Introduction
The last century was when most of the technological advancements were made in every field of life. The advancements that have affected human life the most were made in the field of the Computer, the Internet, and telecommunication. Amongst telecommunication, the technological inventions related to mobile phone technology are the most important ones and have made a deep impact on our lives.
There has been a debate recently whether the adverse effects of smartphones (which are now a necessity) are more or their benefits. We’ll try to find an answer to this question by taking an overview of various aspects associated with it.
Pros and Cons of Smartphones
Now we’ll try to enlist the pros and cons of smartphones briefly in order to arrive a conclusion.
Pros
Ease of Communication
The smartphones have brought an ease of communication to our lives. Although this ease was introduced as early as the Internet and mobile phones became common, the advent of smartphones brought Inventions like the Android operating system which helped developers develop apps that enable video-calling features and other features like image-sharing and voice notes.
So, no doubt the flexibility in the modes of communication is a great blessing that we enjoy every day and yet bother to think very little about it.
Increased productivity
Smartphones have eradicated the need for separate devices and actions required for the execution of tasks as there is no need to remain bound to a PC in order to check your email or to go to the bank physically in order to withdraw cash since you carry all these things with you in your smartphones now.
So, we can say briefly that smartphones without any doubt have resulted in increased productivity i.e. more tasks executed successfully in less time.
Medium of learning
Smartphones have caused the internet to evolve accordingly. Almost every big website has transformed itself to a smartphone-compatible version as well. Amongst these Youtube is one big name, which is not only a source of entertainment but the greatest platform for free learning resources. Different universities and institutions have made their channels on it and offer content for free.
Utility
Due to their extensive features, they have become more of a utility rather than a luxury item. Them being utility is also evident from the repetitive nature of their use in our everyday lives such as for navigating your way throughout the cities every day, planning your outdoor activities in relation to the weather forecast, and using the calculator. So, we can say briefly that a life without smartphones is very much unimaginable.
Cons
Addictive features
The smartphones come up with unavoidable temptations and ultimately end up being one addictive gadget in the hands of the users. This is particularly the case of teenagers and the young generation who are in a rush to impress the public with their following and every one of them wants to be a superstar influencer.
This leads them to prolonged use of smartphones and ultimately end up with an addiction to it. The addiction to social media and smartphones etc. is now considered a concern, globally.
Distraction
As discussed above, smartphones have become an addiction for most people. The temptation is real and unavoidable. It also causes distraction from the objective of everyday tasks hence tending to hinder objectivity and productivity.
Privacy and security
Many smartphone applications have access to data in order to function normally. These permissions and access include those which you won’t allow otherwise, happily. Some of the social media applications have been accused of spying on their users and collecting their data without their consent.
Still others among these apps, have been tried and convicted for data breach. One application was fined for bombarding its users with the content in order to manipulate the facts and to form their narrative as per the desire of their client who was making use of that application, for the electoral process.
Similarly, one very famous mobile phone manufacturer was fined for allegedly slowing down the previous versions of its phone so that the users would be forced to buy newer versions. So these concerns are associated with smartphones and not in vain.
Health problems
We have already discussed one aspect related to health problems associated with smartphones and that is the addiction to their use. This has been acknowledged as a syndrome or disorder now. Apart from that, long screen time is a health concern for not only adults but children as well. Psychologists say that the prolonged use of smartphones can lead to mental growth inhibition in children.
Similarly, vision might be affected by prolonged exposure to screens and other physical problems such as neck and backbone strain may appear with excessive use of smartphones.
Conclusion
We can say that smartphones have created huge ease in our lives and relaxed them to a great extent but they come with some essential hazards as well. Keeping their utility in view, we can’t discard their use but their risks can be mitigated through a careful approach towards their use.
