Mobile phones are widely used throughout the world and are considered one of the most influential inventions of technology It is a productive tool that when used in moderation, can help us with communication, work, school, relationships, etc. Everything we need is found on the Internet, and this can make it hard for people to stay away from it. The key to using anything is making sure we do not use too much of it. Compulsive use can have a negative effect without us even realizing its effects. Ever since the introduction of this technology, there have been questions about it causing addiction. Although mobile phones and the Internet are considered important in many ways, people do not realize that excessive use of them can lead to addiction. This is an epidemic that affects the lives of many teenagers, and even the elderly.
The Internet is a common thing that is used around the world. Our country especially has a large number of Internet users. “The United States, the fourth largest country in the world by land area, is no exception. With over 312 million Internet users as of 2018, it is one of the largest online markets worldwide” (Clement). This shows that the majority of the population in the United States uses the Internet on a day-to-day basis. People can do many things like find information about a topic, pay their bills, watch videos and movies, etc. Most phones these days give us the ability to surf the Internet in the palm of our hands. The Internet is considered a necessity in today’s world. The lack of the Internet makes it harder for people to do many things in today's society. When most of our day-to-day functions are being done online, it is safe to say that we are all lured into the online world. The Internet also offers many websites that can offer entertainment for someone who is suffering from boredom, such as YouTube. These websites can make it hard for a person to put down their phone as it constantly keeps the person entertained.
In today's society, everyone, ranging from children to elders, own the latest mobile phones, such as the iPhone 11, or the Galaxy S10. People use their phones to access the social media world. Social media is one of the largest platforms on the Internet. Everyone profoundly uses social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. to stay connected with friends and family. “When you spend more time on social media or playing games than you do interact with real people, or you can’t stop yourself from repeatedly checking texts, emails, or apps, even when it has negative consequences in your life, it may be time to reassess your technology use” (Smith et al.). This quote shows people the sad but true reality of the habits of many. People are more entices with their online personalities than the status of their own lives and mental well-being. Social media is one of the ways people escape their lives and the problems that come with reality.
Mobile phones are considered highly addictive. Scientists say that alcohol and drugs aren’t the only substances that people can get addicted to. In fact, our mobile phones are also considered as addictive as those substances. Anything that we can derive some form of pleasure (if not done in moderation) can become highly addictive. In 2011, mental health experts at Harvard University published an article titled 'How Addiction Hijacks the Brain'. In this article, the science behind addiction and how the chemicals in your brain react to stimuli is discussed in depth, and new developments in technology provide readers with knowledge that was undiscovered before. With new research being done, it is clear that anything done to gain pleasure repeatedly can lead to addiction.
The issues in our general public enveloping the use of mobile phones and the Internet originate from issues further than the gadgets themselves. Issues in our general public related to drugs and liquor use will get the vast majority of the spotlight from medical experts because people read it as an immediate issue that may affect the public. Unfortunately, people will generally ignore the small things throughout everyday life, similar to their phones and the Internet, and decisively what amount of time they spend daily on it. Our phones are basically instruments that throw us into another reality, which may bait somebody and hold them hostage forever.
Works Cited
Clement, J. 'Number of Internet Users in the United States 2019'. Statista, 17 Oct. 2019, www.statista.com/statistics/276445/number-of-internet-users-in-the-united-states/
Harvard Health Publishing. 'How Addiction Hijacks the Brain'. Harvard Health, 11 July 2011, www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/how-addiction-hijacks-the-brain
Smith, Melinda, et al. 'Smartphone Addiction'. HelpGuide.org, 8 Oct. 2019 www.helpguide.org/articles/addictions/smartphone-addiction.htm