There is little doubt that more than three-quarter of the world population owns cell phones in their homesteads. With time, Mobile phone companies are discovering new phone models with excellent features to suit the consumer need. Continuous improvement in the technology sector has played an essential role in the designing of new mobile phones. Smartphone mobile is one of the latest phone models that have been developed by mobile phone manufacturing companies. An improvement in the browsing network on the device has improved the love for the product among the users especially the youths. It’s now clear that many teenagers now find it hard to live without a smartphone. Despite the cellphones improving the communications among people, the devices have many adverse effects both on social and health live of the users. The effects of the invention keep on multiplying as the companies design new models. Regardless of many people knowing the fetal effects of mobile phones, many are still buying expensive phones and even buying for young ones. Therefore, mobile phone is not a good intervention as many people think.
First, it is important to note that mobile phone intervention has resulted in addiction (King and Dong 342). Many people take the problem of mobile phone addiction for granted. Sincerely speaking, cell phone addiction has paralyzed and delayed a lot of work both private and government offices. Most of the employed workers spend most of their time chatting using their mobile phones. Others employees even use organisation phones to talk to their relative forgetting the duties which earn them a leaving. Organizations are therefore forced to come up with the strategies to stop their employees from using cell phones during working hours. Most of the companies require their employees to put their mobile phones in flight modes when taking different duties in the organization. However, some of these companies find it difficult to monitor every worker from using cell phones. For instance, many learning institutions fail to control their teachers from using smartphones during classes. Many students are usually interrupted when teacher move outside the classrooms to pick the calls. Studies also show that smartphone addictions lead to fatigue and pain in body joints. Most youths spend most of their time sending short messages to friends. The joint pain results from poor postures of the body when using the cell phone. The users are therefore advised to position well their bodies well when chatting with their friends to eradicate problem-related with joint and back pains.
Mobile phone users are not only subjected to addiction, but also loss of lives. There is little doubt that many drivers use their mobile phones while driving. Many of them even risk lives of the passengers by picking call on busy superhighways. Statistics indicate that cell phones are now the course of most road accidents world (Senthil and Sakthi 4). Government reports suggest that young drivers are at risk of causing accidents compared to elder ones. The report based on the fact that youths are prone to the use of mobile phones compared to elders. Many of them hold steering with one hand while the other arm is busy sending messages to friends. One arm can’t control the car, especially during emergencies. Many governments have therefore come up with measures to stop drivers from using their phones when driving. Reports indicate that the Georgia government will soon pass driving bill act to prevent any driver from holding a mobile phone while driving. Many governments should employ Georgia’s government strategies to eradicate some of the road accidents.
Although mobile phones have enabled many people to access information wherever they are, the device emits dangerous radio magnetic radiations harmful to human health. Kim, Kabir and Jahan argued that mobile phones use two-way radiofrequency radiation (223). The types of radiation is essential in the transmission and receiving of signal which enables communication to take place between two parties. The signals must be transmitted between the sender device, nearest station and then send the output signal to receivers phone inform of sound. According to Grigoriev, the transmitted radiation have fetal effects on the brain of the sender and the receiver (198). It should then be noted that user may suffer from brain tremor when exposed to RF radiations for long time. RF radiation may also lead to functional disorder (Grigoriev, 194). Statistics show that most of the youths addicted to smartphones have poor memories. Most of them have a problem in paying attention for long periods of time. Mobile phone manufacturing companies should, therefore, try to reduce the effect of radiofrequency radiations on mobile devices.
Apart from brain problems, the device led to various types of cancer. In recent years many people been have diagnosed with cancers compared to 18th centuries. Technology development has consequently increased the outbreak of cancer in the world. The rapid growth of the disease has led to the emergence of many hospitals like Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Mayo Clinic, among others. Kim, Kabir and Jahan suggested that electromagnetic radiation emitted from mobile phones may cause brain, ear and eye cancer (221). Treatment of tumors may cost most of the people lands and several assets. Many of affected families fail to contribute the amount to carry out cancer therapy. Such families rely a lot on public contributions. It’s then clear that cell phone users put their lives at risks when using these devices.
