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Toxic Screens: The Dangerous Effects of Mobile Phones on Youth

Author: Dr. Mohammad Amin Wani

Mobile phones are now such a part of our everyday lives, but are they secretly damaging the younger generation? Too much smartphone usage has been connected to mental illness, loneliness, falling grades, and even physical illness. The young today is more connected than any other time in history, yet they increasingly feel further away from reality. In this blog, we delve into the dark side of mobile phone addiction, supported by scientific evidence. From depression and anxiety to deteriorating cognitive skills, the effect is undeniable. It's time to rethink our use of technology and strike a healthier balance.

Introduction

Mobile phones are now an integral aspect of contemporary life, providing convenience, connectivity, and entertainment. Nonetheless, their overuse among the youth has resulted in a silent epidemic—one with implications for mental health, cognitive functions, social competence, and physical health. Although mobile technology is largely credited with its advantages, mounting scientific evidence indicates that smartphone overreliance is harming the younger generation in serious ways.

Mental Health Crisis: Anxiety, Depression, and Addiction

There have been several studies that have attributed excessive use of smartphones to heightened anxiety and depression levels among youth users. According to a study conducted by Twenge et al. (2018), teens who spent more time on screen were more prone to depression symptoms and suicidal thoughts than those who participated in non-screen activities. The research also pointed out a dramatic spike in teenage mental health problems since the mass popularity of smartphones early in the 2010s.

Mobile phone addiction is another emerging issue. Young consumers often check their phones out of fear of missing out (FOMO), resulting in compulsive behavior and addiction. According to research conducted by Billieux et al. (2015), problematic use of smartphones exhibits similar traits to other behavioral addictions, such as impulsivity, mood disorder, and withdrawal symptoms when use of the device is limited.

Cognitive Impairment: The Decline of Focus and Memory

The steady barrage of notifications, social media statuses, and instant messages often lead to a state of digital distraction. Ward et al. (2017) identify that even the presence of a mobile phone is enough to decrease cognitive ability and working memory since the brain automatically dedicates attention to the device at an unconscious level. The concept is referred to as "brain drain" and demises the capacity of students to hold information and perform intricate tasks.

In addition, smartphone multitasking like alternating between social media and learning decreases in-depth learning. Research by Ophir, Nass, and Wagner (2009) revealed that heavy media multitaskers performed less well on cognitive tasks since their brains found it difficult to filter out extraneous information and sustain attention.

Social Disconnection: Loss of Face-to-Face Interaction

Ironically, although mobile phones are made to improve communication, they have contributed to growing social isolation of youth. Human interactions are being substituted with computer-mediated conversations, frequently with shallow and insincere emotional content. Przybylski and Weinstein (2017) established that having a mobile phone present when having interpersonal conversations reduced the social interaction quality, lowering empathy and trust.

In addition, social media has led to cyberbullying, social comparison, and body image issues. Younger users feel compelled to create a flawless online image, resulting in anxiety, low self-esteem, and discontent with actual relationships (Huang, 2017).

Physical Health Impacts: Sleep Deprivation and Postural Disorders

Exposure to screens for a long time, particularly at night, interferes with sleep rhythms by inhibiting the production of melatonin—sleep-regulating hormone. Chang et al. (2015) proved that blue light from mobile phone screens causes delay in falling asleep and lowers the quality of sleep, resulting in excessive fatigue and loss of cognitive performance the next day. Sleep loss, in consequence, impacts scholastic achievement and emotional functioning among young people.

Moreover, slouching that resulted from excessive smartphone usage has created a rise in musculoskeletal issues among children. Hansraj (2014) coined the term "text neck" to refer to the cervical spine strain resulting from downward gaze at a phone for an extended duration. As time passes, it can result in severe chronic pain in the neck and back, as well as permanent spinal deformities.

Academic Decline: The Distraction Dilemma

Smartphones are now one of the greatest distractions in classrooms. Rather than paying attention to lectures, students are texting, playing games, or surfing social media. A study conducted by Kuznekoff and Titsworth (2013) found that students who used phones in class obtained much lower scores on understanding tests than those who did not use their phones. The perpetual disruption of notifications bars intense focus, resulting in poor grades.

Additionally, excessive use of mobile phones has diminished students' capacity to apply critical thinking and problem-solving. With ready availability of information, young people are increasingly depending on rapid internet browsing instead of creating independent thinking capabilities (Carr, 2011).

Conclusion: Finding a Balance

The silent epidemic of smartphone overuse among the young generation is a developing public health issue. Whereas mobile phones have undeniable advantages, their abuse has been related to mental disorders, reduction in cognitive functioning, social loneliness, physical sickness, and poor academic performance. Solving this issue needs concerted efforts from parents, teachers, and authorities to support digital well-being. Setting proper limits of screen time, practicing healthy technology habits, and prioritizing face-to-face engagement will enable young people to achieve a balance between the virtual and real worlds.

If not addressed, this silent epidemic may result in irreversible implications for generations to come. The time has come to identify the risks of indiscriminate use of mobile phones and adopt proactive measures to prevent its detrimental effects before it turns into a crisis.

References

Billieux, J., Maurage, P., Lopez-Fernandez, O., Kuss, D. J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2015). Can disordered mobile phone use be considered a behavioral addiction? An update on current evidence and a comprehensive model for future research. Current Addiction Reports, 2(2), 156-162. 

Carr, N. (2011). The shallows: What the internet is doing to our brains. W.W. Norton & Company.

Chang, A. M., Aeschbach, D., Duffy, J. F., & Czeisler, C. A. (2015). Evening use of light-emitting eReaders negatively affects sleep, circadian timing, and next-morning alertness. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(4), 1232-1237.

Hansraj, K. K. (2014). Assessment of stresses in the cervical spine caused by posture and position of the head. Surgical Technology International, 25, 277-279.

Huang, C. (2017). Time spent on social network sites and psychological well-being: A meta-analysis. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 20(6), 346-354.

Kuznekoff, J. H., & Titsworth, S. (2013). The impact of mobile phone usage on student learning. Communication Education, 62(3), 233-252.

Ophir, E., Nass, C., & Wagner, A. D. (2009). Cognitive control in media multitaskers. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 106(37), 15583-15587.

Przybylski, A. K., & Weinstein, N. (2017). Digital screen time and psychological well-being: Evidence from three studies. Psychological Science, 28(2), 204-215.

Twenge, J. M., Joiner, T. E., Rogers, M. L., & Martin, G. N. (2018). Increases in depressive symptoms, suicide-related outcomes, and suicide rates among US adolescents after 2010 and links to increased new media screen time. Clinical Psychological Science, 6(1), 3-17.

Ward, A. F., Duke, K., Gneezy, A., & Bos, M. W. (2017). Brain drain: The mere presence of one’s own smartphone reduces available cognitive capacity. Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, 2(2), 140-154.