Is Your Cell Phone Ruling Your Life?

Let’s thank God for all the developments in the technology space today, one of which is the invention of the cell phone. The cell phone phenomenon has affected every sphere of life, growth and progress; domestic, commercial and industrial. It has been revolutionary and everyone seems to have one handset or more. With the cell phone, communication across all kinds of borders has become so easy. We make and receive calls; send and receive text messages; send and receive chats, photos, video and audio recordings, animations, etc; shop online and pay online; play games, monitor your home, car, etc… do virtually everything. One wonders how we lived before the birth of the cell phone.

You need to see teenagers and their cell phones. It’s their prized possession. They are always talking on it, with earphones dangling; texting and/or chatting for hours on end and right through the night as well. With the cell phone, the teenager can easily obtain information and knowledge by browsing the internet; call up family, friends and colleagues; reach someone faster in an emergency situation; listen to music and watch movies. The level of usage and exposure is impacted by the age of the teen (ages 13-15 compared to 16-19); friends at school; colleagues at work; upbringing at home; television; and the internet, etc.

But with all its advantages, the cell phone has some drawbacks which have been identified and steps being taken to ensure better use of the cell phone. Apart from observed anti-social tendencies, the cell phone has also become a medium for all kinds of immorality and crime. We hear of sexting, cyberbullying, human trafficking; pedophilia, identity crimes, financial crimes, pornography, etc. All of these things are being done from cell phones in our community. It has now become urgent to teach teenagers cell phone etiquette and provide awareness on the ‘other side’ of cell phone use. That is why we need to seriously talk about cell phone etiquette. It will bring out the good breeding in us and add an extra measure of safety;

Respect the “Don’t Use” Areas

In a combination of etiquette and safety, there are places that have been globally, demarcated for no cell phone use. They include airplanes, fuel/gas stations, public functions (training programmes, meetings, seminars, conferences, etc), banks, etc. Safety experts especially, caution on the use of cell phones while driving; while cooking in the kitchen; while fueling the generator or car; around any radioactive facility. But despite the warning signs boldly displayed in the respective places, voluntary compliance has been a problem for young people, to their detriment. Many have been fined by traffic authorities for flagrant disobedient; been injured or killed in accidents traced to the dangerous use of the cell phone. Let’s endeavour to respect rules and regulations that are based on our safety and protection. This will show us to the world as people of good manners guided by positive values.

Don’t be anti-social

Parents, and other adults, complain some teenagers have trouble tearing themselves away from their cell phones long enough to be able to reconnect with the real world. You see them with their eyes and fingers glued to their mobile devices while they seem to shut out any opportunity to interact with the people around them. Sociology experts believe that young people today would be less capable of managing social relationships normally because they have so little practice chatting with other people. This may become a big problem for society in the future. This is therefore, a wake-up call, to teenagers to make time to mingle with family members and friends without the distraction and interruption of their cell phones.

Risks to Privacy

Most teenagers carry their vital information and records on their cell phones – messages, photos, videos, financial records, contacts, and networks, etc. In the event that the cell phone is stolen, there is the risk of privacy exposure and your entire life revealed to another individual and the possibility of that causing a lot of harm and loss. Some teenagers talk so loudly on their cell phones that everyone around can hear them and imagine what sensitive information can be to the hearing of a criminal. We hear about young people (and sometimes, their loved ones) falling prey to really bad people from information obtained from their cell phone; being harassed by cyber-bullies; and blackmailed by unscrupulous people. It is important to be careful here. Keep very sensitive material out of your cell phone.

Please permit me to add the following disadvantages of using mobile phones for long hours as listed by Ambika Bhagat in listsurge.com;

1.   Brain cancer

2.   Increased stress level

3.   Weakened immune system

4.   Chronic pain

5.   Eye/vision problems

6.   Hinders sleep

7.   Germs

8.   Hampers thinking process

9.   Prone to accident

10.        Hampers dedication to work

11.        Nomophobia

12.        Phantom pocket vibration syndrome

13.        Anxiety

14.        Vulnerability to cyber crimes

15.        Impaired concentration/attention span

16.        Risk to the unborn/infertility

17.        Depression

18.        Loss of hearing

19.        Skin allergies and infection

20.        Unhealthy weight management and fitness level

Ephesians 5:15 says, “So be very careful how you live. Do not live like those who are not wise, but live wisely”. Let’s do all things in moderation!!!