After the intervention of smartphones, youths are exposed now to risks of wireless networks. Android phones have accelerated telecommunication companies to come up with Wi-Fi gadgets to meet the need of customers. Many companies and households have now installed free hotspots in their respective places. Mobile phones companies have gone a step ahead to create Wi-Fi hotspot on the smartphones to enable users to share internet network. However, many users have never realized the effects of the Wi-Fi hotspots as far as their health is concerned. Stinson suggested that Wi-Fi hotspots have very adverse social and biological effects (1). In the Stinson report on the impacts of free hotspots, Susan Clarke quoted that wireless network may lead to psychological, cardiac and neurological problems. The research also suggested that wireless network users are at risks of experiencing dizziness, skin rashes and even memory loss. Kirksey suggested that radiofrequency emission from Wi-Fi hotspots may lead to infertility among men (1). Studies show that these emissions reduce sperm count of man reducing his fertility. The rates of infertility in youths has increased adequately in recent years.
Despite the invention having many health implications, mobile phones have helped the current generation in many ways. The device has helped people to deliver the information in any part of the world within minimum time possible (Stark 2). This makes communication easy especially during emergencies. The unreliable ancient ways of communication like the use of messengers have now been eliminated. The device has now saved many lives of patients prone to emergency disease. Unfortunately, the sender of the message has to top up first before communicating the message.
The smartphone invention has promoted social interactions through social media platforms. Facebook, WhatsApp, telegrams, and Instagram are the most used social platforms by youths. Youths have formed many social media groups where they share innovate ideas. Students are now holding discussion groups online. Also, many business people are now meeting online to discuss business matters. Telecommunication companies have come up mobile banking making mobile phone uses enjoy relatively low transaction costs (Stark 3). Studies show that the device may replace wallet. The platforms have made the world a small village. However, the social media platforms have promoted unethical behaviors like cyberbully.
Although social media as incorporated in mobile phones has immensely contributed to making the world a global village, it is a fact that many people have committed suicide to cyberbully from anonymous persons from the same social sites (Wilmes and Sam 1). Many people have ignored cyber security measures when sending and using their email. This is because; they have personalized their phones to the point of assuming the threats that are associated with the emails. Very confidential information is usually passed from one's email in their phone to another thus putting themselves and their privacy at risk.
False alarms have also been raised by some canning individuals just because they have the power in their hand. This has made it very difficult for authorities to filter and decipher which emergency alert is genuine and which one is not. Many genuine catastrophes have gone unattended due to this. I know that it’s hard to believe that that the intervention has many health hazards compared to benefits.
Mobile intervention has positive and negative effects in the society. Everyone is there for advised to put into consideration the risks of the cellphones as they continue enjoying using the device. Individuals may have some role to play in controlling the effects of this device. Roads accidents are caused by drivers and not cell phones as many people put it. Mobile phone companies should conduct various research to come up with a model with minimum RF radiations. It’s pathetic to find out that smartphone Wi-Fi hotspot leads to infertility among men. This issue should be taken seriously since many users are not aware of this effect.
Works cited
Grigoriev Y. Mobile communications and health of population: The risk assessment, social and ethical problems. Environmentalist. 2012; 32(2):193-200.
Kim K, Kabir E., and Jahan A. The use of cell phone and insight into its potential human health impacts. Environ Monit Assess. 2016; 188(4):1-11.
King R. and Dong S. The impact of smartphone on young adults. The Business " Management Review. 2017; 8(4):342-349.
Kirkey S. Parliamentary report spreads Wi-Fi fears. National Post. Jun 19 2015:n/a. Available from: https://search.proquest.com/docview/1690202661?accountid=30552.
Senthil M. and Sakthi V. The sustainable interventions for mobile phone's hazards. J Internet Banking Commerce. 2015; 20(2):1-15. https://search.proquest.com/docview/1799378156?accountid=30552.
Stark, Jerrold, et al. "Rural and Ethnic Young Consumers' Perceptions of Bundled Cellular Telephone Features." Academy of Marketing Studies Journal, vol. 12, no. 2, 2008, pp. 18.
Stinson S. “Why we shouldn't worry about Wi-Fi. National Post.” Aug 20 2010. Available from: https://search.proquest.com/docview/746441683?accountid=30552
Wilmes, Sam. "'there's been Cyberbullying Ever since Social Media'." TCA Regional News, Dec
18, 2017.
