. It Hogs Up Time
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It is no surprise that cell phone usage has drastically increased over the past few years. While the world faces a global pandemic, its need has spiked, but it has adversely affected people’s relationships, lifestyles, and schedules.
2. It’s Contagious
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No, we are not talking about the novel coronavirus. We are talking about phubbing! It is contagious because people tend to pull out their phones every chance they get. It’s almost like a defense mechanism among us. When one person is using their phone, the other uses it too.
3. It Affects Kids
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Parents, watch out! If you spend too much time on your phone, your kids are bound to pick up on it too. They watch what you do and learn to be glued to their phones because their parents are stuck with their phones. Therefore, be mindful of how much time you spend on your phone.
4. You Waste A Lot Of Time
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The internet is a vortex of distractions, and with the whole web available to you at the touch of a finger, it is relatively easy to get lost in time. You might be checking your phone every few minutes, but when you consider the amount of time you spend on your phone throughout the day, it’s a lot. You become less productive and find it hard to get things done.
5. It Affects Our Creative Mind
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With the cell phone being right by our side, we pick it up as soon as we are bored. We do not give ourselves the time to be bored because we have a device that keeps us distracted and occupied. With the increase in screen time, our creative mind is not used because we do not allow our minds to revel in boredom. Thus, our imagination is also affected.
How To Keep Cell Phone Usage In Check?
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The use of cell phones has increased to a large extent, especially since the coronavirus outbreak, because of virtual classes and work from home. At a time like this, it might be difficult to curb its usage but here are a few strategies that could help you keep a check on the use of cell phones:
- Keep mealtimes phone free.
- Do not use phones during date nights, game nights, or family get-togethers.
- Establish a rule in your house that cell phones cannot be used at night, after a certain time.
- Use an external app to track the time your kids spend on their phones.
- Switch off your phone for at least an hour every day and enjoy being present.
Cell phone addiction is real, and it can have a damaging effect on your psychological and physiological well being (2). Therefore, it’s time we address this addiction that could be widespread among children, parents, and everyone else in today’s world. Do you agree with this article? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
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