Social Media & Cell Phones - Are They Really Worth It? 

Social media has always been a controversial topic in today’s society. According to Brand Watch, there are 3. 03 billion social media users in the world, which is almost a third of the world’s entire population. On average, individuals manage approximately six social media accounts and spend almost two hours each day accessing social media. While it can be argued that social media use has several benefits, such as its ability to connect people and revolutionize the world, its drawbacks far outweigh its potential. Specifically, social media is responsible for the decline of standards within society, primarily because it has been linked to addiction, health issues, and problems with moral dependence and reasoning. These significant and detrimental costs may associate the dependence of social media as a curse, rather than a pure blessing.

To begin with, social media use is one of the major causes for technology addiction, particularly for the younger generation today. Susan Greenfield, a renowned scientist and writer, provided an apt warning. She mentioned how “we could be raising a hedonistic generation who live only in the thrill of the computer-generated moment and are in distinct danger of detaching themselves from what the rest of us would consider the real world. ” The younger generation today now have more access to social media and their own personal cell phones than ever before. In fact, reports suggest that children receive their first cell phone at the average age of approximately ten years.

Experiences with the online world and media start to commence in a child’s infant or toddler years, and they continue to develop as they grow older. Contrary to those that believe that social media addiction is not as severe currently, a research conducted by Mobile Mindset Study actually suggests that approximately 58% of users check their phones at least once per hour. Furthermore, 73% of people would panic or feel desperate if they believed to have lost their device. Lori Leibovich, HuffPost’s Executive Lifestyle Editor, remarked that, "we have all gotten so used to having these appendages, these devices that are almost like our other limb, that when they're not there we start to panic. ” This dependence has led to a variety of constructive criticism from renowned speakers and dignitaries across the world. Simon Sinek, an author and speaker, mentions how people who attend conference rooms or go out to dinner usually access their phones or choose to keep them in close proximity. Along with being unprofessional, this can inadvertently show that the person that they are communicating to on the phone is much more important that those around them.

These extents of addiction may be partly due to the physical and mental aspects of the human body. Using social media or similar technology releases a chemical by the name of dopamine, which is also commonly associated with drug, alcohol, and gambling addictions. This chemical functions primarily as a neurotransmitter, and is activated when one is immersed or wants to involve themselves in a pleasurable activity. As a result, it provides that temptation for addictive individuals to partake in certain types of activities, such as viewing social media. An analysis of these behaviors also tends to show a variety of reasons as to why addiction may occur in the first place. William James, an American psychologist, remarked how this may be linked to the theory of an extended self. Specifically, he described it as “the sum total of all that a man can call his, not only his body and his psychic powers, but his clothes and his house, his wife and children. ” Cellphone and social media play a significant role in widening our identity beyond our body and mind, and connecting us to the exterior world around us. Essentially, it demonstrates how possessions tend to reflect one’s personal and social identity, and how individuals prefer to be distinguishable within society. These devices, in particular, also enforce positive reinforcement.

According to an article published by the US National Library of Medicine, when “a cell-phone user experiences feelings of happiness and/or enjoyment from a particular activity (e. g. , a funny, six-second Vine video sent by a friend), the person is more likely to engage in that particular activity again. ” Social media and text messaging are an apt example of how receiving rewards, such as in the form of happiness or communication, can be truly addictive to individuals. These rewards, in fact, encourage users to constantly access or involve themselves with technology, which psychologists also describe as variable ratio reinforcement. Email, text messaging, social media, and some popular games fit into this category. For instance, Twitter utilizes variable ratio reinforcement when users swipe down from the app.

At that specific moment of time, a spinning wheel indicates to the user that the app is refreshing to load new content. According to Business Insider, “the user doesn't know when they'll be rewarded, just that they will be — and in no particular pattern. That’s what slot machines do. Each time you pull the lever, you may win a small payout, the giant jackpot or no reward at all. ” David Greenfield, a psychologist and author, also mentioned how people “never know when [they will] get a satisfying email, so [they] keep checking, over and over again. ” While checking these services constantly does increase the likelihood of people noticing the content more quickly, it does not actually allow the content to arrive any faster than it should be. This action can mislead users into procrastinating other significant tasks, as most individuals do not immediately cease “browsing” their phone once they access it. In fact, users often fail to cease at one particular medium, such as checking their email. According to Mike Brooks, a psychologist at ApaCenter, users might then “check [their] texts, then check out [their] news feed, and so on. [They] don’t know exactly when [they] will find something interesting on the Internet or on [their] smartphones, but [they] do know that if [they] keep checking, [they] eventually will. ” While it is apparent that social media companies and developers play a significant role in enticing users to access their content or use their applications, it does lead to several consequences for their customers and users.

