Using smartphones too much? Think again.

smartphones too much

As of January 2019, there are around 124.2 million Filipinos with mobile subscriptions. About 76 million of them are internet savvy and active social media users. For device usage, around 89% of the adult populace are mobile phone (of any type) users, 65% are smartphone users, and 38% for laptop/desktop computer users. Also, the Philippines ranks the highest in the world in terms of time spent online daily and worldwide social media use. It surpassed Brazil and Thailand with a whopping 10 hours and 2 minutes.

Yes, Smartphones are literally everywhere in the Philippines. Kids at young age, even those of old ages, are mostly engaged in using mobile phones nowadays. Based on the above data by We Are Social and Hootsuite, we can say that Filipinos are really into the smartphone age. Most of the internet time and social media use are done using a smartphone, and these devices do their jobs well.

It’s good, but did you know that these phones can pose a real threat to you? So, if you’re already a smartphone owner-user or someone having their first mobile phone, you need to read this one. Here are the major disadvantages of using smartphones too much:

 

Radiation

Smartphones emit radio frequency (RF) waves which enables it to operate on wireless purpose. However, the waves are absorbed constantly by our body especially furing prolonged use. This can cause numbness to the hands, or sometimes can cause irregular body pains. One form of radiation is the ‘blue light’ emission.  This light is emitted by the phone screen and may cause eye damage, ranging from mild to permanent blindness. Take breaks when using your phone. When your eyes hurt or feel any body pain, have a good rest and your body will thank you for that.

 

Passive Injuries

Signs of these injuries are mild at the start but can get worse over time if not treated well. Some of these indirect injuries may include neck and back pain. People usually bend their necks down when scrolling through the chatbox or browser. This habit is unsafe as the spinal column can experience minor pain and strains. Consider placing yourself in a good sitting position to avoid these issues.

Another injury comes when you listen to music in longer periods. You may think that it’s absurd to not listen to music. The problem shows up if you listen from the average decibel level. The human ear can withstand 85db or lower up to 0db. Any sound greater than that can lead to permanent hearing damage. Worse is, it can lead to brain damage.

One injury which is a common one but we often negate is called the ‘text claw.’ It’s when your hands start to cramp and your fingers and arms tend to sore and get numb. This unofficial term is a sensation any smartphone user/addict can experience. It sounds normal though. But it can be fatal if not attended to immediately. One way to alleviate this is by stretching your hands, placing cold water on it and taking a break from those phone taps.

 

Deprived Sleep

An average human needs at least 8 hours of good sleep every day. The lesser number of hours, the lesser the time the body can have to recharge. Thus, controlling smartphone use is beneficial, especially before going to sleep. Lack of sleep can give you a nauseous head in the morning. And one more thing, it is also advisable to place your phone away from you during the beauty rest. Our phones can still emit radiation even when inactive. So, be extra careful.

 

Lifestyle Issues

Yes, our mobile devices can literally manage our diet and lifestyle. It comes unnoticed, but prolonged phone use can give you weight management problems. Like in eating, sometimes you tend to forget hunger when you’re busy chatting with someone. Also, you almost always make all the time for your phone, and exercise becomes less of a priority. Your health becomes an issue and your phone is not helping at all. Sad. L

 

More online, Less offline

We use our phones to connect with other people online. But, it seems like the opposite is happening. More online becomes less offline. Particularly, people who surf and consume much time in social media mostly suffers infrequent social interactions in the real world. Social media is good, but you need a lot of time also with your friends, families, and people around you. Building relationships should be equal, whether online or offline.

 

Raised Stress Levels

We also thought that smartphones can reduce stress levels. But sadly, it doesn’t work that way. Stress could come in when you show signs of anxiety and anger. For example, when waiting for someone to reply to your text or when the internet connection suddenly goes down while in the middle of an online game. Things like that. The feelings of uneasiness can cause you to get stressed and eventually do something not good.

 

Immune System Problems

Did you know that our stylish, modern-looking smart mobiles are dirt and germ magnets? Our beloved phones can carry bacteria more than a toilet can, according to an American medical study. That is, these can bring about any disease and weaken our immune system. Be wary and always clean your hands, even your phones before use, if you can. For you not to get sick, check your smartphone itself not just your Facebook account.

 

Being Nomophobic

Nomophobia comes from “NO MObile PHOne phobia.” It is a growing fear in our century. It is the uncomfortable feeling of not being able to use your phone for periods of time. Sounds familiar, right? Just like drugs, smartphones can be an addiction to users. People who get addicted tend to have serious withdrawal problems. It’s frightening but it’s really happening. In case you think you’re being nomophobic, try to discipline your use before anything gets worse. It’s not impossible, but perseverance is the key.

There will be more reasons why it is really a danger when smartphones are overused. We love our devices for what convenience they can give. Everythingboils down to discipline and regulated use of our phones. Treat your life better than your phone.

So, if you think you’re using your smartphone more than ever, think again.

 

Photo Credit:

https://extra.ie/2018/11/20/tech/use-phones-too-much-survey

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