This addiction leads to the reduction of critical time-management skills, diminished external awareness, as well a variety of other ramifications. The physical and mental health of individuals is significantly impacted by these ramifications, especially for those that constantly have the urge to access their smartphones and use relevant technology. In spite of most individuals being aware of the common physical and mental health risks of utilizing technology, such as cell phones, there are now more daily users of social media and cell phones than ever before. People, especially those that are addicted, feel that the positive benefits of using social media and cellphones far outweigh the consequences, such as the potential degradation of their own health. This may be partly due to the fact that companies also continue to adopt methods to attempt to bypass or eliminate some of the common underlying risks.

For example, blue light radiation is emitted from electronic devices and is known to be a common factor for blurred vision and insomnia. Human eyes cannot filter out these harmful rays, and the risks are increased when users spend a longer amount of time on those devices at close range. Along with the potential risks of eye strain, retinal damage, and macular degeneration, these devices can hinder human circadian rhythms and prevent the production of melatonin, especially when used during nighttime. As a consequence, many users who utilize their cell phones an hour into bedtime report having a worse sleep experience than those who do not. In an effort to be competitive when delivering their products, many companies attempt to publicize the reduced health risks of using their devices. For example, Acer, a hardware company, is known to install “BlueLight Shield” on customer devices. It is reported to potentially help reduce the glare of screen monitors by limiting the levels of blue light. Contrary to those customers who come under the illusion that they are now safe and protected from all these health risks, this is actually not accurate. In this particular case, many individuals are not aware that the Acer software cannot completely eliminate these risks, as the emission of blue light will still occur in a much lesser extent.

Furthermore, these types of software usually require manual activation in order to work and often alter the display colours of the screen, which many users may not find particularly appreciable. While these techniques may be effective to a certain point, they do not provide genuine protection against a variety of other health safety issues. Among the common physical body risks of hearing loss by listening to loud content, lowered immune system response, and possible cancer risk, many mental health issues seem to go unnoticed by most individuals. Social media and cell phone addiction has become severe to the point that, according to study illustrated in a Forbes article, young people experience “physiological symptoms, like increased heart rate and blood pressure” when they are asked to relinquish their phones for a certain period of time. Cell phone addiction is likely the case for many of these health issues, particularly in correlation with anxiety, depression, and suicide. Numerous reports show that individuals who utilize their time effectively, such as by playing sports, volunteering, or doing homework, have a significantly lower risk of depression or anxiety as opposed to those who spend their available time accessing social media applications.

These reports also suggested that “about 48% of those who spent five or more hours a day on their phones had thought about suicide or made plans for it, vs. 28% of those who spent only one hour per day on their phones. ” Depression is thought to be caused by a variety of reasons, particularly because it encourages social comparison and influences thought. Social comparison is constantly present in the digital world, as users compare or criticize each other. For many users, this introduces a negative self-image or feeling of worthlessness, which can potentially play a leading role in depression or anxiety among social media users. This is highly present among teenagers and young adults, as they constantly have the urge to compare themselves with their friends. In 2016, researchers at Penn State University concluded that “viewing other people’s selfies lowered self-esteem, because users compare themselves to photos of people looking their happiest. ” The phrase that “humans follow the pack” clearly reveals the potential reasoning behind this. Younger children grow up to realize that in order to be accepted into society, they need to be familiar and accustomed to what is acceptable in today’s society. This is largely influenced by how they view other colleagues or friends through real life and social media. They often fail to realize that social media is often not the “true reality”, and in many cases only provides a marginal or incomplete view into the life of other individuals.

A study conducted in the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, and France concluded that “over 66 percent of the people surveyed make posts on social media designed to make it look like their lives are more interesting and adventure-filled than they actually are. ” These experiences are brought upon by the society in which one lives, and this plays an integral role in the development and sense of belongingness in an individual. Addiction to social media or cell phones is also a factor, as procrastination prevents users from keeping track of all their necessary activities and tasks. According to an article by Healthy Place, “when [people] neglect the things [they] need to do in order to stay healthy, such as exercising, shopping for and preparing healthy meals, or engaging in [their] real-life relationships, [their] mental health can deteriorate. ” This can potentially result in relationship issues, degraded academic performance, lowered self-esteem levels, and much more. When the extent of these issues become more severe, cyberbullying and loneliness is much more likely to occur. A study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine conducted a survey of 7000 individuals and indicated that “those who spend the most time on social media were twice as likely to report experiencing social isolation, which can include a lack of a sense of social belonging, engagement with others and fulfilling relationships. ” Many people anticipate that they will feel better when accessing social media, but that does not actually appear to be the case. Forbes mentioned that “like a drug, we think getting a fix will help, but it actually makes us feel worse, which comes down to an error in our ability to predict our own response.

” Furthermore, reports have suggested that individuals that have an abundance of followers or friends on social media do not necessarily have a better social life than those who do not. Physical and social interactions are not limited to close relationships, and it is important for individuals to realize that they should be having interactions with others outside of the digital world as well. Social media is one of the leading causes of physical and mental health issues across the world, as its dependence prevents individuals in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Most importantly, the moral development and reasoning of individuals is also significantly impacted by these health risks and relevant ramifications. Social media has the ability to change people both physically and mentally, and its constant use can lead to users losing their individuality. In a world where marketing is becoming even more intense, it is important to realize the consequences of being amidst electronic media. Contrary to those that believe that businesses care about the needs of their customers, the unfortunate truth is that most businesses have the intention to merely profit or generate more revenue.

While this consumer marketing directly allows the corporations to profit, their customers are completely oblivious of the risks associated with their interactions with the company. From their point of view, people might seem gullible and easy to exploit customers of the corporate media world. This is especially true for teenagers and the younger generation, as they often fail to realize the consequences of involving themselves in the digital world of marketing. Advertisements are now more easily able to mislead users, as companies focus on using techniques such as cross-site tracking or serendipity by design. According to an article by Marketing Week, “sixty percent of teenagers click on ads online”. Teenagers are continuously being targeted by businesses and marketers online, and as they grow older, curiousness tends to get the best of them. Martin Lindstrom, the author of Brand Child, mentioned that “almost every aspect of today’s tween-ager is different from what [people] have seen among past generations…they’ve grown up faster, are more connected, more direct and more informed. They have more personal power, more money, influence and attention than any other generation before them. ” Research suggests that teens are not as susceptible or sensitive to financial issues as compared to working adults. This is likely because most teenagers seem to be receiving income from various types of sources, such as allowances, grants, and birthday gifts, which all collectively help to fuel their spending desires.

Wendy Watson, a manager of the youth marketing practice in Los Angeles, remarked that “parents are willing to buy more for their kids because of trends such as smaller family size, dual incomes and the postponement of children until later in life, which translates to families having more disposable income. ” Males tend to focus on spending their income on entertainment and food, while females generally spend their income on fashion items, cosmetics, and clothing. Individuals under the age of eighteen collectively spend more than $1. 3 billion each year, and companies continue to hope that these children develop brand loyalty for their product as they grow older. Social comparison often leads to users buying branded or expensive clothing in order to please their friends. Lindstrom, the author of Brand Child, remarked that “brands have become an integral part of the way tweens define themselves [and that] it’s the way they express who are they are at home, at school, at parties and even on the Net. Tweens are the most brand-conscious generation yet. [Their] numbers reveal that it is far more important to wear the right label than it is to wear the right clothes. It is largely through their choice of brands that tweens distinguish themselves from one another. ” Marketers understand that if they are able to entice teenagers early on in their lives, they will eventually become a part of their future. This pressure from the media forces people to adopt the views of the mainstream collective, and this can desensitize individuals to information that should play on their moral conscience. The insidious intentions of these data corporations and the leeway that users have with social media often provides insight on the true “usefulness” of technology.

All in all, preserving personal values and skill sets is now more important than ever, and this is only possible if people realize the importance of self-control. While there are some benefits of using social media, it still has its consequences. Addiction, health issues, and its impact on moral reasoning are truly a prominent risk to all its users. Parents serve as the first line of defense for young children and it is encouraged that they provide good influences, so that children are more informed and educated about the modern digital world. These positive influences can involve setting limits for using devices, turning off eye-catching notifications from applications, reducing screen brightness, and being informed about the variety of influences and advertisement techniques present within the digital world. As technology is the very essence of today’s modern generation, education and awareness are key to ensuring a safer, inclusive, and better future for current and later generations.